FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 

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JUST         IP  XT  B  X.  I  S  H  E  D 


LIFE  OF  J.  ADDISON   ALEXANDEK,   D.D., 

BY 

Rev.   H.    C.    ALEXANDER. 

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FORTY   YEARS'LDfc    1    1931 


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Y, 


A 


Ul  8ct 


FAMILIAR     LETTERS 


OF 


JAMES  W.  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 

CONSTITUTING,  WITH  THE  NOTES, 

A    MEMOIR    OF    HIS    LIFE 

EDITED  BY  THE  SURVIVING  CORRESPONDENT, 

JOHN  HALL,  D.D. 

TWO    VOLUMES    IN    ONE. 
VOL.    I. 


NEW  YORK : 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER  &  CO.,  654  BROADWAY. 

1870. 


Entebed,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  th«  year  1860,  by 

CHARLES   SCRIBNER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York. 


JOHN  F.  TROW, 

PH1NTKR,  6TBBEOTYPKR,  AND  KLKCTEOTYM*, 

BO  Greene  Street,  New  York. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  I. 


PAG1 

CHAPTER  I. 
Juvenile  Letters, 1 

1819—1822. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Letters  from  the  Theological  Seminary,      .  .        .      13 

1822—1824. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Letters  while  Tutor  in  College, .42 

1824—1825. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Letters  while  a  Licentiate, 88 

1825—1827. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Letters  while  a  Pastor  in  Virginia,  and  until  he  left  the  State,      98 
1827—1828. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Letters  wniLE  Pastor  in  Trenton,         .        .        .        •        ,       .119 
1829—1832. 


IV  CONTENTS    OF   VOLUME    I. 

PAQtf 

CHAPTER  YII. 
Letters  while  Editor  of  "The  Presbyterian,"    ....    203 

1833. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Letters  while  Professor  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  .        .     208 
1833—1844. 

Index, 405 


PREFACE 


The  familiar  letters  of  forty  consecutive  years,  out  of 
a  life  of  fifty-live  years,  and  addressed  to  one  corre- 
spondent, furnish  in  themselves  the  best  memoir  of  their 
writer.  Over  every  thing  in  the  shape  of  diary  or  autobi- 
ography, such  a  series  has  the  advantage  of  presenting 
the  man  in  the  successive  phases  of  his  character  and 
opinions,  as  well  as  in  their  final  mould. 

Such  a  correspondence,  in  the  nature  of  things,  must 
be  of  rare  occurrence.  Too  many  elements  must  concur 
to  make  it  otherwise.  The  incidents  of  time,  friendship, 
local  separation,  and  the  preservation  of  the  letters,  can- 
not be  often  combined  in  the  circumstances  of  two  per- 
sons. Horace  "Walpole  and  Sir  Horace  Mann  kept  up 
their  intercourse  in  this  way  from  1741  to  1786 — nearly 
forty-five  years.  Bishop  Jebb,  of  Limerick,  and  Alexan- 
der Knox,  maintained  a  "  thirty  years'  correspondence," 
from  1799  to  1831.  But  though  in  both  of  these  cases 
the  exchange  continued  until  the  death  of  one  of  the  par- 
ties, in  neither  was  it  begun  in  boyhood.  In  the  collec- 
tion now  given  to  the  public,  the  writer  passes  before  us, 
in  his  own  undisguised  expressions,  from  the  frivolities 
and  crudities  of  fifteen,  to  the  maturity  of  his  half  cen- 
tury. Those  who  take  an  interest  in  his  career,  have 
special  reason  to  be  pleased  that  the  correspondence 
took  place,  and  that  of  all  the  eight  hundred  letters  which 
he  wrote  to  his  friend,  none  have  been  lost,  because  his 


VI  PREFACE. 

own  views  and  wishes  on  the  subject  of  Memoirs  have 
been  so  construed  by  his  family,  that  they  could  not  have 
consented  to  any  other  form  of  biography. 

The  highest  advantages  of  the  method  adopted  would 
have  been  sacrificed  had  the  editor,  for  the  sake  of  produc- 
ing an  appearance  of  uniformity  in  his  friend's  opinions  and 
positions,  suppressed  the  evidence  of  such  fluctuations  as 
every  independent  and  investigating  mind  is  open  to. 
With  this  view  I  have  suffered  to  stand  some  diversities  of 
his  judgment,  at  different  times,  or  in  different  lights,  on 
points  of  theology,  church  order,  church  policy,  slavery, 
and  other  topics.  His  views  on  some  important  questions 
may  have  been  modified,  without  any  trace  of  the  change 
appearing  in  the  letters ;  and  I  have  been  particularly  re- 
quested to  notice,  under  this  head,  that  in  the  last  years 
of  his  life,  he  saw  the  importance  of  a  far  stricter  rule  in 
observing  the  Lord's  day,  and  in  the  allowance  of  fash- 
ionable amusements,  than  would  appear  from  some  occa- 
sional statements  in  these  volumes. 

And  I  am  sure  that  I  should  not  have  been  excused 
had  I  at  all  subdued  the  light  and  playful  tone  in  which 
many  of  the  letters  are  written,  or  attempted  any  amend- 
ment of  the  abrupt  transitions  and  off-hand  phrases  so 
characteristic  of  the  unstudied,  unrevised  expression  of 
the  uppermost  thoughts  at  the  moment  of  writing.  To 
have  changed  his  manner  would  have  been  as  great  un- 
faithfulness to  the  full  delineation  of  my  correspondent, 
as  to  have  concealed  his  sentiments. 

It  may  reasonably  be  expected,  also,  that  there  will  be 
accorded  to  these  letters  the  indulgence  almost  as  claimable 
for  a  correspondence  of  this  kind,  as  for  ordinary  conversa- 
tion, of  strong,  and  even  exaggerated,  language;  when 
every  thing  in  the  connexion  and  style  shows  that  these 
allowances  are  due.  It  would  be  the  highest  injustice  to 
throw  the  private  writings  of  another  before  the  world,  if 
such  a  consideration  as  this  could  not  be  depended  on. 


PREFACE.  Vll 

Still,  I  would  not  have  it  understood  that  I  have  used 
no  editorial  discretion.  Scarcely  one  letter  has  beenr 
given  entire ;  and  I  trust  that  I  have  so  far  omitted  the 
personal  allusions,  which  were,  of  course,  frequent  in  the 
intimate  interchange  of  our  observations,  that  no  fasti- 
diousness will  be  offended  by  those  which  have  been  suf- 
fered to  remain.  And  here  I  must  state  that  it  is  only  in 
deference  to  a  delicacy  which  commands  the  most  sacred 
respect,  that  I  have  excluded  many  references  to  the  hap- 
piness, the  comfort,  the  spiritual  benefit,  which  Dr.  Alex- 
ander possessed  and  appreciated  as  a  husband.  His 
whole  domestic  life,  indeed,  was  a  trait  in  his  character 
and  biography,  to  which  even  the  most  unrestricted  publi- 
cation of  the  correspondence  could  not  do  justice. 

When  I  consented  to  undertake  this  work,  it  was  with 
much  dependence  on  the  promised  assistance  of  Dr.  J. 
Addison  Alexander.  But  I  had  scarcely  entered  upon  it, 
before  the  state  of  his  health  made  it  improper  to  com- 
municate with  him  on  the  subject,  and  in  a  few  weeks  he 
had  followed  his  brother  to  the  grave. 

I  have  not  felt  disposed  to  introduce  into  this  publi- 
cation demonstrations  of  my  own  personal  feelings  with  re- 
gard to  my  friendship  with  these  beloved  men,  and  under 
the  loss  of  them  both,  by  almost  the  same  stroke  ;  yet  it 
affords  me.  a  lively  satisfaction  to  believe  that  the  letters, 
besides  their  more  important  results,  will  be  a  memorial 
of  that  long  and  affectionate  attachment. 

The  aim  of  the  editor  has  been  to  insert  only  so  many 
notes  as  were  requisite  to  explain  the  text,  or  supply  bio- 
graphical details.  The  purposes  of  a  memoir  are  so  fully 
met  in  this  manner  through  the  early  commencement  of  the 
correspondence,  that  it  is  only  necessary  to  prefix,  in  this 
place,  a  sketch  of  the  short  period  that  precedes  the  first 
date. 

James  W.  Alexander,  the  eldest  son  of  Archibald 
and  Janetta  Alexander,  was  born  March  13,  1804.     The 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

place  of  his  birth  was  the  residence  of  his  maternal  grand- 
father, the  Rev.  Dr.  James  Waddel,  in  Lonisa  County, 
Virginia,  on  an  estate  called  Hopewell,  at  the  junction  of 
the  three  counties  of  Louisa,  Orange,  and  Albemarle,  and 
near  the  present  site  of  Goi*4onsville.  In  the  month  of 
December,  1807,  his  father  having  resigned  the  presi- 
dency of  Hampden  Sidney  College,  and  accepted  the  call 
of  the  third  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Philadelphia 
to  be  their  pastor,  the  family  removed  to  that  city,  where 
their  residence  continued  until  July,  1812,  when  Dr.  A. 
Alexander  entered  upon  his  duties  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton.  During  the  few  years  of  their 
home  in  Philadelphia,  James  attended  two  schools — first 
(in  1809)  that  of  Mrs.  or  "  Madam  "  Thomson,  then  that 
of  Mr.  James  Ross.  His  principal  preparation  for  College 
was  therefore  made  at  Princeton. 

The  first  school  he  attended  there  was  the  Academy, 
the  principal  of  which  was  the  Rev.  Jared  D.  Fyler,  who 
was  followed  for  a  few  months,  in  1813,  by  Dr.  Carnahan, 
and  then  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  Comfort.  Then  he  entered 
the  school  of  Mr.  James  Hamilton,  afterwards  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  ^Nashville.  He  also  had  the  benefit  of  the  in- 
structions of  several  private  tutors ;  among  whom  were 
the  Rev.  John  Monteith,  since  of  Hamilton  College,  and 
the  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Biggs,  now  of  Cincinnati.  He  en- 
tered the  Freshman  class  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in 
the  spring  of  1817,  and  graduated  there  in  September, 
1820. 

A  portrait  is  prefixed  to  each  of  these  volumes.  The 
first  is  from  a  painting  by  Mr.  Mooney,  taken  in  1845, 
at  the  age  of  forty  ;  the  second  from  a  daguerreotype  by 
Mr.  Meade,  in  1855. 

Trenton,  New  Jersey,  May  5,  1860. 


CHAPTEK  I. 

J  UVE  NILE     LETTERS. 

1819—1822. 

Princeton,  May  oth,  1819.  * 
According  to  your  desire,  as  soon  as  I  was  a  little  recruited 
and  had  got  my  pen,  ink  and  paper  together,  I  set  myself  down 
to  scribble  away  a  scrawl  to  let  you  know  I  was  safely  landed 
at  "  Princetown  in  the  Jarsys  "  at  ten  minutes  after  ten  o'clock 
A.  M.,  without  having  sustained  any  material  injury,  except  a 
cut  of  the  thumb,  and  a  little  broken-heartedness  at  leaving — 
you  know  what — behind  me.  I  frightened  them  not  a  little 
with  my  mask,  and  diverted  them  as  much  with  my  dandies.  ■  I 
have  been  diverting  myself  a  little  with  playing  on  my  flute.  I 
must  confess  I  was  not  fairly  out  of  the  city,  before  I  wished  to 
be  back  again,  and  I  shall  not  soon  forget  the  delightful  hours  I 
spent  last  week  in  Philadelphia.  '  I  wish  you  could  persuade 
your  mother  to  let  you  come  up  and  spend  some  time  here.  As 
I  have  made  you  my  confidant,  I  will  not  say  I  had  a  bad  pen, 
&c,  but  will  candidly  confess  it  is  the  best  I  can  posssibly  write, 
and  I  repose  on  your  honour  that  it  will  not  be  shown  to  any- 
body. 

Princeton,  June  6th,  1819. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, — For  such  I  expect  will  shortly  be 
your  title  both  from  the  long  faced  and  crabbed  style  in  which 
you  write,  and  your  parson-like  division  of  your  sermon ;  but 

1  This  and  a  few  other  letters  of  the  same  year  are  inserted  because 
they  are  the  first  in  the  series  of  a  correspondence  which  soon  took  a  dif- 
ferent complexion.  At  this  date  Alexander  was  a  boy  of  fifteen,  and  his 
friend  whom  he  had  just  been  visiting  in  Philadelphia,  was  a  few  years 
younger.  The  former  was  in  the  Junior  Class  of  the  College  of  New  Jer- 
sey, the  latter  was  at  school. 

VOL.   I. 1 


2  JUVENILE   LETTERS. 

waiving  this  subject  I  proceed  to  unfold  the  dark  mystery  of  my 
not  writing  to  you.  Imprimis,  you  attribute  my  silence  to  bash- 
fulness,  and  you  were  quite  right  in  your  supposition  that  it  was 
not  on  that  account  1  had  not  written,  for  since  my  extremely 
pleasant  trip  to  the  city,  I  have  but  few  grains  of  that  com- 
modity (at  present)  on  hand.  I  say  at  present,  for  I  know  not 
in  what  luckless  hour  it  may  return.  2dly.  You  pretend  to 
think  that  I  have  not  esteem  enough  for  you  to  favour  you  with 
an  epistle.  My  dear  fellow,  I  am  tempted  to  think  that  you 
belied  your  conscience  when  you  put  that  sentence  down.  3dly. 
Your  letter  was  so  far  from  being  illegible  that  I  think  you  must 
have  meant  what  you  said  as  a  sarcasm  upon  my  wretched 
scrawl — but  the  true,  only,  and  unsatisfactory  excuse,  which  I 
have  to  offer,  is  pure  laziness.  How  far  this  excuse  may  go,  I 
know  not,  but  I  hope  that  this  letter  itself  will  supersede  the 
necessity  of  any  farther  apology,  and  if  you  prize  my  poor 
scrawl,  this  will  be  a  little  more  acceptable  on  account  of  its 
being  delayed. 

Five  of  your  school-mates  have  entered  College,  viz.,  James 
Stuart,  and  Sharpe,  the  Sophomore  class ;  J.  B.  Clemson,  J.  S. 
Miercken,  and  J.  M.  Savage,  the  Freshman.1 

Princeton,  June  28th,  1819. 
Dear  John, — I  was  very  agreeably  surprised  this  morning 
by  your  letter,  which  I  began  to  fear  was  never  to  arrive,  and 
which,  as  you  certainly  know,  afforded  me  great  pleasure,  which 
I  think  is  sufficiently  manifested  by  my  sitting  down  to  answer  it 
immediately.  I  shall  answer  what  requires  it  in  your  own  letter 
first,  and  then  proceed  to  add  something  of  my  own.  You  ask 
me  to  suggest  some  subjects  of  debate  for  your  society.  I 
know  of  none  at  present  except  two  which  have  lately  been  dis- 
cussed in  a  club  at  college,  viz. :  Is  a  man  bound  (by  the  laws 
of  equity)  to  fulfil  oaths  taken  to  save  his  life,  or  when  his  life 
is  in  jeopardy  1  and  Should  any  one  swerve  from  the  truth  to 
preserve  his  life,  or  estate1?  Both  these  are  moral  questions, 
and  I  should  have  no  scruples  of  conscience,  hindering  me  from 
saying  No  to  the  former,  and  Yes  to  the  latter.  1  cannot  think 
of  any  now,  but  if  I  fall  across  any  I  shall  let  you  know  of  them. 
The  health  of  my  father  is  much  better  than  it  has  been  for  some 
time,  he  is  at  present  at  Somerville  in  this  State.  I  have  not 
been  very  well  for  a  week  past,  occasioned,  I  am  led  to  suppose, 

1  Stuart  died  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  in  1829.  Jacob  T.  Sharpe  is 
a  physician  in  Salem,  New  Jersey.  Clemson  is  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in 
Pennsylvania. 


1819—1822.  3 

by  going  into  the  water  too  often.  I  have  been  to  swim  every 
day  for  a  fortnight,  in  fact  it  is  the  only  time  when  I  feel  com- 
fortable. I  hope  to  see  you  up  here  before  the  Dog-days,  so  that 
I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  teaching  you  how  to  swim.  I  have 
wished  very  much  to  see  a  Velocipede  but  have  not  been  gratified, 
nor  do  I  expect  to  be,  till  I  visit  the  city  again. 

Princeton,  Sunday,  August  1st,  1819. 

My  dear  Friend, — As  I  begin  to  feel  rather  ashamed  of  my 
neglect,  I  have  dared  to  face  your  displeasure  with  a  few  lines. 
I  dare  say  you  will  think  I  am  out  of  paper  from  this  specimen, 
which  is  really  the  case,  as  it  is  Sunday  and  there  is  no  other  in 
the  house.  I  expect  that  by  this  time  you  have  waxed  exceed- 
ingly wrothy  with  your  humble  servant  on  account  of  his  long 
silence,  of  which  he  has  no  very  plausible  excuse  to  offer,  except 
a  certain — degree — of — laziness — which  the  extreme  heat  of  the 
weather  has  tended  to  increase. 

By  the  by,  the  mercury  in  Fahrenheit's  thermometer  was  yes- 
terday at  noon,  as  high  as  110°  in  the  shade,  and  112°  in  the 
sun,  which,  if  I  am  not  very  much  mistaken,  is  enough  to  give 
the  yellow  fever  to  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the 
country. 

After  all  this  preamble  I  wTill  proceed  to  inform  you  that  we 
confidently  expect  you  up  here,  as  soon  as  your  holidays  begin, 
which  I  suppose  are  now  near  at  hand,  and  that  I  shall  be  ex- 
tremely disappointed  if  you  should  fail  to  fulfil  your  engage- 
ment ;  I  wish  you  could  persuade  your  mother  or  some  one  of 
the  family  to  accompany  you,  as  I  suppose  the  weather  is  very 
unpleasant  in  the  city  at  this  time.  I  must  confess  that  I  am 
not  able  to  hold  out  any  great  inducement  to  come  into  this 
dreary,  out  of  the  way,  dog  hole,  except  perhaps  change  of  situa- 
tion and  pity  towards  me  who  have  to  stay  here  five  months, 
without  seeing,  hearing,'  or  feeling,  any  thing  worth  being  seen, 
heard  or  felt. 

I  cannot  forbear  mentioning  the  happy  hours  I  spent  in  my 
short  but  delightful  stay  in  the  city  last  Spring.  I  am  certain 
that  if  you  promised  yourself  half  the  pleasure  which  I  enjoyed 
there,  you  would  fly  up  here  as  soon  as  your  vacation  com- 
menced. But  alas,  I'have  no  such  enticements  here  for  you,  as 
Philadelphia  has  for  me.  If  your  mamma  should  fear  to  trust 
you  with  me  and  our  Princeton  boys,  be  so  good  as  to  inform 
her  that  we  have  some  with  faces  a  yard  long,  and  moreover 
that  I  will  insure  your  life  and  morals,  for  the  small  sum  of 
one  cent. 

It  is  stated  by  our  Princeton  astronomers  that  two  comets 


4  JUVENILE   LETTERS. 

are  visible  at  once  at  2  o'clock  A.  M.  If  it  is  a  fact,  I  suppose 
you  have  heard  of  it  before  this ;  for  my  part,  I  think  five  o'clock 
is  time  enough  for  me  to  rise  without  getting  up  to  view  the 
comets.  Velocipedes  are  beginning  to  be  introduced  here.  I 
have  not  seen  one  yet. 

The  bell  rings  for  church,  and  I  am  forced  to  go ;  remember 
me  to  all,  &c. 

P.  S. — I  had  three  beautiful  flying  squirrels  for  the  children  ■ 
but  unluckily  the  old  cat  demolished  them,  and  now  enjoys  a 
pleasing  "  otium  cum  dignitate  "  in  the  bottom  of  the  mill  pond 
with  a  stone  round  her  neck. 

Princeton,  August  23,  1822.1 
My  dear  Friend, — The  agreeable  visit  of  your  sisters  to 
our  village  has  forcibly  reminded  me  of  the  duty,  so  long  neg- 
lected by  me,  of  writing  to  my  old  friend  and  correspondent. 
What  I  shall  have  to  say  will  appear  in  the  sequel,  for  as  yet  I 
feel  so  great  a  dearth  of  writing  materials  in  my  brain,  that  I 
must  needs  push  forward,  and  let  the  thoughts  arrange  them- 
selves ad  libitum.    Since  I  last  saw  you,  many  strange  and  unex- 

1  The  only  suspension  of  this  correspondence  that  ever  took  place,  was 
from  April,  1820,  to  the  date  of  this  letter.  It  was  in  this  interval  that 
Alexander's  mind  became  engrossed  with  the  subject  of  his  personal  re- 
ligion. The  first  relief  he  obtained  is  described  by  himself  in  the  following 
record  :  "  On  September  3,  1820,  walking  across  the  field,  hardly  daring  to 
ask  for  faith  or  repentance,  these  words  burst  upon  my  mind — '  Waiting 
for  the  moving  of  the  waters*  I  saw  myself  the  impotent  man  in  a  moment, 
and  I  thought  that  Christ  had  been  saying  to  me,  '  Wilt  thou  be  made 
whole?'  hundreds  of  times  in  my  hearing,  but  now  it  seemed  to  be  ad- 
dressed particularly  to  me.  From  that  moment  I  felt  able  to  trust  my 
whole  hope  and  life  upon  the  Lord." 

At  the  end  of  this  September  he  finished  his  college  course,  but  delayed 
a  public  profession  of  faith  until  the  next  yearj  then  the  return  of  his  birth- 
day, and  the  death  of  a  young  friend,  combined  to  make  him  feel  the  risk 
of  further  postponement.  He  was  received  to  full  communion  by  the 
session  of  the  Princeton  Church,  March  30,  1821,  and  sat  at  the  Lord's 
table  for  the  first  time  on  the  following  Sabbath,  April  1st. 

On  the  13th  of  that  month  he  made  a  private  entry  to  this  effect : 
C|  When  I  look  forward  to  future  life,  a  dreary  darkness  presents  itself. 
What  am  I  qualified  for  ?  I  never  can,  in  conscience,  embrace  any  other 
profession  but  the  '  gospel  of  Christ ; '  but  alas,  where  are  my  qualifications  ? 
I  never,  never  can  be  a  speaker."  In  a  note  written  some  time  afterwards 
he  says :  "  I  thank  God  for  having  shown  me  that  this  conviction  was  in 
some  measure  unfounded  and  hasty.  Though  I  never  can  be  eloquent,  yet 
God's  spirit  may  make  me  a  useful  preacher." 

The  three  days,  Sept.  15th,  1820,  March  30th  and  April  1st,  1821,  he 
ever  afterwards  commemorated  as  times  of  peculiar  humiliation  and 
prayer. 


1819—1822.  5 

pected  things  have  no  doubt  befallen  each  of  us,  and  I  have  had 
a  goodly  share  of  vicissitudes,  painful  and  pleasant,  during  the 
three  years  just  elapsed,  but  whether  any  of  them  could  give 
you  any  pleasure,  I  cannot  say.  I  presume  I  need  not  tell  you 
that  my  time  spent  in  college  ran  sadly  to  waste ;  indeed,  I  can- 
not look  back  upon  the  opportunities  of  acquiring  useful  knowl- 
edge which  I  then  abused  without  shame  and  regret.  Like  most 
brainless  and  self-conceited  boys,  I  undertook  to  determine  that 
such  and  such  studies  were  of  no  importance,  and  made  this  an 
excuse  for  neglecting  them,  although  the  wise  of  every  age  have 
united  in  declaring  their  utility.  I  was  foolish  enough  to  suffer 
almost  all  my  previous  knowledge  of  classical  literature  to  leak 
out  e  cerebro,  and  consequently  I  found  myself  a  much  greater 
dolt  when  I  was  invested  with  the  title  and  immunities  of  an 
A.  B.,  than  when  I  entered  as  an  humble  Freshman.  I  had 
acquired,  not  a  vast  amount  of  erudition,  but  an  insufferable 
budget  of  silly  opinions,  self-conceited  views  of  my  own  abilities, 
and  innumerable  vicious  habits,  which  alone  are  sufficient  to  neu- 
tralize all  the  good  which  a  college  course  can  give  in  the  way 
of  knowledge.  The  labour  of  the  two  last  years  has  but  slightly 
repaired  these  injuries,  and  I  have  hardly  reached  the  point  which 
I  ought  to  have  attained,  at  the  term  of  my  collegiate  race.  To 
proceed  with  my  egotistical  harangue,  (for  I  have  nothing  better 
to  give  you,)  1  have  devoted  most  of  my  time  since  to  classical 
reading,  and  my  eyes  I  think  are  opened  in  some  measure  to 
those  beauties,  which,  blinded  with  ignorant  self-sufficiency,  I  was 
unable  to  perceive  formerly.  It  is  the  fashion  of  this  superficial 
age  to  decry  the  study  of  ancients,  and  more  so  in  America  than 
in  Europe,  more  among  the  idle  and  ignorant  coxcombs  of  this 
day,  than  the  men  of  science  and  taste.  I  had  caught  this  song 
at  college,  and  like  other  graduated  fools  I  presumed  to  laugh  at 
those  authors  who  have  been  the  models  of  taste,  and  fountains 
of  polite  learning,  for  more  ages  than  we  have  lived  years. 
Homer  was  a  favourite  butt  for  my  ridicule.  I  have  read  the  old 
fellow's  Iliad  twice  through  of  late,  with  new  pleasure  at  every 
opening,  and  it  is  my  intention  if  my  life  be  spared,  to  spend  one 
hour  per  diem  for  the  rest  of  my  life  in  reading  the  classics.  No 
doubt,  this  prosing  must  be  offensive  to  you ;  my  next  letter  shall 
be  more  taken  up  about  present  concerns,  as  I  hope  to  receive 
something  from  you  to  serve  as  a  cue  for  my  response.  If  you 
are  curious  to  know  what  I  am  now  studying — I  have  been  for 
some  weeks  upon  metaphysics,  another  of  my  old  despicables ; 
I  now  am  much  enamoured  with  it.  You  know,  doubtless,  that  I 
expect  to  enter  the  theological  seminary  this  fall.  I  anticipate 
the  course  of  theology  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure ;  many  of 


6  JUVENILE   LETTEES. 

my  best  friends  expect  to  enter  with  me,  and  the  studies  are 
such  as  suit  my  taste.  Theology  is  certainly  a  noble  science, 
inasmuch  as  its  subjects  are  the  most  exalted  in  nature,  i.  e.  the 
relations  subsisting  between  man  and  his  Maker.  "  This  is  that 
science,"  says  Locke,  "  which  would  truly  enlarge  men's  minds, 
were  it  studied,  or  permitted  to  be  studied  everywhere,  with  that 
freedom,  love  of  truth  and  charity  which  it  teaches,  and  were  not 
made,  contrary  to  its  nature,  the  occasion  of  strife,  faction,  malig- 
nity, and  narrow  impositions." 

I  did  not  expect,  when  I  began  to  write,  that  I  should  take  up 
two  sheets — but  I  am  proverbially  garrulous,  and  as  I  shall  not 
put  you  to  the  expense  of  a  double  postage,  I  shall  continue  to 
run  on.  I  remember  with  many  pleasing  associations  the  time 
which  I  spent  in  your  city,  about  three  years  ago.  The  traces 
of  sundry  fair  countenances  remain  indistinctly  marked  upon  my 
memory,  and  sundry  boyish  freaks  I  remember  sometimes  with 
pleasure,  and  sometimes  with  a  little  shame.  But  why  should  I 
be  ashamed  ?  Dulce  est  desipcre  in  loco,  (and  the  1st  of  May  and 
thereabouts  is  assuredly  the  proper  season  if  there  is  such  a  locus 
in  the  whole  year,)  and  it  is  no  less  sweet  to  remember  these  desi- 
pientias.  I  might  indulge  in  the  usual  mawkish  reveries  usual 
upon  such  occasions,  such  as  talking  about  "  halcyon  days  "  and 
"  departed  joys  never  to  return ;  "  but  I  will  not  falsify,  I  hope 
to  enjoy  happier  moments  than  these;  I  have  enjoyed  happier 
.moments,  rendered  so  by  nobler  and  purer  joys  than  those. 

I  think  it  probable,  that  I  shall  take  a  journey  Southward  in 
the  Autumn,  to  see  my  relations  in  Lexington,  Staunton,  and 
other  pjarts  of  Virginia ;  my  travelling  lately  has  all  been  tow- 
ards the  North.  My  health  appears  to  me  to  call  for  a  jaunt ;  I 
have  not  been  sick,  but  my  flesh  runs  from  me  by  degrees,  to 
my  great  sorrow.  A  year  ago  I  had  a  very  respectable  portion 
of  fat ;  at  present  my  sharp  bones  poke  out  their  heads,  threat- 
ening to  pierce  the  skin.  Have  I  not  talked  long  enough,  and 
incoherently  enough,  and  tiresomely  enough,  and  nos-met-ipsi- 
cally  enough?  Farewell.  Write,  I  beg  of  you.  Amicus  us- 
que  ad  aras. 

Princeton,  September  1th,  1822,  Sahirday. 

I  received,  a  few  minutes  ago,  your  very  welcome  letter ; 
and  I  begin  an  answer  immediately,  because  I  think  it  probable 
that  a  private  opportunity  of  transmitting  it  will  occur  during 
the  day.  I  feel  relieved  from  much  embarrassment  by  the 
receipt  of  your  goodly  two-sheet  epistle.  You  know  that  a  man 
is  in  a  situation  rather  awkward  when  he  commences  writing  to 
a  new  friend,  or  an  old  one  metamorphosed  by  absence  and 


1819—1822.  7 

years.  What  shall  be  my  topics  1  where  shall  I  begin  ?  are 
the  questions  which  rise  in  his  mind ;  there  is  no  common 
ground  upon  which  he  may  venture,  but  the  ice  once  broken,  all 
to  be  done  is  to  seize  the  cue  presented,  and  swim  down  the  cur- 
rent of  your  thoughts,  wherever  they  lead  you.  Now  the 
current  of  my  thoughts  is  very  apt  to  lead  me  into  dry  prosing, 
or  trifling,  or  some  such  shoal ;  still,  at  all  risks,  here  it  goes, 
neck  or  nothing.  I  pray  you  to  be  content  with  whatever  may 
meet  your  eye,  let  the  partiality  of  friendship  blind  you  to  all 
faults.  And,  as  I  was  talking  of  letter-writing,  let  me  say  a  few 
words  more  upon  the  same  subject.  A  letter,  as  I  take  it,  is 
intended  to  stand  in  lieu  of  an  absent  friend,  to  be  his  proxy  in 
all  things,  to  talk  in  his  stead,  and  convey  his  own  ideas,  in  his 
own  style  of  conversation.  Now,  so  far  as  the  letter  is  a  faithful 
representative,  it  is  a  fair  picture  of  the  disposition  and  senti- 
ments of  its  author,  and  its  value  is  to  be  estimated  not  so  much 
by  the  intrinsic  weight  of  the  opinions  expressed,  or  the  intrinsic 
excellence  of  the  style,  (though  these  things  give  it  new  value,) 
but  by  its  resemblance  to  the  writer.  If  the  writer  be  a  festive 
mercurial  fellow,  and  the  letter  be  as  sage  as  an  epistle  of  Seneca, 
1  would  not  give  a  groat  for  it ;  still  I  would  always  have  a  letter 
be  a  vehicle  of  instruction,  (such  I  am  afraid  this  will  not  be.) 
But  even  this  instruction  must  be  given  in  the  same  way  that  its 
parent  would  give  it  viva  voce.  That  letter  which  is  so  charac- 
teristic as  to  present  its  writer  to  my  eyes  during  the  perusal,  is 
worth  its  weight  in  silver.  And  to  obtain  this  excellence,  the 
writer  of  a  letter  must  be  exceedingly  passive,  and  just  pen 
down  whatever  comes  next.  So  I  intend  to  do,  hoping  that  it 
will  be  as  acceptable,  as  if  I  should  indite  a  profound  dissertation. 
As  this  is  almost  my  first  letter,  I  hope  you  will  pardon  me 
for  dwelling  so  long  upon  epistolary  writing.  I  am  not  a  friend 
to  quotations  in  general,  but  as  I  intend  to  spin  out  a  long  sheet, 
I  cannot  forbear  giving  you  one  from  the  prince  of  letter  writers, 
Cowper.  It  appears  to  me  to  be  the  very  thing.  "  I  am  very 
apt  to  forget,  when  I  have  any  epistolary  business  on  hand,  that 
a  letter  may  be  written  upon  any  thing  or  nothing,  just  as  that 
any  thing  or  nothing  happens  to  occur.  A  man  that  has  a  jour- 
ney before  him  20  miles  in  length,  which  he  is  to  perform  on 
foot,  will  not  hesitate  and  doubt  whether  he  shall  set  out  or 
not,  because  he  does  not  readily  conceive  how  he  shall  ever  reach 
the  end  of  it,  for  he  knows  that  by  the  simple  operation  of  mov- 
ing one  foot  forward  first,  and  then  the  other,  he  shall  be  sure  to 
accomplish  it.  So  it  is  in  the  present  case,  and  so  it  is  in  every 
case  similar.  A  letter  is  written  as  a  conversation  is  maintained, 
or  a  journey  performed,  not  by  preconcerted  or  premeditated 


0  JUVENILE   LETTERS. 

means,  a  new  contrivance,  or  an  invention  never  heard  of  before, 
but  merely  by  maintaining  a  progress,  and  resolving  as  a  postil- 
ion does,  having  once  set  out,  never  to  stop  'till  we  reach  the 
appointed  end."  By  quotation  and  otherwise,  you  perceive  I 
manage  to  maintain  a  progress,  if  nothing  more.  "  An  inter- 
minable preamble,"  you  may  possibly  exclaim,  "  What  grand 
display  is  to  be  made  after  all  this  '  pomp  and  circumstance  1 '  " 

1  will  tell  you  :  I  am  endeavouring  to  explain  to  you  the  terms 
upon  which  this  correspondence  is  to  be  maintained,  upon  my 
part.  As  my  humour  is,  so  will  my  letter  be.  If  I  am  grave 
and  sober  you  may  expect  at  least  a  dull  letter.  If  I  have  been 
reading  poetry,  Cowper,  and  Thomson,  and  Shakespeare,  and 
Ovid,  as  I  have  been  all  the  last  week,  you  may  look  for  just 
such  a  foggy,  sublimated,  ethereal  production  as  the  present. 

You  mention  that  your  character  has  undergone  little  change. 
No  man  is  the  proper  judge  of  his  own  character.  The  changes 
of  our  bodily  frame,  and  of  our  mental  part,  are  so  gradual  and 
imperceptible,  that  they  appear  nothing  to  ourselves.  "  Law 
John  !  how  you  have  grown  !  "  has  doubtless  met  your  ear  oft- 
times  from  the  mouth  of  some  good  old  dame ;  and  the  same 
exclamation  was  mentally  ejaculated  by  me,  in  a  higher  sense, 
while  perusing  your  letter.  I  must  say  something  of  my  own 
habits  and  character.  Without  being  guilty  of  the  enormity  of 
eaves-dropping,  I  have  by  various  chances  heard  the  opinions  of 
divers  persons  respecting  myself,  and  if  I  am  to  judge  of  myself 
by  these,  I  am  truly  an  odd  compound  of  qualities.  "  He's  a  tol- 
erably clever  fellow,"  say  some ;  "  but  very  eccentric."  I  ac- 
knowledge that  I  am  a  clever  fellow,  and  also  eccentric.  As 
to  the  last  attribute,  I  heartily  wish  I  had  none  of  it,  and  that 
my  orbit  were  less  elliptical.  Like  a  comet,  I  am  sometimes 
heated,  and  extravagant,  indulging  in  untimely  mirth ;  and  soon, 
as  you  might  prophesy,  chilled  with  melancholy.  Sometimes  I 
am  accused  of  unseasonable  levity,  and  oftener  of  moroseness 
and  obstinacy ;  so  that,  if  I  take  all  the  advice  which  my  kind 
friends  so  liberally  bestow,  I  shall  soon  find  myself  in  the  pre- 
dicament of  the  old  man,  who  with  his  son  carried  the  ass  to 
market ;  you  remember  the  fable.  I  have  long  since  determined 
to  shape  my  own  course,  without  reference  to  the  opinions  of 
every  counsellor ;  if  I  can  discover  the  path  of  duty,  I  hope  I 
shall  muster  up  courage  to  tread  it.  The  advice  of  my  parents, 
and  those  who  have  a  right  to  counsel,  I  shall  always  deem  inval- 
uable. As  to  my- habits,  there  are. some  which  I  cannot  but 
deplore,  but  which  I  fear  will  cleave  to  me  usque  ad  canitiem : 
among  these  I  rank  first,  an  unconquerable  spirit  of  trifling,  and 
levity ;  my  natural  temperament  makes  me  ready  at  all  times, 


1819—1822.  9 

upon  all  occasions,  for  any  silly  jest — (verbal  jokes,  I  mean,  I 
have  no  taste  for  '  practical  jokes.')  Habits  of  idleness  appeared 
deep-rooted  in  me  when  I  left  college ;  I  have,  however,  happily 
acquired  a  taste  for  study ;  so  that,  as  it  is  my  greatest  pleasure, 
I  wish  I  could  say  that  my  improvement  has  been  proportional 
to  my  labour ;  I  seem  to  have  been  very  laboriously  doing  nothing. 

I  concur  with  you  in  your  general  remarks  upon  education  ; 
still  I  would  amend  your  proposition,  by  saying  that  boys  are 
sent  too  early  to  colleges,  instead  of  " schools"  The  three  or 
four  years  spent  in  college  are  usually  looked  upon  by  the  stu- 
dent, and  the  world,  as  the  top-stones  upon  the  structure  of  his 
education.  A  structure  so  soon  erected,  and  so  slightly,  must 
needs  totter  under  every  hurricane.  As  far  as  I  am  enabled  to 
judge  from  my  own  experience,  I  think  that  boys  should  leave 
school,  about  the  age  that  they  usually  leave  college,  i.  e.  about 
18.  This  indeed  does  not  accord  with  our  present  collegiate 
system,  for  in  that  time  they  would  have  made  a  greater  pro- 
gress than  boys  do  in  their  whole  college-  course.  But  let  the 
standard  of  college  attainments  be  elevated  far  above  its  present 
degree.  Let  the  servile  work  of  learning  to  read  Latin  and 
Greek  be  kept  to  the  schools,  and  even  there  let  it  be  taught 
upon  some  plan  which  shall  not  disgust  the  scholar,  and  make 
him  loathe  those  noble  authors,  which  are  prostituted  to  the  base 
purpose  of  teaching  boys  their  accidence.  Let  boys  be  thor- 
oughly versed  in  the  learned  languages  before  they  enter  any 
college.  This  is  the  plan  pursued  in  most  of  the  European  uni- 
versities. It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  student  should  be 
able  not  merely  to  read,  but  to  talk  Latin,  before  he  can  enter 
them.  Let  the  studies  of  the  schools  be  so  diversified,  and  so 
suited  to  the  taste  of  the  learner,  that  he  may  take  some  pleasure 
in  them.  A  school  thus  conducted,  would  not,  I  think,  cramp 
the  genius  of  any  boy,  but  rather  add  wings  to  it,  and  assist  its 
discursive  flight.  I  think  it  necessary  that  boys  should  be  sent 
early  to  school.  Habits  of  idleness  soon  become  inveterate ; 
still,  let  the  studies  be  proportionate  to  the  scholar's  capacity. 
Another  reason  I  have  for  this  is,  that  boyhood  is  the  time  when 
we  receive  with  most  pleasure,  general  knowledge ;  the  lighter 
kind  of  knowledge  obtained  by  indiscriminate  reading,  and  which 
then  amalgamates  itself  with  the  boy's  previous  knowledge,  and 
sticks  by  him  through  life.  Now  where  is  the  person  who  has 
much  taste  for  this  knowledge,  whose  education  was  not  com- 
menced early  1 

To  go  on  with  my  Utopian  scheme.     I  would  have  the  stu- 
dent learn  in  college,  the  higher  branches  of  education — the  higher 
mathematics,  if  his  taste  led  him  to  pursue  it,  the  philosophy  of 
1* 


10  JUVENILE   LETTERS. 

the  mind,  ethics,  natural  law,  political  economy,  and  the  classics  ; 
not  construing  and  parsing,  (for  I  would  have  him  familiar  with 
them.)  but  investigating  their  beauties,  drawing  from  them  rules 
of  pure  and  correct  criticism,  and  thus  improving  his  taste  and 
judgment.    Above  all,  I  would  have  Shakespeare's  rule  adopted : 

"  Talk  logic  with  acquaintance  that  you  have, 

And  practise  Rhetoric  in  your  common  talk  : 
The  mathematics  and  the  metaphysics 

Fall  to  them  as  your  stomach  serves  you. 

No  profit  grows  where  is  no  pleasure  taken. 

In  brief,  sir,  study  what  you  most  affect." 

September  10th,  Tuesday. 

I  was  unable  to  obtain  an  opportunity  of  sending  what  I  had 
written  on  Saturday,  and  therefore  I  shall  continue  to  scribble 
as  I  have  leisure  until  such  an  opportunity  presents  itself.  My 
father  returned  yesterday,  quite  ill,  from  Newtown,  Pa.  He 
went  on  .Saturday  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  Mr.  Boyd  in  the 
administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  He  preached  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  attempted  it  at  night,  but  fainted  away.  We  were  very 
much  alarmed  when  he  returned.  His  disorder  is  the  dysentery. 
We  hope  that  the  disease  is  subdued  by  the  administration  of 
very  powerful  medicines  yesterday  and  to-day.  He  is,  however, 
still  extremely  weak,  and  keeps  his  bed. 

I  was  going  on  in  answer  to  your  letter  on  Saturday.  Your 
disgust  for  the  ancient  classics  is  by  no  means  wonderful.  The 
method  of  teaching  them  in  our  institutions  of  learning,  is  calcu- 
lated admirably  to  have  that  effect.  When  I  commenced  study- 
ing them  after  1  took  my  degree,  it  was  merely  from  a  sense  of 
their  importance,  and  not  from  any  love  to  them.  I  detested  them 
as  most  nauseous,  and  felt  disposed  to  esteem  all  their  admirers 
arrant  pedants,  and  crack-brained  fools. 

The  words  of  Byron  suited  me  well, 

"  May  he  who  will,  his  recollections  rake 
And  quote  in  classic  raptures,  and  awake 
The  hills  with  Latian  echoes  ;  I  abhorred 
Too  much,  to  conquer  for  the  poet's  sake, 
The  drilled  dull  lesson,  forced  down  word  by  word 
In  my  repugnant  youth,  with  pleasure  to  record 
Aught  that  recalls  the  daily  drug  which  turn'd 
My  sick'ning  memory  ;  and  tho'  time  has  taught 
My  mind  to  meditate  what  then  it  learned, 
Yet  such  the  fixed  inveteracy  wrought 
By  the  impatience  of  my  early  thought, 
That  with  the  freshness  wearing  out,  before 
My  mind  could  relish  what  it  might  have  sought, 
If  free  to  choose,  I  cannot  now  restore 
Its  health,  but  what  it  then  detested  still  abhor." 


1819—1822.  11 

But  I  still  persevered.  Mr.  Hodge  and  I  devoted  an  hour 
each  day  to  the  study  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  writers,  and  con- 
tinued this  practice  for  eighteen  months,  during  which  time  we 
had  read  several  authors :  and  the  effect  has  been  a  thorough 
revolution  of  my  taste.  I  could  now  obey  Horace's  exhortation, 
and  spend  my  days  and  nights  in  perusing  these  authors,  but  I 
do  not  think  the  time  would  be  profitably  spent.  Of  late,  I  have 
been  engaged  in  reading  our  English  poets,  for  whom  I  have  a 
great  esteem.  Cowper  is  my  favorite  among  them  all.  He 
resembles  very  closely  my  other  favorite  Horace.  As  it  regards 
pungency  of  satire,  and  close  and  powerful  argument,  I  think 
these  poets  are  unequalled  by  any  of  their  own  nations.  If  I 
except  the  odes  of  Horace,  and  a  few  blots  in  the  satires,  1  think 
they  are  also  parallel  as  to  morals :  I  mean,  of  course,  to  meas- 
ure each  by  the  standard  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived.  Their 
faults  are  somewhat  alike  also  ;  an  apparent  contempt  of  har- 
mony of  verse,  where  an  idea  would  lose  one  morsel  of  strength 
by  gaining  in  elegance.  I  hope  you  will  determine  not  to  for- 
swear the  reading  of  these  authors  as  I  did  when  I  left  college. 

Thursday,  September  12th. 

You  talk  about  my  crying  you  mercy  on  your  fourth  page : 
what  shall  I  say  upon  my  ninth?  May  I  presume  that  you 
have  had  patience  to  read  thus  far  1  For  want  of  any  thing  to 
say,  I  tell  you  as  another  item  in  our  domestic  annals,  that  as  I 
have  not  been  well,  1  have  been  threshing  in  our  barn  for  an 
hour,  and  consider  it  a  very  excellent  kind  of  exercise,  for  cold 
weather  especially. 

Monday,  l£>th 

I  see  no  reason  why  I  should  not  continue  to  write,  even 
though  I  have  nothing  to  say,  until  I  am  able  to  send  this  to 
you.  I  have  avoided  saying  any  thing  of  my  father's  health  for 
some  days,  because  I  wished  to  inform  you  that  he  was  recovered. 
This  I  am  not  yet  able  to  do  ;  he  has  been  becoming  weaker  and 
weaker,  and  though  the  disease  appears  to  be  checked,  yet  his 
strength  is  completely  prostrated ;  he  has  not  sat  up  since  his 
illness  commenced.  We  believe  that  he  will  gradually  recover 
now ;  but  we  have  been  much  alarmed.  We  have,  however, 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him  at  ease  under  all  his  pain,  per- 
fectly willing  to  live  or  die,  as  the  will  of  God  might  be. 

Trenton,  November  4th,  1822. 
I  came  down  to  this  place  on  Friday  last,  and  the  solicita- 
tions of  friends  and  other  attractions,  have  kept  me  thus  long, 
and  shall  keep  me  probably  some  days  longer. 


12  JUVENILE   LETTERS. 

I  rode  down  on  Saturday  with  a  friend  to  Point  Breeze,  the 
seat  of  his  Ex-Majesty  Joseph,  or  to  use  his  proper  title  Le 
Compte  De  Survilliers.  We  spent  a  long  time  very  agreeably, 
in  strolling  about  his  elegant  villa  and  grounds,  gazing  upon  his 
buildings,  and  lakes,  and  bridges,  and  splendid  statues.  I  felt 
transported  to  some  of  those  European  palaces  which  we  poor 
Americans  are  forced  to  hear  of,  with  itching  ears,  without  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  them. 

The  improvements  which  are  still  almost  in  embryo,  display 
much  taste  in  the  planner,  whoever  he  was,  and  are  in  a  style 
entirely  new  to  me.  He  has  a  daughter  lately  arrived  from 
Europe,  La  Comptesse,  &c. 

To  go  on  in  the  journal  style.  I  heard  Mr.  Armstrong1 
preach  a  most  eloquent  sermon  yesterday  morning ;  he  is  one 
of  my  favorites.  At  night,  Mr.  Ly brand,  the  Methodist, — a  very 
good  preacher, — the  coolest  Methodist  I  ever  heard.  The  Tren- 
tonians  say  that  the  Presbyterians  have  got  the  Methodist 
preacher,  and  the  Methodists  the  Presbyterian. 

My  studies2  begin  on  Thursday,  then  I  am  in  for  a  six 
months'  siege.  I  am  rather  afraid  that  my  health  will  fail.  The 
college  commences  at  the  same  time ;  a  great  accession  is  ex- 
pected. 

My  father  has  entirely  recovered  his  health ;  and  rides  about 
the  country. 

1  The  Rev.  "William  J.  Armstrong,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

2  In  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  which  he  entered  at  the 
time  specified. 


CHAPTER  n. 

LETTERS    FROM    THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 
1822—1824. 

Princeton,  November  22,  1822. 

My  studies  and  interruptions  and  engagements  are  so 
numerous  as  to  leave  me  little  time  for  exercise  and  recreation, 
and  still  less  for  the  less  imperative  duties  of  correspondence, 
&c.  Besides,  our  institution  has  been  in  a  state  of  painful  sus- 
pense and  anxiety  with  respect  to  the  case  of  Krebs  for  some 
days ; 1  he  is  at  last  taken  away,  and  this  left  a  gloom  upon  the 
minds  of  all  of  us.  On  Monday  the  18th  instant  he  was  first 
confined  to  his  bed ;  about  Thursday  he  was  seized  with  a  de- 
lirium, his  fever  raged  from  that  time  with  the  utmost  violence, 
and  all  hopes  of  his  recovery  were  relinquished.  On  Friday 
night  the  Debating  Society  was  adjourned,  and  an  hour  was 
devoted  by  the  students  to  prayers  for  his  recovery  or  his 
restoration  to  reason  and  happy  deliverance  from  this  life. 
During  this  hour,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  he  enjoyed  a  lucid 
interval,  and  though  unable  to  speak,  yet  by  looks  and  signs  he 
manifested  to  my  father  and  all  who  surrounded  him  his  entire 
resignation  to  the  afflicting  hand  of  God,  and  his  joyful  expecta- 
tion of  a  happy  eternity.  Saturday  was  spent  in  religious  duties 
in  his  behalf;  on  Saturday  night  his  fever  abated  and  left  him 
prostrate  as  to  animal  and  mental  strength ;  his  father  and 
mother  arrived  on  Saturday  night,  but  were  not  recognized  by 
him  until  the  next  day.  On  Tuesday  morning  at  1  o'clock 
A.  M.,  I  was  called  up  to  see  him  die,  but  I  declined  going  into 
his  room.     He  melted  away  without  a  groan  or  a  struggle. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  his  corpse  was  taken  in  a  carriage  to 

1  William  George  Krebs,  of  Philadelphia,  a  classmate  of  Mr.  Alexander 
in  College  as  well  as  Seminary.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
A  biographical  sketch,  written  by  his  fellow  student  Mr.  Joseph  S.  Christ- 
mas, (himself  afterwards  so  celebrated  in  the  ministry,)  is  in  Dr.  Green's 
Christian  Advocate  for  October,  1823. 


14:  FEOM  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

Philadelphia,  accompanied  by  seven  or  eight  of  his  fellow  stu- 
dents. Perhaps  I  am  wearying  you  with  what  dwells  so  heavily 
upon  my  own  mind  ;  it  may  not  interest  you.  I  feel  it  to  be  a 
loud  call  to  me  to  be  also  ready  for  this  great  change.  Within 
three  weeks,  three  of  my  college  classmates  have  left  this  world  ; 
all  of  them  far  more  robust,  and  having  the  promise  of  longer 
life  than  myself. 

My  studies  are  overwhelming,  and  as  we  study  subjects 
rather  than  books,  they  are  unlimited.  I  feel  disposed  to  read 
all  that  I  can  on  each  subject,  and  when  I  have  spent  all  my  time 
thus,  I  find  that  I  have  only  stepped  upon  the  thresholds  of 
these  various  apartments  of  science. 

I  thank  you  for  your  intelligence  respecting  the  literary 
improvements  in  your  city.  I  shall  always  rejoice  to  hear  good 
tidings  from  the  place  where  my  early  scenes  of  pleasure  and 
pain  were  chiefly  laid,  and  where  I  received  the  rudiments  of  my 
anomalous  education.  I  always  side  myself  with  Philadelphians 
when  New  York  is  brought  in  competition  with  it,  though  I 
hardly  know  why.  The  associations  of  infancy  ought  not  to  bias 
the  reason  of  more  mature  age.1 

Princeton,  Theol.  Sem.  Last  day  of  1822. 

I  wish  you  all  the  good  wishes  which  are  suggested  by  the 
return  of  this  season  of  festivity,  a  happy  and  profitable  New 
Year  to  you  and  all  your  family.  You  ask  for  particulars 
respecting  the  Seminary,  our  studies,  &c. ;  and  there  is  no  re- 
quest that  I  would  grant  with  greater  pleasure,  for  these  several 
reasons :  Imprimis,  I  love  our  institution  so  much,  and  am  so 
happily  situated  in  every  respect,  that  I  shall  not  be  soon  weary 
of  my  subject.  Secondly,  it  is  an  inexhaustible  subject,  and 
therefore  I  shall  have  no  difficulty  in  filling  up  this  immense 
sheet.  Thirdly,  it  is  a  subject  on  which  I  am  at  home,  and 
therefore  I  shall  write  with  more  ease  and  pleasure.  You  shall 
be  satisfied  as  to  minutiae,  and  so  you  have  upon  the  third  page 
of  this  epistle  a  brief  but  minute  register  of  the  members  of  our 
Seminary,  in  print  too.2 

I  said  I  wras  happy, — never  more  so  in  my  life.  I  enjoy  good 
health,  good  spirits,  and  I  have  a  most  comfortable  room,  and  a 
most  delightful  room  mate.3     I  never  had  so  great  a  variety  of 

1  His  residence  in  Philadelphia  extended  from  December,  1807,  to  July, 
1812 — from  his  fourth  to  his  ninth  year.  This  gave  him  a  short  time  to 
enjoy  the  exact  and  thorough  initiation  into  Latin  Grammar,  for  which  the 
school  of  James  Koss  was  so  deservedly  famous. 

2  The  annual  catalogue,  on  a  folio  sheet. 

3  Jared  B.  Waterbury,  now  D.  D. 


1822—1824.  15 

excellent  company  before  :  Metaphysicians,  Wits,  Theologians, 
&c,  &c.  I  have  here  dearly  prized  friends,  who  endear  Prince- 
ton to  me.  Books  in  the  greatest  abundance,  as  I  have  access  to 
six  public  libraries,  as  well  as  my  father's.  Our  studies  are  not 
burdensome,  and  far  from  being  irksome.  I  saw  a  letter  the 
other  day  from  an  alumnus  of  this  institution  to  a  member  of  it, 

in  which  he  says  :  "  My  dear  C ,  you  are  now  enjoying  your 

happiest  days,  and  whether  you  realize  it  now  or  not,  you  will 
feel  it  deeply  when  you  are  cast  out  upon  the  world."  These 
sentiments  are  not  peculiar  to  this  individual,  I  hear  them  from 
every  one  who  has  ever  been  here.  Indeed,  the  greatest  cares  I 
experience,  are  such  as  arise  from  an  oration  to  be  spoken,  or  a 
tedious  lecture.  Will  you  not  say  with  Virgil,  0  fortunati 
nimiicm  sua  si  bona  norint.  I  will  now  proceed  to  give  you 
some  account  of  my  course  of  life.  I  rise  at  half  after  six. 
Public  prayers  in  the  Oratory  at  7.  Breakfast  at  8.  From  9 
to  9|-,  I  devote  to  bodily  exercise.  From  9^  until  12,  Study. 
12 — 1,  Exercise.  Dine  at  one.  2 — 3, 1  usually  devote  to  works 
of  taste,  and  to  composing.  3 — 4|-  at  Lecture.  4|-  Prayers. 
Until  tea,  at  Exercise.  After  tea,  until  12  (at  which  time  I  close 
my  eyes)  Societies,  study,  &c. 

Perhaps  you  think  I  exercise  my  body  sufficiently.  I  find  it 
absolutely  necessary  to  my  well-being,  or  almost  to  my  being  at 
all.  You  may  think,  too,  that  I  do  not  study  a  great  deal ;  true — 
and  moreover  that  I  need  not  complain  of  want  of  time  for  corre- 
spondence ;  true,  at  present  I  need  not  complain  ;  I  have  plenty 
of  time  for  writing,  and  general  reading.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  term,  before  I  had  fairly  got  into  the  harness,  our  business 
appeared  too  much  to  grasp ;  but  it  is  now  methodized,  and  I 
find  that  I  am  quite  a  gentleman  of  leisure.  To  proceed  :  we 
recite  twice  in  the  week  on  Hebrew,  once  on  Greek,  once  on  the 
Confession  of  Eaith,  once  on  Biblical  History.  Hear  Lectures 
once  on  Theology,  (preparatory  to  the  full  and  regular  theolog- 
ical Lectures,)  twice  on  Biblical  history,  once  on  the  Criticism 
of  the  Original  Scriptures,  once  on  Jewish  Antiquities.  On 
Monday  night,  I  attend  a  society  for  improvement  in  the  crit- 
icism of  the  Bible  ;  President,  Mr.  Hodge.  On  Tuesday  night, 
the  Theological  Society,  where  every  student  delivers  once  in 
six  weeks  an  original  oration.  On  Thursday  night,  I  am  at 
liberty  to  attend  an  evening  lecture  at  the  college.  On  Friday 
night,  Theological  Society,  where  questions  in  ethics  and  divinity 
are  discussed.  On  Saturday  night,  a  weekly  prayer  meeting. 
On  Sunday  we  have  sermons  from  our  three  professors,  and 
Prof.  Lindsly,1  in  rotation. 

1  Philip  Lindsly,  D.  D.,  the  Vice  President  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 


16  FROM  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINAEY. 

The  greatest  advantage  which  I  experience  from  being  in  the 
Seminary,  and  this  is  increased  by  my  being  an  inhabitant  of  the 
house,  is,  that  we  live  in  a  kind  of  literary  atmosphere ;  all  the 
conversation  carried  on  here  is  of  a  literary  kind ;  at  table,  in 
our  walks,  and  wherever  a  cluster  of  us  assembles,  some  lively 
discussion  takes  place  which  causes  our  time  to  fly  very  rapidly 
and  pleasantly  away.  All  our  opinions  are  brought  into  the 
arena  of  free  discussion,  and  we  must  defend  them  or  relinquish 
them.  Opinions  founded  upon  ignorance,  or  prejudice,  habits 
and  manners  which  are  unpleasant,  and  almost  every  eccentricity 
which  is  fostered  during  the  course  of  a  private  education,  is  here 
likely  to  be  rubbed  off.  So  pleasant  is  my  whole  course  of  life 
here,  that  I  feel  not  the  least  desire  to  go  out  into  the  great 
world. 

But  amid  all  my  comforts,  I  am  miserable  unless  when  I  am 
enabled  to  found  my  satisfaction  and  contentment  upon  a  broader 
basis  than  any  thing  temporal.  I  find  no  substantial  unmingled 
pleasure  except  in  a  conscience  void  of  offence  ;  which  that  I  may 
always  possess  is  my  earnest  and  reigning  desire.  I  know  very 
well  how  repugnant  it  is  to  any  one  of  nice  feelings  to  have 
religion  drummed  into  his  ears,  but  I  feel  assured  that  a  word  in 
its  favour  will  not  offend  you.  I  should  be  unworthy  of  the  title 
of  friend,  if  I  did  not  endeavour  in  some  feeble  measure  to  make 
my  friends  partakers  of  the  greatest  happiness  I  can  conceive  of. 

My  habits  have  changed  considerably  since  I  entered  the 
Seminary.  I  have  bidden  farewell  to  ennui,  spleen,  hyp., 
and  all  that  class  of  old  hangers  on :  also  to  the  flute,  to 
romantic  air-castles,  and  walks  in  groves,  to  the  company  of 
ladies — item,  to  poetry,  magazines,  novels,  &c,  &c,  too  tedious 
to  mention. 

Theological  Seminary,  January  30,  1823. 
Another  month  is  tapering  off  to  non-entity,  and  with  it 
closes  the  first  half  of  our  winter  term.  On  Monday  next  com- 
mences a  recess  from  study  of  two  weeks'  duration ;  and,  as  you 
know  that  feelings  of  leisure  and  disenthralment  are  wont  to 
creep  over  one  before  the  vacation  makes  such  feelings  strictly 
allowable,  you  will  not  be  surprised  to  hear  that  I  am  doing 
nothing  about  this  time.  Beware  of  dreaming  that  I  have  noth- 
ing to  do  ;  for  since  that  unwarrantable  boast  in  my  last,  that 
I  was  almost  master  of  my  time,  I  have  been  punished  for  my 
temerity  by  an  influx  of  duties  innumerable.  The  "  pressure  of 
business  "  upon  me  has  been  so  mighty  for  two  or  three  weeks, 
that  my  system  has  been  considerably  deranged  in  its  bodily  as 
well  as  mental  parts.     When  I  speak  of  business,  I  do  not  mean 


1822—1824.  17 

to  convey  to  you  the  impression  that  my  studies,  &c,  have  been 
the  only  absorbents  of  my  time,  for  the  pursuits  of  the  class  dc 
not  necessarily  consume  many  hours  of  the  day ;  but  my  mind 
has  been  harassed  by  a  multitude  of  questions  in  daily  agitation, 
in  these  metaphysico-theologico-literario  walks  of  science ;  ques- 
tions from  which  I  could  not  in  justice  to  myself  turn  away  my 
attention,  but  which  have,  at  the  same  time,  eaten  up  my  vacant 
hours,  and  caused  a  host  of  unanswered  letters  to  lie  in  my 
drawer  praying  for  audience.  At  the  present  moment,  being  10 
o'clock  P.  M.,  (more  or  less,)  I  feel  fit  for  no  severe  exertion ; 
my  animal  spirits  have  been  sucked  up  by  a  difficult  Hebrew 
passage,  a  difficult  mathematical  query,  and  a  difficult  point  in 
morals  since  tea,  so  that  I  am  in  a  very  proper  state  to  utter 
that  farrago  of  floating  ideas  commonly  called  when  taken  in  a 
body,  and  put  on  paper,  "  A  Letter."  These  ideas  have  been 
swimming  in  cerebro,  I  know  not  how  long,  crying  for  enlarge- 
ment, and  I  am  now  arraying  them  before  me  on  this  piece  of 
coarse  foolscap,  (by  the  way,  the  only  connecting  link  between 
them,  so  incoherent  are  they  and  unsocial.) 

My  room  mate  left  me  this  evening.  I  am  now  sole  pro- 
prietor of  this  my  little  chamber.  View  me  in  imagination, 
seated  in  my  chum's  immense  elbow  chair,  writing  by  the  light 
of  a  shaded  lamp,  heated  by  a  funereal  looking  stove  just  before 
me.  Beginning  at  the  south  corner  of  my  domicile,  you  observe 
first  a  row  of  shelves,  containing  all  my  little  store  of  books,  and 
many  not  my  own,  modestly  covered  by  a  gingham  veil.  In  the 
same  corner  you  may  discern  my  spacious  literary  throne  with 
all  its  appendages  of  drawers,  &c.  I  need  not  direct  your  eyes 
to  my  scanty  stock  of  chairs.  A  red  desk  standing  in  solemn 
guise  among  the  sticks  of  fuel  which  lie  in  a  capacious  box,  ready 
to  feed  the  aforesaid  stove.  A  high  stool.  A  table.  A  mirror 
large  enough  to  reflect  my  haggard  features.  An  assortment  of 
trunks,  my  own  and  Waterbury's.  Three  maps.  A  wash  stand 
and  appurtenances.  A  solitary  picture  to  decorate  my  naked 
walls.  A  cluster  of  pantaloons  in  suspense.  An  axe  and  saw 
wherewithal  our  wood  is  cut.  And  finally,  (though  not  least 
precious,)  near  to  my  room  mate's  couch  is  placed  my  lowly 
cot,  into  which  wearied  nature  bids  me  presently  creep.  Par- 
don the  vagaries  of  a  half-crazed  student.  Good-bye,  for  this 
night. 

Friday  Morning,  —  11  A.  M. 
I  can  assure  you  that  I  am  in  no  humour  for  joking  this 
morning.     My  old  complaint  the  blues  has  come  upon  me  like 
a  strong  man  armed.     Misanthropy  is   a  sin  which  threatens 


18  FROM   THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

at  times  to  destroy  not  my  own  comfort  only,  but  that  of  my 
friends  around  me.  I  despise  it,  and  I  loathe  it,  and  yet,  para- 
doxical and  inconsistent  creature,  I  hug  it  to  my  heart.  I  can- 
not say  in  truth  that  I  hate  any  thing  just  now  ;  but  truly  I  am 
depressed  ;  devoured  by  spleen,  and  fostering  a  crabbed,  morose, 
churlish,  silly,  girl-like,  sinful  despondency. 

Excuse  my  never-ending  egotism.  It  is  human  nature  to 
dwell  upon  our  own  real  or  imaginary  misfortunes.  It  is  still 
unreasonable  when  so  many  more  luxuriant  prospects  present 
themselves  for  my  contemplation. 

I  rejoice  at  the  hint  that  you  have  given  me,  that  you  do  not 
feel  that  unmanly  and  dastardly  antipathy  to  the  contemplation 
of  the  noblest  of  all  objects, — the  Great  First  Cause,  and  of  the 
relations  subsisting  between  Him  and  us.  "Why  is  it  that  the 
most  sublime  of  all  sciences,  the  science  of  man  considered  as  an 
immortal  being,  and  of  God  as  the  author  of  that  immortality, 
and  the  only  being  powerful  enough  to  make  it  blissful,  should 
be  shoved  aside  on  all  occasions  from  the  mind's  view,  and 
thrust,  whenever  practicable,  into  oblivion  ?  Is  it  because  our 
interest  in  this  subject  is  small — our  personal  interest  %  because 
these  truths  are  merely  speculative,  and  have  no  bearing  upon 
our  future  and  present  happiness  ?  because  the  importance  of  the 
subject  is  small  %  because  life  is  so  long  as  to  warrant  the  hope 
that  a  better  occasion  for  considering  it  will  occur  %  because  the 
addition  of  years  is  likely  to  take  away  our  reluctance  to  con- 
sider it  candidly  %  because  we  are  not  at  all  criminal  in  neglect- 
ing it  1  because  our  criminality  is  lessened  by  delay  ?  I  think 
that  none  of  these  are  the  arguments  which  keep  us  from  iis 
investigation.  A  real  though  hidden  hatred  of  those  truths 
which  condemn  us,  and  curtail  our  pleasures ;  a  feeling  that  the 
gate  to  heaven  is  a  strait,  a  narrow  gate,  and  that  few  enter  it  on 
account  of  various  encumbrances,  these  things  keep  our  minds 
from  viewing  the  truth  aright.  Till  we  are  willing  to  sacrifice 
pride,  vanity,  love  of  fame  and  pleasure,  and  all  love  of  created 
things  to  the  pure  unalloyed  love  of  God  himself,  we  must 
remain  without  the  gate ;  an  agony  is  requisite  to  enter  it. 
This  is  a  hard  doctrine ;  but  the  kingdom  of  God  suffereth  vio- 
lence, and  so  wre  are  informed  from  the  source  whence  all  our 
knowledge  of  these  things  flows.  The  Scriptures  represent  man 
as  a  rebel,  a  lover  of  himself  rather  than  of  God  ;  they  command 
him  instantly  to  repent,  and  all  means  are  provided  to  enable 
him  to  know  God's  will.  But  it  is  useless  to  speak  of  means  to 
attain  any  end  when  that  end  itself  is  hateful.  The  man  of  the 
world  desires  to  be  happy,  but  he  does  not  desire  to  be  happy 
in  the  way  of  God's  commandment,  in  the  way  of  self-denial, 


1822—1824.  19 

humility,  and  godly  sorrow  and  fear.  I  am  not  at  liberty  to 
say  that  it  is  an  easy  thing  to  become  a  Christian.  It  may  be 
easy  to  a  being,  if  such  there  be,  who  has  no  sins  to  forsake,  no 
pride  to  vanquish ;  who  can,  without  any  reluctance,  crucify 
every  evil  affection  and  unruly  desire,  and  live  agreeably  to  the 
gospel.  Some  one  may  say,  "  Who  does  this  %  no  man  is  sin- 
less "  granted,  but  none  was  ever  a  Christian  who  did  not  desire 
to  do  it. 

Many  are  prejudiced  against  the  Gospel  without  knowing 
what  it  teaches.  No  man  ever  candidly  and  perseveringly 
studied  the  system  of  truths  presented  in  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
taments without  finding  his  belief  in  them  follow.  Where  there 
is  belief,  real,  firm  belief,  that  belief  will  result  in  corresponding 
affections  ;  these  affections  necessarily  lead  to  a  holy  life. 

Theological  Seminary,  1823,  1st  of  March. 
I  was  about  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  prospect  of  your 
speedy  emancipation  from  college  restraints,  but  wheu  I  look 
back  on  my  own  academical  career,  I  can  see  no  ground  for 
congratulation  upon  leaving  it.  I  cannot  picture  to  myself  any 
situation  in  which  a  young  man  has  so  much  happiness  within 
his  grasp  as  at  college,  whether  I  take  into  view  the  season  of 
life,  the  nature  of  his  pursuits,  the  variety  and  congeniality  of  his 
associates,  or  the  fewness  of  his  cares.  You  have  not,  however, 
had  experience  of  the  peculiar  cares  and  pleasures  of  a  genuine 
college  life,  but  you  can  no  doubt  conceive  it.1  I  did  not  myself 
enjoy  it  fully,  as  I  lodged  and  boarded  at  home  during  my  three 
and  a  half  years  ;  but  so  much  of  my  time  was  spent  within 
those  loved  old  walls,  and  so  delightfully  spent  that  I  can  never 
forget  it,  or  think  of  it,  without  a  melancholy  pleasure.  I  am 
constrained  to  own  that  many  of  my  most  jovial  hours  at  Nassau 
Hall,  were  spent  in  a  manner  not  exact] y  conformable  to  strict 
morals,  but  nevertheless  I  have  there  spent  what  I  shall  always 
consider  my  happiest  hours.  I  often  recall  a  merry  circle  of 
careless  college  blades  seated  about  "  the  witching  time  of 
night "  around  a  Nassau  fire,  by  the  way  a  pre-eminently  good 
one,  enveloped  in  fragrant  clouds,  enjoying  all  that  flow  of  youth- 
ful hilarity  and  good  humour,  which  a  release  from  irksome  duty 
engenders.  Perhaps  I  feel  too  much  pleasure  in  contemplating 
these  old  scenes  ;  but  in  my  hours  of  twilight  musing,  and  castle- 
building,  I  often  read  in  a  bed  of  glowing  coals,  the  almost  faded 
story  of  these  old  times,  and  picture  to  myself  the  future  various 
destinies  of  my  old  friends  and  classmates.     But  these  joys 

1  His  correspondent  was  in  the  University  of  bis  ov.n  city  and  home. 


20  FEOM  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINAEY. 

though  they  were  sweet  when  I  was  in  the  midst  of  them,  vanish 
in  comparison  with  others  which  I  experienced  within  those  same 
walls. 

It  was  there  that,  I  humbly  trust,  my  eyes  were  first  opened 
to  see  the  true  value  of  eternal  things  ;  there  I  first  saw  with 
clearness,  the  awful  nature  of  the  rebellion  which  I  was  waging 
against  my  best  friend  and  sovereign ;  and  I  there  first  deter- 
mined to  give  up  all  hopes  of  happiness  from  the  world,  and  to 
seek  it  in  religion.  I  need  not  tell  you  that  my  determinations 
and  resolutions  have  been  broken,  and  unfulfilled,  and  that  I  find 
every  day  the  truth  of  that  solemn  declaration,  that  the  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God,  and  is  not,  nor  can  it  be,  subject  to 
his  law.  At  the  time  of  which  I  speak,  I  enjoyed  happiness 
which  I  can  find  no  words  to  express,  and  which  has  been  lost 
only  because  I  have  so  often  returned  to  seek  my  consolation 
from  mere  earthly  enjoyment.  There  cannot  certainly  be  on 
earth  any  greater  pleasure  than  to  see  without  doubt,  oneself 
condemned  justly  by  God's  law,  and  at  the  same  time  saved 
freely  by  the  sovereign  mercy  of  God  in  Christ.  The  satisfac- 
tion which  I  then  felt  in  committing  all  my  cares  and  concerns, 
my  soul  and  body,  into  the,  hands  of  a  Saviour  whose  infinitely 
lovely  character  I  then  saw,  I  never  expect  to  receive  from  any 
other  source.  I  remember  that  at  that  time,  I  looked  back  with 
unspeakable  astonishment  at  the  carelessness  and  indifference 
with  which  I  had  viewed  the  realities  of  another  world ;  with 
what  calmness  I  could  contemplate  all  the  particulars  of  my 
unfeeling  ingratitude  to  God,  and  I  remember  that  I  then  thought, 
that  if  at  any  time  I  had  seriously  and  soberly  considered  these 
things  for  one  hour,  I  could  not  have  viewed  them  any  longer 
with  apathy.  The  friendships  which  I  formed  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, are  the  closest  and  most  tender  I  have  ever  known  ; 
and  I  feel  attached  to  these  friends  in  a  way  which  I  never  knew 
any  thing  about  before.  Perhaps  you  may  ask,  "  Does  religion 
make  you  happy  1 "  Alas  !  If  I  possessed  religion  in  its  purity, 
unalloyed,  I  should  be  perfectly  happy ;  but  I  do  not ;  my  soul 
is  still  attached  to  the  beggarly  elements  of  this  world,  and  I  fear 
to  say  that  I  am  a  Christian.  But  this  I  can  say  :  When  I  feel 
most  deeply  the  force  of  divine  truth,  that  is,  when  I  feel  myself 
most  deeply  a  lost  sinner,  when  I  see  the  hellish  blackness  of  sin, 
and  the  infinite  loveliness  of  the  divine  character,  then  1  feel  most 
happy.  I  have  known  seasons  when  I  could  willingly  have  given 
up  my  life,  and  departed  to  enjoy  the  most  unspeakable  raptures 
of  the  heavenly  state ;  when  I  could  so  unreservedly  devote 
myself  to  God  as  to  be  willing  to  live  or  die,  to  go  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth,  or  dwell  in  obscurity  just  as  he  pleased,  to  say  ex 


1822—1824.  21 

aninio,  Thy  will  be  done,  and  at  such  times,  I  have  felt  more 
unmixed  bliss  in  one  half  hour  than  in  a  month  as  I  commonly 
spend  it. 

No  reasonable  excuse  can  be  given  by  any  man  for  not 
loving  supremely  the  most  adorably  perfect  being  in  the  uni- 
verse. God  calls  upon  all  men  now  to  repent,  and  has  sanc- 
tioned his  command  by  most  terrific  threats,  and  alluring  prom- 
ises. But  I  need  not  tell  you  these  things.  You  have  doubtless 
heard  them  urged  powerfully  and  repeatedly,  and  I  am  but  tres- 
passing upon  your  patience. 

Theological  Seminary,  April  10th,  1823. 

I  should  commence  by  making  an  apology  for  writing  on  so 
ungain  a  piece  of  foolscap,  if  I  had  not  a  kind  of  dim  remem- 
brance of  having  sent  you  my  ideas  in  the  same  homely  vehicle 
once  before.  It  is  large,  it  suits  my  unmanageable  pen,  and 
above  all  it  is  at  hand  ;  so  that  you  may  consider  it  as  a  predi- 
lection of  mine,  and  judge  of  the  letter  by  the  contents.  And 
judging  of  it  even  in  this  way,  I  fear  that  you  will  have  to  exer- 
cise much  clemency  to  suffer  it  to  pass.  I  can  assure  you  that 
after  having  spent  a  day  in  investigating  Hebrew  roots,  one  feels 
little  energy  of  mind  or  body ;  and  moreover  there  is  such  a 
stagnation  hereabouts  at  this  time,  that  I  can  promise  you  noth- 
ing interesting.  The  trustees  of  the  college  met  yesterday  and 
on  Tuesday,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  president.1  Professor 
Lindsly  was  chosen  President,  and  the  Rev.  Jared  D.  Fyler,  of 
Trenton,  Vice  President  in  case  Mr.  Lindsly  should  accept  his 
appointment.  Mr.  Lindsly  requests  four  weeks  for  deliberation, 
which  the  Board  have  granted.  They  will  meet  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  ensuing  session,  to  receive  Mr.  L.'s  final  an- 
swer. It  is  generally  supposed  in  this  place  that  he  will  not 
accept  the  office.  You  probably  know  that  he  has  lately  re- 
ceived an  invitation  to  the  college  at  Nashville,  Tennessee  :  they 
have  made  him  very  good  offers,  and  many  of  his  friends  think 
that  he  will  go  to  that  institution.8 

The  college  has  dragged  along  rather  lamely  during  the  past 
winter.  It  has  had  no  president,  no  regular  professor  of  Math- 
ematical and  Physical  science,  and  the  tutors  are  young  and 
inexperienced.  Mr.  Lindsly's  administration  has  gained  uni- 
versal approbation,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  but  what  could  one 
man,  even  of  Mr.  Lindsly's  talents,  do  when  clogged  by  so  many 

1  Dr.  Ashbel  Green  had  resigned  the  presidency  in  1822. 

2  Dr.  Lindsly  having  declined  the  appointment,  Dr.  Carnahan  was  elect- 
ed, and  filled  the  office  for  thirty  years. 


22  FEOM   THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 

disadvantages  1  The  college  has  scarcely  ever,  during  the  last 
fifteen  years,  received  a  greater  addition  to  its  numbers  than  at 
the  beginning  of  the  last  session.  I  scarcely  ever  visit  the  college 
— indeed  there  is  nothing  there  to  interest  me  except  the  Whiff 
Society,  to  which  I  pay  an  occasional  visit.  My  time  passes  so 
happily  and  so  busily  up  here,  that  I  feel  not  the  least  disposi- 
tion to  leave  my  domicile.  When  I  walk  for  exercise,  I  usually 
plunge  into  the  thick  woods  to  the  east  and  south-east ;  I  am 
fond  of  such  roaming,  especially  at  this  season,  when  nature  is 
beginning  to  resume  her  verdant  drapery.  I  have  indeed  lost 
much  of  the  romance  which  formerly  entered  so  deeply  into  my 
character ;  but  I  still  like  to  indulge  sometimes  in  moonlight 
reveries,  and  rambles  through  dark  and  melancholy  groves,  or 
to  catch  the  sweet  breath  of  rising  morn  upon  some  gentle  hill ; 
but  I  am  soon  ejected  from  any  such  elevations  of  fancy  by  the 
sober  realities  of  life  as  it  is.  The  great  pressure  of  studies,  and 
the  solemn  prospect  of  the  responsible  duties  which  I  expect 
before  long  to  assume,  dispel  those  airy  visions  which  will  some- 
times rise  before  me  in  the  shape  of  multiform  delightful  scenes 
of  "  fairy-land."  A  dark  cloud  of  melancholy  sometimes  casts  a 
shade  over  my  horizon,  but  it  is  only  for  a  moment ;  my  great- 
est struggles  are  with  a  childish  levity,  and  love  of  joke,  and 
quip,  and  jollity,  which  I  would  gladly  leave  behind  me  in  the 
regions  of  boyhood.  My  native  loquacity  leads  me  to  give  you 
a  long  letter,  even  full  of  egotism,  in  preference  to  sending  you 
a  short  abstract  of  the  floating  news  ;  all  that  floats  here  has 
been  afloat  until  it  is  putrid  and  unfit  for  transportation.  A  few 
days  since,  we  had  a  visit  from  David  Brown,  a  Cherokee,  who 
is  one  of  the  new  converts  from  Paganism ;  he  has  been  two 
years  in  the  foreign  mission  school  at  Cornwall,  Connecticut, 
and  is  now  taking  a  course  of  theological  lectures  at  Andover. 
He  is  genteel  in  his  manners,  has  an  agreeable  expression  of 
countenance,  his  face  about  the  hue  of  my  own,  not  quite  so 
mahogany  as  most  of  his  tribe.  His  attainments  in  literature 
are  truly  astonishing,  when  his  opportunities  of  acquiring  knowl- 
edge are  taken  into  consideration.  He  expects  in  about  a  year 
to  return  to  that  part  of  his  tribe  which  lives  upon  the  Arkansas, 
where  he  hopes  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  manifests  great  zeal 
in  the  cause  which  he  has  espoused,  and  his  piety  is  apparently 
such  as  to  put  to  shame  the  majority  of  white  professors. 
When  I  look  upon  such  a  person,  changed  so  radically  in  opin- 
ions, and  temper,  and  practice,  and  consider  how  little  could  have 
been  effected  in  this  way  by  mere  moral  suasion  founded  on 
natural  principles  ;  I  am  constrained  to  say,  that  the  gospel  is 
the  wisdom  and  the  power  of  God.     To  civilize  these  wandering 


1822—1824.  23 

tribes  in  any  other  way,  than  by  Christianizing  them,  I  am  more 
and  more  convinced  would  be  impossible ;  and  I  rejoice  in  the 
hope  that  every  relic  of  barbarous  idolatry  and  superstition  will 
soon  be  extirpated  by  this  holy  religion. 

Do  you  read  Dr.  Green's  Advocate?  He  has  devoted  a 
large  portion  of  its  pages  to  the  productions  of  our  students.  In 
the  last  number  "  the  "Dissertation  on  Types,"  on  "  the  Style  of 
the  New. Testament,"  and  the  "  Death  of  Rebecca,"  are  the  effu- 
sions of  some  of  my  acquaintances.  As  for  me,  supposing  that 
I  could  produce  any  thing  not  intolerable,  my  time  is  so  en- 
grossed by  study,  that  I  have  no  leisure  for  such  attempts.  I 
have  bidden  a  reluctant  farewell  to  poetry,  classical  reading,  and 
indeed  every  department  of  general  literature. 

Princeton,  12th  July,  1823. 
Since  the  close  of  the  vacation  I  have  been  striving  hard  to 
find  a  little  recess  from  stated  engagements,  in  which  I  might 
answer  the  communications  of  my  friends.  But  our  studies, 
now  much  increased,  and  the  press  of  business  on  me  as  an 
individual,  and  a  very  variable  state  of  health,  have  not  left  me 
one  hour  in  which  my  mind  was  sufficiently  disengaged  to  sit 
down  at  writing.  This  letter,  if  I  am  not  greatly  mistaken,  will 
be  eminently  dull,  and  in  that  respect  be  a  good  representative  of 
its  author,  who  is  superlatively  so  just  now,  in  consequence  of 
being  pent  up  all  last  evening  in  a  close,  crowded,  hot  room,  in 
attendance  upon  our  Friday  night  debate.  The  discussion  was 
peculiarly  interesting,  and  ably  conducted,  and  engaged  my  close 
attention  for  nearly  three  hours  ;  which  was  so  much  the  worse 
for  me,  as  the  excitement  produced  by  it  has  been  now  succeeded 
by  its  usual  consequent,  a  grievous  stupidity  and  head-ache.  In 
our  societies,  one  of  my  greatest  pleasures  is  to  observe  the  de- 
velopment of  uncommon  characters,  a  satisfaction  which  our 
institution  affords  in  a  high  degree,  as  it  embraces  specimens  of 
every  variety  of  American  temper  and  manners  which  is  not 
inconsistent  with  religion.  We  have  the  Yankee  and  the  Ken- 
tuckian,  the  clown  and  the  cit,  the  baccalaureate  and  the  back- 
woodsman, the  fastidious  critic  just  emerged  from  a  long  con- 
finement in  the  schools,  and  the  rough  unshapen  child  of  na- 
ture fresh  from  the  plough.  Few  countries  whose  inhabitants 
have  branched  out  so  generally  from  one  stock  as  ours,  have 
their  different  provinces  marked  as  strongly  by  characteristic 
peculiarities  as  the  United  States.  Politeness  is  a  thing  known 
only  nominally  among  students — I  speak  of  the  formulas  of  the 
bon  ton.  By  mutual  consent,  we  deal  plainly  with  each  other, 
and  waive  the  observance  of  fashionable  etiquette.    This  gives  us 


24:  FROM  THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

a  better  opportunity  of  discovering  character.  The  garb  of 
worldly  politeness  is  so  uniform  as  to  hide  in  great  measure 
individual  peculiarities.  "Were  I  to  seek  for  the  soul  of  true 
politeness,  I  should  look  towards  the  South,  but  it  would  need 
the  external  polish  of  our  own  Middle  States  to  make  it  perfectly 
suitable  to  fine  taste.  Nothing  new  in  this  stagnant  pool.  I  am 
almost  deliquesced  by  the  oppressive  heat ;  if  I  am  suffering  so 
much  at  a  window  in  a  current  of  air,  what  must  the  reapers 
suffer  whom  I  see  in  the  harvest  fields  around,  all  this  day  ?  I 
sometimes  wish  I  had  the  Schuylkill  here  for  the  purposes  of 
bathing  ;  in  lieu  of  it,  I  have  to  walk  a  great  distance  to  swim  in 
a  little  turbid  stream,  or  to  be  content  with  the  shower-bath.  I 
am  glad  to  see  a  new  edition  of  Erskine's  evidences ;  for  clear 
and  irresistible  argument,  and  for  elegance  and  originality,  com- 
mend me  to  Erskine. 

Princeton,  29th  August,  1823. 

You  have  begun  to  think,  if  I  augur  rightly,  that  your  Prince- 
ton correspondent  is  either  strangely  indolent,  or  wilfully  neg- 
lectful, or  perhaps  both.  Neither,  I  can  assure  you,  if  he  knows 
himself.  An  imprudent  application  to  study  during  the  first 
weeks  of  this  summer,  and  a  neglect  of  regular  exercise,  entirely 
unnerved  me,  rendered  studying  highly  perilous,  and  drove  me 
from  my  books  to  wander  hither  and  thither  in  quest  of  health 
and  spirits.  This  has  been  my  business  for  a  month  or  two 
past ;  and  if  you  know  any  thing  of  the  feelings  of  a  genuine 
hypochondriac  either  by  report  or  experiment,  you  need  not  be 
informed  that  I  felt  little  like  handling  a  quill,  and  least  of  all 
like  writing  a  tolerable  letter. 

The  amusements  of  several  little  excursions  have,  by  the  per- 
mission of  a  watchful  Providence  ever  kinder  than  I  deserve, 
restored  me  to  my  usual  health,  and  I  am  just  beginning  to  re- 
sume my  regular  studies.  I  was  upon  the  Atlantic,  and  perhaps 
laved  by  its  surges  at  the  same  time  with  yourself,  and  heartily 
concur  in  all  your  praises.  I  know  no  recreation  comparable  to 
a  sea-bath  ;  the  excitement  produced  by  the  conflict  with  the  surf, 
the  stimulating  effects  of  the  salt  water,  and  the  healthful  invig- 
orating sea-breezes,  have  a  better  effect  on  me  than  all  the  nau- 
seous potions  of  all  the  quacks  in  Christendom.  My  visit  to 
Long  Branch  was  peculiarly  agreeable  from  the  concurrence  of  a 
number  of  circumstances.  We  had  fine  weather,  fine  company, 
good  accommodations,  a  season  unusually  fresh  and  verdant,  and 
a  spot  of  country  (about  Shrewsbury)  which  for  richness  and 
fertility  is  second  to  none  in  this  state.  I  was  surprised  to  find 
upon  the  high  ridges  of  the  Middletown  hills,  which  are  a  contin- 


1822—1824.  25 

uation  of  the  Navesink  chain,  numerous  beds  of  marl,  abounding 
with  shells  and  other  marine  remains  which  indicate  the  alluvial 
nature  of  even  those  lofty  eminences.  But  in  connection  with  this, 
I  was  still  more  astonished  to  see  the  relics  of  a  mammoth,  lately 
dug  out  of  a  low  piece  of  marsh  ground  in  Poplar  Swamp,  a  spot 
which  must  undoubtedly  have  been  redeemed  from  the  ocean. 
These  bones  were  discovered  within  a  few  feet  of  the  surface,  in 
good  preservation,  but  are  now  rapidly  mouldering  upon  exposure 
to  the  atmosphere.  One  of  the  teeth  weighs  three  and  a  quarter 
pounds,  and  the  knee-joint  according  to  my  hasty  measurement 
is  two  feet  in  circumference.  It  is  probable  that  I  shall  pass  the 
ensuing  winter  in  Virginia.  I  feel  it  to  be  a  duty  to  sacrifice  my 
plans  and  inclinations  to  the  acquisition  of  some  hardihood  of 
constitution.  I  congratulate  you  upon  your  enlargement  from 
collegiate  restraints,  although  I  cannot  hope  that  you  have  bet- 
tered your  condition,  if  your  college  course  has  been  as  devoid 
of  care  and  uneasiness  as  my  own.  Your  feelings  upon  the  occa- 
sion are  natural,  for  the  day  of  one's  graduation  is,  so  to  speak, 
the  day  of  initiation  into  the  toils  and  mysteries  of  manhood. 
You  speak  as  though  your  future  pursuits  were  entirely  unde- 
termined. This  is  well ;  the  danger  in  this  age  is  of  hurrying 
prematurely  into  the  bustle  and  responsibility  of  public  life. 
You  appear  to  think  of  devoting  a  year  or  two  to  private  study. 
If  this  is  your  plan  let  me  exhort  you  to  procure  as  many 
restraints  and  stimuli  as  you  can  ;  either  by  the  superintendence 
of  some  literary  friend,  or  by  associating  some  companion  in 
your  studies.  This  I  say  upon  the  supposition  that  your  charac- 
ter and  feelings  are  like  mine,  and  like  most  young  men.  It  is 
difficult  for  one  who  feels  himself  entirely  at  leisure  to  exercise 
that  decided  resolution,  and  persevering  self-denial  without  which 
it  is  impossible  to  make  literary  attainments.  [From  experience 
which  is  now  the  subject  of  bitter  regret,  I  know  that  the  tempta- 
tions to  gratify  imagination  and  taste  and  idle  curiosity  at  the 
expense  of  mental  discipline  are  almost  irresistible. 

I  shall  not  ask  forgiveness  for  suggesting,  what  has  no  doubt 
suggested  itself  to  you,  the  importance  of  forming  moral  as  well 
as  intellectual  character  at  this  critical  point  of  time.  Religion, 
that  bug-bear  of  the  thoughtless  and  the  voluptuary,  and  the 
laughing-stock  of  "  the  many  "  who  know  it  only  by  name,  is 
after  all  that  can  be  said,  the  only  safeguard  to  virtue,  and  the 
only  source  of  real  tranquillity  of  mind.  Aside  from  the  peace 
occasioned  by  the  quelling  of  an  angry  conscience,  and  the  release 
from  fears  of  future  evil,  the  positive  joys  of  religion  are  truly 
unspeakable.  The  lofty  and  sublime  contemplations,  the  solid 
and  rational  hopes,  the  intimacy  with  Him  who  ruleth  over  allj 
vol.  i. — 2 


26  FKOM   THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 

the  remedy  for  every  care  which  piety  professes  to  afford,  and 
which  its  votaries  say  it  does  afford,  surely  are  sufficient  recom- 
mendations to  one  who  looks  beyond  the  outskirts  of  this  limited 
world. 

Princeton,  September  22,  1823. 
The  present  week,  of  all  weeks  in  the  year,  is  a  week  of  com- 
motion and  anxiety  to  me,  as  it  is  one  of  jovialness  and  satisfac- 
tion to  thousands  of  my  fellow  Jerseymen.  The  noise,  and  bus- 
tle, and  dust,  and  novelty  which  strike  the  senses  on  our  com- 
mencement day,  and  even  for  several  days  before  and  after  it 
give  my  irritable  fibres  a  most  villanous  agitation.  You  have 
witnessed  one  of  our  annual  literary  Saturnalia,  if  I  remember 
rightly,  and  if  so  need  not  be  told  how  this  town  appears  more 
like  the  Amphyctionic  council  of  all  our  American  Bedlams,  than 
of  the  lovers  of  science  and  letters.  I  am  writing  this  letter,  be 
it  known,  with  the  expectation  of  tearing  it  to  pieces,  as  I  hope 
to  see  you  here  at  our  holiday,  and  to  be  delivered  from  the  ne- 
cessity of  addressing  you  in  the  imperfect  language  of  ink  and 
paper.  However,  as  the  second  cord  to  my  bow,  I  am  deliver- 
ing my  mind  of  its  present  scum,  which  I  have  in  mind  to  send  in 
case  we  should  not  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  here. 

Tuesday,  September  23. 
I  was  prevented  from  concluding  my  letter  yesterday,  and 
have  discovered  from  your  classmate  [T.  L.]  Janeway,  that  we 
shall  not  have  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  from  you  to-morrow.  It 
was  unwelcome  intelligence.  I  was  hoping  to  have  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  meeting  you  here  at  this  season  which  presents  more  nov- 
elty and  interesting  speculation  to  a  stranger  than  any  other.  I 
should  have  been  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  introducing  you  to 
the  ancient  and  honorable  fraternity  of  "  American  Whigs." 
Janeway  has  received  a  hereditary  predilection  for  the  Clios,  and 
has  (I  think  very  properly)  followed  its  dictates.  My  old  col- 
lege friends,  and  our  family  acquaintances,  are  already  pouring  in 
upon  me.  It  is  gratifying,  as  you  will  find  hereafter,  to  meet 
after  the  lapse  of  two  or  three  years,  even  those  companions  in 
study  who  were  never  intimates  or  confidants.  Some  of  my  co- 
bachelors  have  outstripped  me  in  a  variety  of  ways.  Some 
(proh  scelus  !)  have  been  guilty  of  matrimony.  Some  are  on  the 
verge  of  the  same  gulf.  Some  are  licensed  man-slayers.  One 
or  two  have  already  begun  to  fill  some  space  in  the  public  eye 
as  lawyers,  in  the  south.  The  pleasure  of  our  meeting  has,  how- 
ever, received  a  damp  from  the  recent  intelligence  of  the  death 
of  Edward  Thomas,  captain's  clerk  on  board  the  "  John  Adams." 


1822—1824.  27 

He  was  graduated  with  me,  and  pursued  legal  studies  for  about 
two  years.  He  was  a  young  man  of  uncommon  acuteness  and 
vigour  of  intellect,  and  of  promising  abilities  as  an  orator  ;  and 
though  singular  and  eccentric  in  some  of  his  habits,  was  generally 
esteemed  by  his  acquaintances.  He  is  the  sixth  of  the  class  of 
1823  who  have  departed  this  life.  A  call  so  loud  to  me  to  be 
ready  to  depart  also,  has  roused  my  sluggish  mind  to  look  around 
me  for  a  moment ;  but  alas  the  return  to  slumber  is  so  much 
more  natural  to  wicked  man,  that  I  am  led  to  think  that  in  most 
cases,  the  repetition  of  such  alarms,  unless  effectual  at  first,  seems 
only  to  deaden  the  feelings  to  all  their  influence.  Death  is  not 
dreadful  to  me  now ;  what  new  terrors  may  be  disclosed  by  the 
dark  and  melancholy  scenes  of  a  sick  chamber,  and  the  more 
dark  forebodings  which  are  the  harbingers  of  this  imperial  de- 
stroyer, I  know  not.  My  life  and  virtues  and  merits  are  so 
utterly  destitute  of  having  any  value,  intrinsic,  or  as  purchasers 
of  immortality,  that,  were  my  hopes  based  on  them  in  any  de- 
gree, I  would  be  willing  to  take  the  shortest  road  out  of  this  life. 
But  I  do  daily  see  an  increasing  glory  in  that  Saviour  who  was 
once  to  me  an  object,  to  say  the  least,  of  indifference,  which  de- 
clares him  to  be  my  ground  of  confidence,  and  my  only  source 
of  joy.  I  confess  that  few,  very  few  of  my  thoughts  are  fixed  on 
him  ;  I  say  few  with  reference  to  the  degree  in  which  I  ought  to 
fix  my  eye  upon  him,  but  joy,  real  and  unequivocal  joy,  I 
never  have,  or  expect  or  desire  to  have  in  any  other. 

Shall  I  leave  this  point  1  Perhaps  the  only  effect  on  you  is 
a  revulsion  of  feeling  such  as  I  have  myself  experienced  from  a 
similar  cause.  I  am  far  from  wishing  to  obtrude  my  own  no- 
tions or  emotions  upon  any  friend  ;  and  I  know  from  experience, 
too  well  the  impolicy  and  absurdity  of  recommending  religion 
pugnis  et  calcibus,  to  cram  my  hortations  down  any  man's  throat. 
But  I  do  wish  to  let  our  correspondence  assume  something  more 
than  the  reserved  Antarctic  character  of  two  shopkeepers.  If 
there  is  any  thing  in  religion  which  renders  it  unfit  for  communi- 
cation, or  repugnant  to  social  confidence,  or  which  like  Free 
Masonry  is  not  to  be  hinted  at,  or  spoken  about  except  in  conse- 
crated houses,  away  with  it  out  of  the  earth  !  I  would  be  the 
first  to  lift  up  both  hands  in  execration  of  so  icy  and  dissociating 
a  principle.  But  I  know  it  to  be  something  far  different.  I 
know  that  there  is  not  any  exercise  of  those  affections  (which  are 
ever  seeking  exercise  somewhere)  so  truly  social  and  endearing 
as  the  exercise  of  them  upon  the  enlivening  truths  and  realities 
of  Jesus  Christ's  gospel.  I  know  that  there  is  an  exquisite  satis- 
faction in  that  kindly  feeling  which  Christianity  encourages  and 
keeps  alive.     And  I  know  that  had  this  side  of  the  picture  met 


28  FROM   THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

my  eye  some  years  ago,  instead  of  the  harsh  lines  which  are 
sometimes  foolishly  exhibited,  that  I  should  not  have  so  long  like 
a  condemned  criminal  shrunk  and  retreated  with  such  mental 
imbecility  from  all  that  bore  the  stamp  of  religion.  Godliness 
is  profitable  for  all  things  ;  having  the  promise  of  this  as  well  as 
the  coming  life. 

Thursday. 

This  letter,  you  must  begin  to  think,  is  long  in  finding  a 
conclusion.  I  was  turned  out  of  my  room,  on  the  day  before 
yesterday,  to  make  space  for  a  stranger ;  and,  as  this  was  done 
while  I  was  abroad,  this  letter  was  shut  up  among  my  other 
effects  until  this  afternoon.  The  dampness  and  coldness  yester- 
day prevented  such  a  multitude  of  persons  from  assembling  as 
we  are  accustomed  to  see.  Our  village  was  consequently  com- 
paratively quiet.  I  have  seen  however  several  persons  bearing 
sad  marks  of  the  frolicking  last  night.  For  any  particulars 
relating  to  the  exercises  of  the  day,  I  refer  you  to  Janeway,  who, 
I  believe,  was  a  constant  and  attentive  observer. 

I  am  entirely  run  out  of  spirits  by  the  continual  excitement 
of  the  last  two  or  three  days.  My  Virginia  bubble  is  exploded. 
I  shall  expect  to  spend  the  next  year,  Providence  permitting,  in 
my  old  course  of  seclusion.  I  am,  upon  the  whole,  glad  of  this 
disappointment.  Although  no  one  can  be  more  fond  of  travel- 
ling than  I,  yet  the  pleasing  retirement  and  warm  attachments 
of  our  seminary  have  so  enchained  my  affections  that  it  was  like 
tearing  apart  my  heart's  fibres  to  think  of  going  away. 

Princeton,  October  23,  1823. 
The  openness  and  candour  with  which  you  have  met  my  pro- 
posals of  a  new  set  of  topics  for  our  correspondence,  have  grat- 
ified me  very  much.  I  rejoice  to  find  that  the  important  inter- 
ests of  religion  have  gained  so  much  of  your  attention,  and  would 
beg  you  not  to  suffer  this  attention  to  decrease  or  to  remain  with- 
out increase.  To  come  more  directly  to  the  points  of  inquiry 
suggested  by  you.  I  entertain  no  shadow  of  a  doubt  that  a 
patient  and  scriptural  method  of  seeking  God's  favour  was  never 
yet  fruitless.  Indeed,  while  I  profess  to  have  faith  in  the  word 
of  God,  no  truth  can  be  plainer ;  it  rests  on  the  immutable  word 
of  Jehovah.  The  pursuit  may  be  a  dark  and  tedious  and  dis- 
couraging one,  and  yet  compared  with  the  glory  of  that  "  a^a- 
pavTivov  t^s  So£?7s  crre<£avov,"  which  is  the  prize  held  forth,  how  do 
all  these  labours  dwindle  to  nothing.  Among  a  host  of  Scrip- 
ture passages,  look  at  these  :  Ps.  lxxxvi.  5.  Joel.  ii.  32.  Rom. 
X.  12,  13.     The  search  must  be  indeed  most  sincere.     Compare 


1822—1824.  29 

the  petitions  which  you  have  offered  to  God  for  this  great  favour 
with  what  you  may  conceive  to  be  the  cries  of  one  pleading  for 
his  life,  and  then  compare  the  temporal  and  the  eternal  life. 
Deut.  iv.  29.  Jcr.  xxix.  13.  For  encouragement,  for  truths 
calculated  to  awaken  as  well  as  to  soothe  the  conscience,  for 
advice  and  direction  infinitely  more  infallible  than  that  of  a  fel- 
low worm,  fly  to  the  precious  volume  of  God's  word.  There,  be 
assured,  a  prayerful,  indefatigable,  daily  search  will  open  to  you 
supplies  suited  to  all  your  necessities.  I  would  have  you 
believe  not  one  tittle  of  what,  after  diligent  examination,  you  find 
not  there.  But  then  that  holy  book  is  to  be  approached  without 
prejudice  or  prepossession.  Let  me  use  the  words  of  Chalmers, 
"  We  must  bring  a  free  and  unoccupied  mind  to  the  exercise. 
It  must  not  be  the  pride  or  the  obstinacy  of  self-formed  opinions, 
or  the  haughty  independence  of  him  who  thinks  he  has  reached 
the  manhood  of  his  understanding.  We  must  bring  with  us  the 
docility  of  a  child  if  we  want  to  gain  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
There  must  be  no  garbling  of  that  which  is  entire,  no  darkening 
of  that  which  is  luminous,  no  softening  down  of  that  which  is 
authoritative  or  severe.  The  Bible  will  allow  of  no  compro- 
mise."— "  If  we  could  only  abandon  all  our  former  conceptions, 
if  we  felt  that  our  business  was  to  submit  to  the  oracles  of  God, 
and  that  we  are  not  called  upon  to  effect  a  reconciliation  betwixt 
a  revealed  doctrine  of  the  Bible  and  an  assumed  or  encogitated 
principle  of  our  own, — then  we  are  satisfied  that  we  should  find 
the  language  of  the  New  Testament  to  have  as  much  clear,  and 
precise,  and  didactive  simplicity,  as  the  language  of  any  sage  or 
philosopher  which  has  come  down  to  us."  (Chalmers'  Evidences, 
last  chapter).  Our  reverence  for  the  Bible  is  truly  hypocritical 
when  we  are  content  to  study  it  with  less  assiduity  than  a  thou- 
sand things  which  we  may  know  and  eternally  perish.  I  trust 
that  I  shall  yet  rejoice  with  you  in  the  words  of  Is.  xxv.  9. 

I  wish  to  discourage  no  one  from  the  acquisition  of  any  lan- 
guage. My  remark  to  Janeway1  was  meant  to  have  special 
reference  to  the  to  Sj.So.ktoj/  of  French  works.  I  cordially  concur 
with  you  and  with  the  whole  republic  of  letters,  as  to  the  inad- 
equacy of  a  translation  to  convey  the  beauties  of  literature.  I 
must  still  confess  that  after  dabbling  for  six  years  in  French  lit- 
erature,  I  find  my  ardour  quite  cooled  as  to  the  exquisite  rich- 
ness of  that  department  of  letters  :  and  this  has  been  the  result 
with  most  of  my  acquaintances  who  have  studied  the  language 
However,  go  on — no  language  is  to  be  despised,  especially  one 
which  opens  the  door  to  so  vast  a  range  of  authors  as  the  French, 

1  Supposed  to  be  unfavourable  to  the  study  of  the  French  language. 


30  FROM   THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMTNAEY. 

The  exercise  of  mind  too,  which  the  study  of  language  affords  in 
comparing  words  and  idioms,  has  a  powerful  influence  in  render- 
ing our  ideas  precise  and  definite. 

When  you  next  happen  to  be  in  a  book  store  please  to  price 
any  small  editions  of  Demosthenes  and  any  of  Xenophon's  or 
Plato's  works.  1  prefer  German  editions ;  and  those  which  have 
the  Greek  text  without  notes  or  version. 

Princeton,  December  8th,  1823. 
Your  last  letter  has  been  lying  unanswered  for  a  month,  and 
would  probably  lie  a  month  longer,  if  I  should  wait  until  my 
mind  is  sufficiently  free  from  occupation  to  leave  me  in  a  fit  state 
to  write  a.  letter.  I  have  indeed  hours  of  release  from  study,  but 
after  a  day  of  close  confinement  to  metaphysical  or  ethical  sub- 
jects, I  confess  that  I  feel  less  inclined  to  nothing  than  handling 
a  pen.     If  you  have  ever  spent  three  or  four  weeks  in  thinking 

"  Of  Providence,  foreknowledge,  will,  and  fate, 
Fix'd  fate,  free-will,  foreknowledge  absolute, 
And  found  no  end  in  wandering  mazes  lost," 

you  may  conceive  of  the  mental  exhaustion  which  I  now  expe- 
rience. Clarke  and  Leibnitz,  Hume  and  Brown,  have  led  me  an 
enchanting,  but  dangerous  flight  through  the  clouds  of  specula- 
tion by  day,  and  have  danced  before  my  brain  in  the  phantasms 
of  the  night.  It  is  my  satisfaction  to  know  after  all  the  mortifi- 
cation consequent  upon  a  view  of  the  inscrutable  nature  of  many 
questions  in  morals,  that  the  path  to  heaven  and  perfect  unal- 
loyed enjoyment  of  the  truth  is  open  to  the  humblest  and  sim- 
plest child  of  Adam.  The  New  Testament,  while  it  inculcates  a 
system  unparalleled  for  its  sublimity  and  consistency,  is  obscured 
by  no  sophistical  refinements,  and  defies  the  attempts  of  philo- 
sophy to  complete  or  systematize  it  more  fully.  The  general 
impression  left  by  an  hour's  humble  reading  of  God's  word  is 
unlike  the  effect  of  any  other  work.  It  is  a  feeling  of  calm  sub- 
missive tranquillity.  I  am  inclined,  therefore,  to  think  that 
nothing  tends  so  directly  to  the  formation  of  a  truly  Christian 
character  as  the  continual,  prayerful,  unquestioning  perusal  of 
the  Scriptures.  They  do  not  present  naked  doctrines  ;  they  are 
addressed  to  the  natural  feelings,  and  they  affect  our  hearts 
imperceptibly  but  powerfully.  Let  me  pray  you  to  be  a  dili- 
gent student  of  this  holy  book.  He  who  takes  delight  in  the 
Bible  must  imbibe  its  spirit ;  and  its  influence,  I  think,  is  all- 
powerful.  After  the  learned  prating  of  philosophers,  the  sweet 
and  modest  words  of  inspiration  fall  on  my  ear  like  melody. 


1822—1824  31 

Wednesday,  10 th. 
A  goodly  chasm  in  the  epistle !  and  yet,  I  assure  you,  left 
without  any  possibility  of  remedy,  by  the  variety  of  engage- 
ments which  pull  me  hither  and  thither.  Besides  the  recita- 
tions of  this  week,  which  force  me  to  read  about  COO  octavo 
pages,  I  have  to  sit  four  hours  in  our  Theological  Society  two 
nights  in  the  week ;  and  have  now  on  hand,  preparation  for  de- 
bating on  next  Monday  night ;  item,  an  oration  to  be  transcribed 
and  committed  for  Tuesday,  and  one  to  be  composed  and  com- 
mitted for  Monday.  Except  as  it  interferes  with  pleasant  extra 
duties,  I  do  not  complain  of  this  ;  it  is  infinitely  preferable  to  an 
ennuyeuse  vacation  in  which  I  begin  and  leave  unfinished  a  thou- 
sand different  things.  Your  situation  in  the  city  is  truly  envia- 
ble on  one  account, — the  facilities  afforded  by  it  for  the  reasona- 
ble and  convenient  purchase  of  books.  Many  valuable  works 
are  knocked  down  at  occasional  auctions  to  persons  who  cannot 
at  all  appreciate  them,  and  who  get  them  for  almost  nothing. 
Our  seminary  is  very  full — our  numbers  more  than  100.  Col- 
lege rather  thin.  I  dropped  two  sermons  of  Dr.  Lindsly's  into 
the  office  for  you.1  They  would  give  more  pleasure  to  one  who 
discerned  his  characteristic  manner,  as  we  do,  in  every  para- 
graph ;  1  think  they  will  please  you,  however,  from  the  untamed 
vigour  of  the  style.  Our  temporary  teacher  of  Chemistry,  Mr 
Halsey,  has  come  to  hand,  and  is  commencing  operations.2 

Princeton,  December  29,  1823. 

Your  full  letters  are  always  welcome,  and  with  the  general 
principles  of  your  last  I  am  inclined  to  coincide.  The  venom 
and  unhallowed  fire  which  have  sometimes  characterized  the  con- 
troversies of  Christians  I  can  heartily  agree  with  you  in  depre- 
cating. The  wisdom  of  the  serpent  is  more  sought  after  in  this 
day  by  many  than  the  mildness  of  the  dove.  I  can  also  from  the 
heart  subscribe  to  the  doctrine  that  "  secret  things  belong  to 
God,"  and  that  those  only  are  to  be  set  up  as  necessary  tenets 
which  God  has  revealed  to  us  in  his  sacred  oracles.3  Polemics,  I 
fear,  will  not  abate  in  their  virulence  among  the  soi-distant  lovers 
of  truth, 

1  "  Improvement  of  Time.  Two  Discourses  delivered  in  the  chapel  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  December,  1822." 

2  Luther  Halsey,  D.  D.,  Professor  from  1824  to  1829. 

3  His  correspondent  had  quoted  Bishop  Watson's  sentence — "  En  co- 
dicem  sacrum — here  is  the  fountain  of  truth.  "Why  do  you  follow  the 
Btreams  derived  from  it  by  the  sophistry,  or  polluted  by  the  error  of 
men  ?  " 


32  FROM   THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 

"  Till  warned,  or  by  experience  taught  tbey  learn 
That  not  to  know  at  large  of  things  remote, 
From  use  obscure  and  subtle,  but  to  know 
That  which  before  us  lies  in  daily  life 
Is  the  prime  wisdom ;  what  is  more,  is  fume, 
Or  emptiness,  or  fond  impertinence  : 
And  renders  us  in  things  that  most  concern 
Unpractised,  unprepared,  and  still  to  seek." 

Paradise  Lost,  B.  8. 

While  I  would  adhere  to  these  opinions  with  all  the  powers 
of  my  soul,  I  would  still  desire  to  maintain  a  firm  and  unshaken 
zeal  for  the  truth  of  the  scriptures.  It  is  not  the  "  contending 
for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,"  which  is  reprehensible, 
but  the  manner  of  contending,  so  unholy  and  so  repugnant  to 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  God  forbid  that  I  should  conceive  that 
one  truth,  even  the  least,  of  that  system  which  he  has  revealed  is 
unimportant,  or  undeserving  of  strenuous  exertion  for  its  main- 
tenance. To  our  limited  vision  many  doctrines  may  appear 
destitute  of  any  practical  bearing,  as  some  parts  of  the  animal 
fabric  seem  useless ;  and  yet,  so  impious  would  it  be  to  charge 
God  with  inculcating  doctrines  which  might  or  might  not  be  be- 
lieved with  equal  security,  that  as  to  the  symmetry  of  the  Divine 
plan,  I  should  say — 

"  If  from  the  chain  a  single  link  you  strike, 
Tenth  or  ten  thousandth  breaks  the  chain  alike." 

The  creed  of  professing  Christians  was  originally  brief  and  sim- 
ple. All  creeds  are  barriers  erected  against  error,  and  of  course 
must  grow  and  change  with  the  phases  of  heresy.  The  primitive 
confession  of  faith  was  one  sentence,  (Acts  viii.  37.)  The  sym- 
bol called  the  Apostles'  creed  grew  out  of  the  necessity  of  the 
times,  and  was  reared  as  a  defence  against  those  who  denied  the 
Godhead  or  the  real  passion  of  Christ.  The  Athanasian  creed 
as  it  stands  in  the  English  Liturgy  is  still  more  complex,  and 
our  own  formula  being  directed  against  a  variety  of  opponents  is 
quite  a  volume.  Many  of  its  clauses  ought  to  be  expunged,  as 
referring  to  Catholic  tenets,  and  peculiar  errors,  from  which  we 
are  now  sufficiently  guarded.  "  The  purest  churches  under 
heaven,"  says  our  Confession,  "  are  subject  both  to  mixture  and 
error,"  and  therefore  I  should  not  feel  secure  in  adopting  every 
sentiment  of  our  church,  while  I  consider  the  system  called  Cal- 
vinistic,  as  the  only  system  founded  on  the  obvious  meaning  of 
the  Bible,  the  only  system  reconcileable  to  a  sound  philosophy, 
and  the  most  consoling  system  to  one  who  feels  himself  a  lost 
sinner.  I  say  this  after  having  once  risen  against  the  doctrine  of 
Rom.  ix.  15,  with  all  the  enmity  of  a  rebellious  heart.     I  trust 


1822—1824.  33 

that  God  has  convinced  me  that  no  '■'  foreknowledge  of  my  con- 
duct "  was  his  motive  for  rescuing  me  from  the  slavery  of  sin  ; 
(alas,  had  this  been  the  case,  my  conduct  would  have  secured  me 
eternal  wrath,)  and  that  "  not  according  to  our  works,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  own  purpose  and  grace,  which  was  given  us  in  Christ 
Jesus  before  the  world  began."  I  wish  to  impose  my  private 
sentiments  on  no  man  ;  as  I  have  already  said,  go  to  the  Bible, 
and  believe  not  one  word  which  is  not  there  written.  But  I 
entreat  of  you,  let  not  metaphysical  speculations,  or  preposses- 
sions antecedent  to  inquiry,  forestall  your  judgment. 


Princeton,  lUh  January,  1824. 

I  know  how  to  sympathize  with  you  in  your  late  disappoint- 
ment, [a  journey.]  It  is  the  twin  to  one  which  occasioned  me 
some  disquietude  last  autumn,  and  which  1  have  not  yet  ceased 
to  regret.  Whether  from  the  early  associations  produced  by  an 
ancient  collection  of  travels,  over  which  I  used  to  pore  in  my 
first  reading  days,  and  which  tinges  with  old  remembrances  my 
air-castles  and  my  dreams  to  this  day,  or  from  some  causes 
more  latent,  I  do  not  profess  to  know,  but  there  is  in  my  char- 
acter a,  restless,  burning  desire  for  peregrination,  an  anxious 
expectation  of  some  opportunity  to  rove  beyond  seas  and  moun- 
tains. Such  feelings,  as  wild  and  romantic,  I  have  endeavoured 
to  quell ;  and  yet  in  all  my  studies  the  thought  floats  up,  (and 
especially  when  I  read  or  think  of  foreign  countries,)  that  I  am 
preparing  to  wander,  at  some  day,  far  from  home.  Our  wishes 
are  not  always  proportioned  or  accommodated  to  our  character 
and  abilities,  and  perhaps  the  sooner  this  whim  is  crushed,  the 
better.  But  all  transmarine  voyages  apart,  my  wish  to  visit 
Virginia,  the  old  dominion,  the  land  of  my  fathers,  my  own  natal 
soil, — to  see  the  ruin  (now  a  barn)  in  which  my  grandfather 
preached,  the  valley  where  I  first  saw  the  sun,  the  mountains 
where  my  father  spent  his  boyhood,  and  where  the  Alexanders 
are  "  rife  "  even  now  ;  this  wish  I  wTould  not,  and  cannot  repress. 
As  to  Greece,  your  second  topic,  it  has  all  my  heart.  I  have  just 
been  reading  the  report  of  Webster's  noble  speech,  [on  the  Greek 
revolution.]  It  is  apparent  that  he  has  laboured  to  keep  under 
all  undue  enthusiasm,  and  that  his  sentiments  instead  of  out- 
running the  popular  feeling,  have,  as  expressed,  fallen  far  short 
of  it.  This  man  has  commanded  my  highest  admiration  by  what 
he  has  at  times  exhibited  to  the  public. 

The  language  of  modern  Greece,  from  what  I  can  learn,  has 
changed  more  as  it  regards  idiom  and  construction,  than  in  sin- 
gle words.  The  Eomaic  is  modernized  by  the  peculiar  use  of 
vol.  i. — 2* 


34  FROM   THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 

the  auxiliaries  and  prepositions,  and  has  lost  that  force  which 
declension  strictly  so  called,  conferred  on  the  old  Greek.  The 
most  satisfactory  piece  I  recollect  on  the  subject,  is  in  a  No.  of 
the  Quarterly,  some  years  back.  The  Pilot  they  are  reading 
this  moment  down  stairs.  I  have  been  in  old  times  so  whirled 
and  crazed  by  novels,  that  I  try  to  keep  clear  of  the  vortex, 
though  I  generally  skim  this  class  of  books. 

The  North  American  Review  is  likely  to  keep  up  its  reputa- 
tion and  merit.  Mr.  E.,  it  is  hinted,  finds  the  sphere  of  clerical 
and  even  literary  influence  too  small  for  his  ambition.  He  is 
young,  handsome,  and  fascinating,  conscious  of  mental  force,  and 
well-informed  as  to  his  high  character,  and  he  intends,  as  is  said, 
to  make  a  launch  into  the  political  world.  His  studies  for  some 
years  have  had  a  leaning  this  way,  and  general  policy  has  en- 
grossed his  pen,  with  a  few  exceptions. 

Boston  and  Cambridge,  which  may  be  considered  as,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  the  seats  of  literature  in  America,  are  daily 
increasing  their  claim  to  this  character.  The  men  who  enjoy  the 
rich  and  sinecure  professorships  in  the  university  find  time  and 
means  abundant  to  woo  the  muses.  Rational  religion,  in  this 
sense  of  the  term,  lays  too  slight  a  hold  upon  the  heart  to  excite 
great  zeal  for  their  tenets,  and  they  appear  before  the  world  as 
literati,  rather  than  as  Christian  ministers. 

I  do  desire  to  see  learning  prosper,  to  be  learned  myself;  I 
desire  to  be  happy  in  the  good  things  of  this  world,  so  far  as 
consistent  with  virtue ;  I  desire  to  commend  Christianity  to  the 
world  by  all  that  charm  which  courtesy  and  cheerfulness  can 
give  to  as  rude  a  piece  as  I, — yet  I  could  curse  myself,  (however 
unfaithful  I  may  be  now,  or  alas  may  be  hereafter,)  if  I  thought 
that  I  could  ever  consent  to  make  merchandise  of  the  cross,  by 
bartering  it  for  aught  of  earth.  My  wish  is,  in  my  humble 
measure,  to  make  every  effort  tend  to  one  point,  the  establish- 
ment of  Christ's  kingdom  on  earth,  and  in  the  hearts  of  men. 
And  O  that  future  devotedness  might  take  the  place  of  the 
worldly  spirit  that  has,  and  does  prey  upon  my  peace.  It  would 
give  me  unfeigned  joy,  my  dear  friend,  to  see  you  brought  to 
this  noble  stand  which  I  wish  we  may  both  reach, — to  renounce 
the  joys,  honours,  cares  of  the  present  life,  for  the  sake  of  living 
for  God.  Our  only  excuse,  our  only  inability  is  our  guilty,  low, 
irrational  love  of  the  world  and  of  self.  God  demands  our  hearts 
this  moment.  As  a  sovereign  he  thunders  his  requisition,  as  a 
father  he  whispers  pardon,  reconciliation,  assistance.  And  what 
shall  we  mention  to  Him  as  the  object  of  our  preference  to  his 
service  1  Pleasure  ?  gain  ?  ease  ?  glory  1  Life  is  a  vapour,  and 
we  know  it.     Joy  is  fleeting.     Let  us  determine,  at  least,  to  per- 


1822—1824.  3o 

ish  in  search  of  God.  I  trust  you  suspect  me  of  no  wish  to 
lead  you  to  any  system.  Read  God's  word,  without  comment, 
without  prepossession,  without  cavil. 

Princeton,  February  24,  1824. 
Instead  of  being  in  the  lecture  room,  my  proper  place  at  this 
hour,  I  am  squandering  away  the  time  at  home,  and  among  other 
matters  commencing  to  spin  out  something  which  may  pass  for 
a  letter.  I  thank  you  for  your  last ;  for  the  length  of  it,  and  the 
information  which  you  were  so  kind  as  to  communicate.  In 
addition  to  what  I  have  already  learnt  from  you,  I  should  like  to 
have  this  problem  resolved,  viz. :  How  could  the  "  Allgemeine 
Litteratur  Zeitung  von  Leipzig  "  be  got  at, — on  what  terms, — 
and  with  what  hopes  of  regular  transmission  ?  You  speak  of 
having  the  small-pox  near  you,  and  among  you  ; — we  have  had 
two  cases  in  Princeton  but  its  progress  has,  I  think,  been  effec- 
tually stopped.  One  of  our  students  has  been  very  near  death 
with  the  bilious  colic,  but  has  recovered.  In  the  near  prospect 
of  death,  he  manifested  great  joy  in  the  hope  of  soon  meeting 
face  to  face  the  Saviour  whom  he  had  taken  as  his  portion. 
Death,  to  him,  seemed  despoiled  of  all  that  is  terrific.  Bucknall, 
another  of  our  students,  is  lying  extremely  ill  with  what  appears 
a  rapid  consumption.  Little  hope  is  entertained  of  his  recovery. 
So  many  friends,  companions,  and  classmates  have  sunk  around 
me,  that  I  seem  most  loudly  called  on  to  be  ready  also,  as  being 
ignorant  of  the  day  or  hour  when  my  soul  shall  be  demanded. 
Would  to  God  that  I  might  be  excited  to  do  what  is  remaining 
to  be  done  with  all  my  might, — to  become  more  holy,  and  to 
strive  not  to  be  taken  from  the  earth  without  having  done  any 
thing  for  the  benefit  of  my  fellow-men.  My  qualifications  for 
the  ministry  are  so  slight  and  defective  that  I  shudder  at  the 
thought  of  being  in  eighteen  months  invested  with  that  sacred 
office.  So  much  ignorance,  inexperience,  and  immaturity,  seem 
ill  to  befit  the  character  of  a  teacher  and  pastor.  The  truth  is,  I 
feel  too  young;  and  could  I  dispose  of  my  time  profitably,  I 
should  be  glad  to  intermit  my  regular  theological  course  for  a 
year  or  two.  Dr.  [J.  P.]  Wilson  I  have  a  great  curiosity  to 
hear,  and  if  I  should  ever  come  to  Philadelphia  shall  certainly 
make  it  a  principal  point  in  my  memoranda  to  go  to  his  church. 
Philadelphia  would  certainly  lose  a  bright  and  shining  light  at 
his  death.  Apropos  of  preaching, — have  you  read  [Edward] 
Irving  1  He  has  certainly  been  shamefully  misrepresented  by 
the  tribe  of  angry  critics ;  and  yet  with  all  his  originality,  and 
all  his  occasional  strength  and  pathos,  he  makes  me  unspeakably 
splenetic  with  his  nauseous  affectation  of  obsolete  words  and  man- 


6b  FKOM  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

ner,  and  his  contempt  for  all  logical  method.  Whoever  compares 
him  with  Robert  Hall,  (the  most  eloquent  and  classical  writer  of 
the  age,  if  my  judgment  is  taken,)  will  see  that  mighty  power, 
and  a  style  rich  and  elegant,  and  matter  original  and  weighty, 
are  not  inconsistent  with  the  strictest  observance  of  rhetorical 
rules,  and  the  strictest  conformity  to  the  polite  usage  of  Ian 
guage. 

Mr. has  thrown  the  gauntlet,  as  you  have  probably 

seen,  into  the  peaceful  camp  of  the  Quakers,  and  challenged 
them  with  something  of  the  old  Cameronian  spirit.  Although  I 
think  that  Quaker  error  ought  to  be  opposed,  and  that  the  Quaker 
arguments  do  receive  their  answer  in  one  and  another  part  of  his 
book,  yet  I  see  more  wit  than  argument  in  his  work,  and  more  levity 
than  becomes  subjects  so  solemn,  and  a  community  so  respecta- 
ble. However,  it  will  uncover  the  nakedness  of  Quakerism,  I 
trust,  to  some  of  the  rising  generation,  and  make  them  ashamed 
of  the  mysticism  which  they  have  hitherto  swallowed  without 
knowing  why  or  wherefore.  I  hope  your  progress  in  French  is 
satisfactory.  The  pittance  of  knowledge  which  I  once  had  is 
fast  leaking  out,  as  all  knowledge  that  is  neglected,  must.  I  need 
some  stimulus  greater  than  any  which  I  now  enjoy  to  make  me 
read  French  ;  I  hardly  open  a  French  author  once  a  month.  To 
acquire  a  good  knowledge  of  the  language  would  be  a  strong 
inducement  for  me  to  spend  some  time  in  your  city.  My  inti- 
mate friends  in  Philadelphia  are  very  few  at  present.  You  are 
my  only  regular  correspondent ;  and  to  knit,  in  my  own  name, 
all  the  old  family  acquaintances,  is  what  I  shall  never  attempt. 
Hutton  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum  is  a  particular  and  inesti- 
mable friend,  and  with  him  I  believe  the  list  ends.  Any  thing 
favourable  in  the  literary  world'? — in  your  city  %  You  have 
probably  read  Sprague's  ode  for  the  Shakespeare  jubilee.  That 
production  seems  to  me  the  best  lyric  that  I  have  ever  seen  from 
an  American  pen.  It  breathes  the  spirit  of  Collins  and  Gray.  I 
wish  to  see  American  literature  take  a  start.  I  long  for  the  time 
when  our  productions  shall  be  truly  American,  not  slavish  copies 
of  Transatlantic  works,  but  impressed  with  the  national  charac- 
ter. Our  forests,  and  mountains,  and  waters,  surely  furnish 
scenes  second  to  none  that  European  poets  and  romancers  have 
hackneyed,  and  our  mighty  works  of  nature  might,  I  should 
suppose,  inspire  a  feeling  as  ethereal  as  ever  prompted  the  The- 
ban  Pindar.     On  this  score  I  can  quarrel  with  Sprague. 

New  magazines,  they  tell  me  are  afloat  in  both  our  great 
cities.  I  hope  you  will  not  let  the  New  Yorker  outdo  }^ou.  I 
believe  that,  as  far  as  enterprise  is  concerned,  the  New  York  maga- 
zine has  its  advantage  in  its  proximity  to  the  "  land  of  notions." 


1822—1824.  37 

The  Lethean  influence  of  Quakerism  in  your  town  is,  I  fear, 
almost  as  inimical  to  the  Muses,  as  the  commercial  turmoil  of 
New  York  ;  yet  if  Philadelphia  cannot  support  a  better  monthly 
publication  than  either  Blackwood's  or  Campbell's,  [London  New 
Monthly^  which,  me  judice,  are  the  merest  froth  conceivable,  then 
my  notions  of  Philadelphia  talent  are  amazingly  out  of  the  way. 
The  great  difficulty  in  America  appears  to  be,  that  literary  men 
must  (from  pecuniary  motives)  be  professional  men,  and  must 
needs  give  all  their  labour  to  their  professions.  In  Europe  there 
are  literary  men  of  leisure,  by  scores,  who  wrrite  for  periodical 
w^orks.  The  compensation  made  in  England  for  compositions 
are  sufficient  to  feed  poor  authors. 

Princeton,  March  Yl th,  1824. 
You  have  begun  the  law.  Success  to  you,  and  all  your  future 
clients.  I  am  not  one  of  those  who  suppose  the  profession  of  the 
law  incompatible  with  the  strictest  integrity,  although  I  think, 
what  I  believe  no  one  denies,  that  its  dangers  and  temptations 
are  considerable.  The  general  principles  of  politics  and  juris- 
prudence you  will  no  doubt  find  agreeable  ;  indeed,  I  should  like 
very  well  to  glance  at  the  subject  myself  for  a  few  months.  We 
are  fond  of  sketching  fancy  visions  of  future  life.  Where  is  it 
probable  that  you  will  turn  your  face  after  being  admitted  to 
practise  ?  Do  you  expect  to  continue  a  Philadelphian,  or  do 
you  banish  all  such  queries  ?  If  you  retort  the  question,  as  it 
would  be  natural  to  do,  I  must  say,  that  my  mind  is  in  suspense. 
My  constitution  calls  for  a  Northern  climate.  Lower  Canada 
would  suit  me :  my  feelings  and  prepossessions  wrould  lead  me 
southward,  but  slavery  appals  me  :  literary  considerations  make 
the  Middle  States  alluring,  though  I  can't  say  that  this  latitude  fits 
my  temperament.  The  wants  of  the  church  point  out  a  large 
expanse  of  territory  to  the  South  and  West,  and  I  confess  that 
(as  the  Quakers  say)  I  feel  a  drawing  to  those  three  sister  States 
north  of  the  Ohio,  where  slavery  has  not  set  her  foot.  Is  it 
probable  that  wre  shall  ever  appropinquate  1  Wherever  I  may 
go,  I  trust  that  duty  and  a  desire  of  usefulness  will  sway  me. 
If  my  life  is  spared,  it  is  not  improbable  that  I  shall  spend  two 
or  three  years  in  itinerating.  I  feel  daily  my  need  of  personal 
converse  with  the  world  which  is  to  be  the  theatre  and  the  sub- 
ject of  my  future  operations.  The  clown,  the  mere  student,  the 
bookworm,  though  vastly  learned,  is  no  more  fit  to  produce  a  moral 
than  a  political  revolution  ;  yet  this  is  what  w^e  aim  at.  I  am 
happy  to  observe  by  the  public  prints,  as  well  as  by  private 
information,  that  extemporary  preaching  is  becoming  more  and 
more  common,  even  in  the  frozen  East  and  North,  and  that  the 


38  FKOM   THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

opposition  to  the  cold,  unnatural,  modern  way  of  pleading  with 
dying  sinners,  is  increasing.  Lawyers  are  not  often  heard  to 
complain  of  an  inability  to  extemporize,  nor  should  a  clergy- 
man ;  and  he  who  does  is  unfit  for  the  pulpit.  This  change  is 
peculiarly  consolatory  to  me.  I  never  expect  to  be  able  to  read 
a  sermon  with  any  life ;  and  as  to  committing  to  memory,  I 
would  rather  write  ten  sermons  than  get  one  by  heart.  Upon 
this  ground,  I  reckon  our  debating  societies  among  the  most 
interesting  and  important  institutions  about  our  Seminary. 

Monday,  22c?. 
You  may  judge  how  little  I  am  master  of  my  own  time  by 
the  abrupt  manner  in  which  I  left  what  I  had  written ;  I  shall 
now  endeavour  to  finish.  I  observe  that  I  spoke  of  itinerating, 
on  the  other  page :  my  reference  was  to  land-journeying,  and  I 
forgot  to  make  any  allusion  to  my  dreams  of  transmarine  pere- 
grination, which  event  is  always  to  be  excepted  in  my  calcula- 
tions.    Four  years  hence and  where  shall  we  be  %  what 

manner  of  persons  1  how  employed  ?  If  the  impenetrable  cur- 
tain which  screens  the  future  could  be  drawn  aside,  we  might  see 
some  astonishing  and  unexpected  change.  It  may  be  that  the 
grave  may  then  contain  my  mortal  part,  or  the  'depths  of  the  sea ; 
or  care  and  affliction  may  have  eaten  out  all  hopes  of  terres- 
trial peace,  or  a  thousand  other  results,  now  unthought  of.  All 
things  here  suffer  change,  all  things  created  are  fleeting,  God 
only  remains.  My  dear  friend,  shall  we  not  attach  ourselves  to 
this  only  support  which  can  sustain  the  final  shock  ?  Is  it  not 
desirable,  is  it  not  wise,  to  "  lay  hold  on  the  strength  of  God  "  1 
Small  as  our  experience  is,  it  ought  to  have  informed  us  that  the 
joys  of  this  world  are  sweet  and  fascinating  only  in  the  pursuit, 
and  that  supposing  and  granting  that  they  were  exquisite  in  pos- 
session, they  fade  away  like  the  tints  of  morning  clouds.  This 
you  have  heard,  no  doubt,  until,  perhaps,  you  are  weary  of  it. 
And  yet  if  these  things  do  not  affect  us  now,  when  the  heart  is 
susceptible,  when  its  fibres  are  not  entwined  so  closely  as  they 
shall  be  around  the  world,  when  we  have  not  become  intoxicated 
with  pleasure  and  glory,  is  it  to  be  hoped  that  they  will  affect 
us  when  the  storm  and  hurricane  of  life  is  maddening  us  1  Par- 
don me  for  saying  that  I  consider  the  present  moment  of  your 
life  a  most  critical  moment,  pregnant  perhaps  with  eternal  con- 
sequences. You  have  made  election  of  a  profession,  and  expect 
very  soon  to  enter  upon  its  active  duties.  Now  I  do  not  say 
that  by  becoming  a  lawyer  you  put  yourself  out  of  the  reach  of 
religious  influence,  or  that  the  moral  influence  of  your  calling 
will  be  directly  injurious  to  virtuous  principles  ;  but  I  say,  with 


1822—1824.  39 

confidence,  that  in  all  probability,  every  successive  step  you  now 
take  will  lead  you  further  from  a  reasonable  hope  of  salvation. 
I  am  speaking  of  human  probabilities  ;  we  are  not  to  take  God's 
special  dealings  into  our  calculations.  Do  you  find  the  love  of 
honour  leading  you  now  from  the  consideration  of  the  self-deny- 
ing gospel  1  How  will  it  be  when  ambition  shall  have  received 
ten-fold  strength  from  the  continual  fuel  presented  to  it  ?  Does 
multiplicity  of  business  exclude  prayer  and  devotion  now?. 
Look  at  the  whirlpool  of  every  lawyer's  cases.  Do  you  find 
your  heart  becoming  more  insensible  to  religious  motives  1 
Believe  me,  it  is  but  the  presage  of  more  dreadful  indifference. 
In  this  matter  there  is  no  stationary  point.  Hearts  do  not 
amend  by  indulgence,  sin  loses  no  power  by  having  the  reins 
given  to  it,  the  world  becomes  no  less  fascinating,  God  is  not 
appeased  by  continued  defiance.  Refer  to  the  situation  of  any 
lawyer,  one,  for  instance,  whose  circumstances  you  could  wish 
your  own,  and  say  candidly,  does  that  situation  afford  advantages 
for  the  cultivation  of  piety,  such  advantages  as  you  now  enjoy. 
This  very  hour  is  the  best  possible  season  which  remains  for 
you.  I  press  this  motive  because  it  is  one  which  struck  terror 
once  to  my  soul,  and  opened  my  eyes  to  the  dangers  of  my  sit- 
uation. 

Princeton,  April  13th,  1824. 
Your  long  letters  are  always  welcome,  and  I  thank  you  for 
using  that  goodly  sheet  of  foolscap  ;  we  are  neither  lovers  nor 
courtiers,  and  may  therefore  venture  to  lay  aside  the  gilt-edge 
now  and  then.  The  only  complaint  I  intend  to  make  with  regard 
to  your  last  is,  that  it  is  too  much  in  the  style  of  an  apology. 
Did  I  say  any  thing  in  the  way  of  expostulation  or  rebuke  upon 
your  commencing  legal  studies  1  Assuredly,  however  my  pen 
may  have  slipped  awry,  nothing  was  further  from  my  intention. 
I  do  most  sincerely  approve  of  your  choice,  and  can  say  heartily 
"  Made  nova  virtute  puer,  sic  itur  ad  astra."  Were  not  my 
services  most  manifestly  claimed  in  another  field,  I  should  make 
election  of  the  same  business.  My  views  on  the  subject  I  cannot 
express  more  comprehensively  than  in  the  words  of  one  of  the 
first  lawyers  in  New  York.  "  It  is  hard,"  he  lately  said  to  a 
friend  of  mine  when  speaking  of  his  son's  becoming  a  lawyer — 
"It  is  hard  for  a  lawyer  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven, 
and  those  who  have  tried,  as  I  have,  the  vexation,  and  over- 
whelming pressure  of  an  extensive  practice,  will  confess  that  it 
is  fraught  with  temptation  and  danger."  But  I  leave  this  sub- 
ject;  "above  all,  I  shrink  from  disputing  about  it.  You  will 
pardon  me  for  wishing  to  keep  controversy,  at  least,  out  of  our 


40  FROM   THE   THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 

letters.  Two  years'  continual  sparring,  in  clubs,  in  debates,  in 
the  chamber,  in  the  grove,  at  every  corner,  upon  every  knotty 
point  in  Divinity,  have  produced  in  me  a  satiety  of  argumenta- 
tion. Private  controversy  has  never  resulted  in  my  own  change 
of  opinion,  and  I  am  confident  that  I  never  convinced  another. 
Pride  is  too  strong  to  suffer  candour  to  have  its  perfect  work. 
You,  no  doubt,  feel  as  I  do,  knowing  that  disputation  must 
shoulder  out  all  the  other  ingredients  of  our  epistles.  Some- 
where I  have  read  some  saying  of  somebody's,  that  lovers  are 
never  tired  of  each  other's  conversation,  because  they  are  forever 
talking  of  themselves.  I  claim  no  experience  in  love  matters, 
but  I  believe  that  the  principle  is  correct.  How  naturally  do  we 
slide  into  discourse  about  ourselves,  and  our  concerns  !  Grant 
me  permission  to  talk  of  myself,  and  I  will  talk  forever.  After 
this  confession  you  may  understand,  even  if  you  cannot  pardon 
my  egregious  egotism.  And  I  ask  no  privilege  which  I  am  not 
willing  to  grant  with  interest,  thinking  with  Horace,  that 

"Aequum  est 
Peccatis  veniam  poscentem  reddere  rursus." 

You  cannot  gratify  me  more  than  by  expatiating  on  your  con 
cerns,  your  habits,  character,  you  may  descend  to  the  colour 
of  your  coat,  or  the  tie  of  your  neckcloth.  According  to  my 
principles  of  letter-writing,  a  letter  ought  to  be  the  mirror  of 
its  author ;  if  he  is  a  bad  man,  why  let  the  epistle  be  so  too ; 
and  let  an  egotist  go  on  endlessly  de  carissimo  seijyso.  I  was 
gratified  by  the  communication  on  Hume's  death  before  I  sus- 
pected you  of  being  its  author.  Go  on,  I  pray  you,  in  this  use- 
ful and  delightful  exercise  of  the  pen.  The  friend  who  writes  the 
"  Student's  notes,"  must  be,  truly,  a  valuable  acquaintance.  I 
had  figured  to  myself  a  classical  bachelor  of  some  forty  years  as 
the  writer  of  those  pieces.  There  seemed  to  be  evidences  of 
maturity  and  sober  judgment  which  pointed  out  the  experienced 
author.  As  for  me,  though  I  defile  many  fair  sheets,  yet  my 
abortions  seldom  satisfy  me  sufficiently  to  induce  me  to  publish.1 
And  indeed,  to  be  praised  without  being  known,  seems  so  faint 
a  stimulus  that  it  would  scarcely  repay  me  for  the  transcription. 
When  I  can  profit  myself  or  others,  I  shall  not  be  backward  in 
plying  the  quill. 

1  But  he,  as  well  as  the  two  other  lads,  had  begun  to  amuse  himself  with 
writing  for  newspapers  and  magazines.  I  detect  his  hand  in  the  "  Chris- 
tian Advocate,"  at  least  as  early  as  February,  1824,  in  the  article  signed 
Cyprian,  and  he  had  hardly  refrained  so  long  from  taking  advantage  of  the 
literary  columns  of  Mr.  Walsh's  "  National  Gazette."  It  was  to  that  journal 
the  series  entitled  "A  Student's  Notes"  was  contributed.  They  were  as- 
scribed  to  William  B.  Eeed,  then  an  under-graduate  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania. 


1822—1824.  41 

This  day  is  a  day  of  penance  to  me,  coming  round  once 
a  month,  being  the  day  on  which  I  have  to  commit  a  speech 
to  memory  ;  the  most  odious  task  in  the  whole  circle  of  my 
duties.  I  never  expect  to  commit  a  sermon,  but  must  creep 
somewhere  into  the  backwoods  where  unwritten  discourses 
will  be  tolerated.  Do  you  find  me  dull  this  morning'?  My 
sleep  was  unquiet  last  night,  as  it  always  is  after  an  extraordi- 
nary excitement  of  the  nervous  system.  I  am  often  guilty  of 
spending  too  many  of  my  evening  hours  in  "  furious  gossip," 
which  produces  a  kind  of  mental  inebriation,  as  delightful  pro 
tempore,  and  as  shocking  in  its  effects  as  the  hilarity  of  the  wine- 
bibber.  My  circle  of  acquaintance  in  the  Seminary  is  con- 
tracted, but  I  have  somehow  managed  to  glide  into  a  cluster  of 
congenial  souls,  the  like  of  whom,  for  genuine,  friendly,  social 
feeling,  and  for  mental  elasticity  and  vigour,  I  have  never  seen 
before,  and  never  expect  to  see.  If  you  wish  to  see  me  in  some 
of  my  happiest  moments,  picture  me  in  imagination  lolling  in  a 
cushioned  elbow  chair,  surrounded  by  about  six  or  seven  whom 
I  can  name,  pouring  forth,  or  drinking  in  without  the  slightest 
reserve,  the  fresh  and  new-born  thoughts,  that  such  excitements 
may  be  supposed  to  generate.  If  I  ever  knew  the  pleasures  of 
social  life  it  has  been  here  ;  if  I  ever  heard  eloquence,  it  has  been 
here. 

It  is  commonly  said  in  Virginia,  that  the  "  Alexanders  are 
a  tonguey  race."  Let  me  have  a  long  epistle,  and  let  it  be  any 
thing  that  floats  uppermost  in  the  cerebellum.  I  fear  I  have 
given  you  the  scum  to-day.  I  have  been  much  pleased  with 
Hodgson's  letters  upon  America ;  one  candid  and  Christian  trav- 
eller at  least. 


CHAPTER  in. 

LETTERS    WHILE    TUTOR    IN    COLLEGE. 

1824—1825. 

Princeton,  April  21s£,  1824. 
It  is  my  expectation  to  leave  Trenton  to-morrow  at  6  A.  M. 
in  the  steamboat,  for  your  city.  Without  more  ado  I  give  you 
the  state  of  the  case.  A  week  ago  nothing  was  further  from  my 
intentions,  but  a  few  days  since  I  was  astounded  by  the  informa- 
tion that  the  trustees  of  the  College  had  elected  me  mathematical 
tutor.  This  was  the  more  extraordinary  as  I  have  already  twice, 
in  the  most  peremptory  manner,  refused  the  office ;  and  as  the 
proper  complement  of  officers  is  now  in  the  faculty,  the  appoint- 
ment is  extra,  and  at  an  unusual  time.  When  I  heard  it,  last 
Wednesday,  my  feelings  instantly  revolted,  and  I  said  No  with 
the  most  perfect  determination  and  confidence.  Upon  weighing 
all  circumstances,  however,  and  finding  upon  consulting  with  my 
friends  that  they  all,  without  exception,  urged  my  acceptance,  I 
have  determined  to  enter  upon  the  duties  at  the  commencement 
of  next  session.  As  I  have  formerly  said  to  you,  my  youth  will 
permit  me  to  spare  two  or  three  years  from  my  theological 
course,  with  advantage  :  I  feel,  and  my  friends  feel  for  me,  that 
my  mind  needs  maturing  before  taking  upon  me  the  character  of 
a  minister.  It  is,  after  all,  an  odious  situation,  and  I  expect  it  to 
be,  by  far,  the  most  trying  and  mortifying  that  I  have  ever  been 
placed  in.  Yet  trials,  and  self-denial,  and  mortifications  I  must 
expect  in  almost  every  situation.  I  need  to  be  buffeted  about  a 
little  to  call  forth  what  little  energy  and  firmness  I  may  possess. 
As  the  session  commences  just  as  that  of  the  Seminary  closes,  I 
must  take  my  vacation  now,  or  not  at  all :  and  my  lank  and  sal- 
low cheeks  demand  some  speedy  recreation.  It  has  been  long 
since  we  saw  one  another,  and  each  of  us  has,  probably,  under- 
gone much  change.  As  for  me  I  fancy  that  in  the  prominent 
traits  both  of  the  outer  and  the  inner  man,  you  will  find  mo 


1824—1825.  43 

much  the  same  boy  as  ever.  I  am  no  son  of  Anak,  and  have 
altered  little  in  dimensions.  There  was  indeed  once  some  glow 
and  bloom  of  health  upon  my  face,  which  has  departed.  I  con- 
fess, with  the  confidence  of  friendship,  knowing  that  it  is  not 
exposing  myself  to  ill-timed  raillery,  that  melancholy  has  se- 
cretly and  deeply  preyed  upon  my  spirits,  more  than  my  most 
intimate  friends  would  judge  from  my  demeanour.  Often,  the 
unnatural  and  excessive  gaiety  of  my  manner  has  been  accom- 
panied by  bitter  gnawings  at  the  soul.  From  this  I  suffer  less 
than  formerly  ;  nothing  at  present.  My  temperament  is  such 
that  I  am  susceptible  of  the  most  deep  emotions  of  pleasure  as 
well  as  pain  to  a  great  degree,  but  the  pleasure  is  generally  suc- 
ceeded by  a  proportionable  depression. 

Princeton,  May  14,  1824. 

Your  communication  by  [James]  Weatherby  [of  the  Semi- 
nary] which  I  received  this  morning,  admitted  me  to  something 
very  like  a  tete-d-tete  with  you.  A  letter,  as  the  thought  just  now 
strikes  me,  should  be  as  nearly  as  possible  the  transcript  of  one's 
common-talk  ;  or  perhaps  a  better  description  of  a  good,  that  is 
an  acceptable  letter,  would  be  that  it  is  a  soliloquy  in  black  and 
white,  penned  with  the  freedom  of  a  private  meditation,  yet 
written  for  the  eye  of  another,  with  whom  the  disclosures  it  con- 
tains, are  just  as  safe  as  in  their  native  bosom.  It  is  for  answer- 
ing this  description  that  I  like  your  letters  ;  and,  by  adhering  to 
the  same  rule,  I  have  occasionally  disgorged  to  you  some  of  my 
splenetic  moanings.  You  must  take  me  just  as  you  find  me  ;  I 
don't  ask  you  to  pardon  my  failings  ;  criticize  them  faithfully  ; 
but,  prythee,  bear  with  them.  When  I  speak  of  melancholy  to 
you,  I  speak  of  it  seriously,  and  of  melancholy  in  its  truest  and 
most  appalling  shape  ;  not  the  puling,  pensive,  pleasing  reveries 
of  a  moon-struck  lover,  or  a  young,  novel-reading,  boarding- 
school  Miss  ;  but  that  deep  and  horrible  over-clouding  of  the 
soul,  which  none  can  understand  but  those  wrho  suffer  it,  which 
can  be  described  only  by  faint  and  insufficient  similitudes,  which, 
until  my  nervous  system  received  a  violent  shock,  I  never  knew, 
and  which  1  do  sincerely  wash  you  may  always  be  able,  as  I 
never  shall, — to  laugh  at.  Nervous  irritability  (I  am  not 
com-  but  explaining)  I  have  got  in  a  very  fair  way  by  right  of 
primogeniture,  and  have  increased  by  neglect  of  proper  recrea- 
tion and  exercise. 

You  know  how  closely  body  and  soul  are  united,  and  how 
mental  and  corporeal  changes  go  hand  in  hand.  But  perhaps  you 
do  not  know — and  may  you  never — what  it  is  to  feel  the  whole 
man  in  a  state  of  distressing  disorder,  without  knowing  whether 


4A  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

the  body  has  communicated  the  distemper  to  the  mind,  or  the 
mind  to  the  body  ;  to  feel  the  tremulous  agitation  of  the  whole 
material  fabric  of  nerves,  and  the  accompanying  and  more  in- 
tolerable agitation  of  spirit,  depression,  blues,  hypochondria, 
or  what  you  will.  Will  you  smile  when  I  say  that  to  shake 
off  this  state  of  soul — I  call  it  so,  for  the  suffering  of  body  is 
trifling — is  no  less  impossible  than  to  shake  off  a  fit  of  the  stone  ? 
One  is  equally  with  the  other  a  disease.  Call  it,  if  you  please,  a 
disorder  of  the  imagination,  and  say  that  it  is  whim  and  folly. 
Granted ;  and  yet  it  is  no  less  dreadful,  far  more  mortifying, 
equally  beyond  the  influence  of  mere  resolution.  When  a  with- 
ered arm  can  stretch  itself  out  for  relief,  then  may  a  diseased 
mind  heal  itself.  Could  I  once  determine  to  be  placid  and  cheer- 
ful, and  so  effect  a  change  in  the  mental  state,  the  cure  would  be 
already  complete.  Enough  as  to  the  physiology  of  the  case — 
now  for  its  reality  in  my  own  person.  I  am  more  easily  excited 
to  pleasure  or  pain  than  most  persons.  My  joys  are  excessive ; 
sometimes  a  little  frantic.  The  same  susceptibility  makes  me 
liable  to  depression  from  circumstances  which  would  scarcely  for 
a  moment  ruffle  the  feelings  of  some ;  and  to  depression,  some- 
times, which  has  no  perceptible  cause  without.  To  compare 
levity  and  melancholy  in  a  moral  point  of  view,  is  comparing 
two  sins  equally  repugnant  to  the  mild  placidity  and  cheerful 
calm  which  the  truths  of  the  gospel  produce  on  a  heart  that  is 
exercised  aright.  The  latter  afflicts  my  conscience  least,  because 
it  is  what  I  loathe,  and  what  I  would  as  joyfully  shun  as  I  would 
a  delirium,  and  which  it  is  just  as  much  in  my  power  to  avoid. 
Undue  mirth  is  a  fault  which  brings  with  it,  to  me,  its  punish- 
ment, in  the  shape  of  the  vapours  which  follow  in  its  footsteps. 
Perhaps  the  words  I  may  have  used  in  a  former  letter  convey  to 
your  mind  an  impression  not  exactly  correct.  Forebodings  of 
future  pain  or  misery  are  not  often  the  subjects  of  my  thoughts, 
but  there  comes  over  my  soul,  I  can  no  otherwise  describe  it, 
a  cloud,  a  blackness,  a  horror,  which  tinges  every  object  with- 
out or  within  with  a  certain  indefinable,  vague,  and  terrific  dark- 
ness ;  which  absorbs  the  powers  of  the  soul,  and  seems  to  con- 
centrate all  the  faculties  upon  some  hideous  something,  or  noth- 
ing, and  waste  the  mental  energy  in  empty  musing.  I  am  some- 
times months  without  such  a  visitation,  and  sometimes  weeks 
with  little  else  ;  and  my  condition  has  been  somewhat  this  for  a 
week  past.     But  peace — let  us  rise  into  daylight. 

I  might  write  you  a  great  deal  of  loose  gossip,  were  it  not  for 
my  pressing  business,  and  my  very,  very  kind  acquaintances, 
who  are  too  obliging  to  wait  for  any  hint  to  come,  and  too  dull 
to  take  any  hint  to  go,  and  who  never  think  of  such  a  query  as 


1824—1825.  45 

"  Is  he  at  leisure  ?  "  I  am  indeed  laid  under  the  necessity  of 
husbanding  every  hour.  I  have  scarcely  looked  at  mathematics 
for  a  year,  and  am  expected  to  take  the  tuition  of  the  Sopho- 
more class,  who  have  been  at  Algebra  all  the  winter,  as  well  as 
to  induct  them  into  geometry,  and  the  Freshmen  into  Algebra. 
The  preparation  requisite  is  by  no  means  slight.  It  is  something 
more  than  what  might  enable  one  to  undergo  a  strict  examina- 
tion upon  the  several  subjects.  The  instructor  must  hold  him- 
self in  continual  readiness  to  detect  every  error,  as  soon  as  made, 
and  to  enter  immediately  into  every  variety  in  the  mode  of  de- 
monstration or  solution.  And,  by  the  bye,  the  intensity  of 
attention  which  this  will  require,  in  the  recitation-room,  will 
equal  hours  of  study  in  the  closet,  as  to  exhaustion  of  spirits,  as 
well  as  to  improvement  of  the  mind  in  fixed  habits  of  thought. 

The  examination  of  the  Theological  Seminary  is  now  going  on. 
From  this,  I  am  now,  as  having  no  further  connexion  with  the 
Seminary,  exempt.  .  Our  printing  press,  though  a  little  thing,  is 
yet  a  mighty  wonder  here.  The  children,  great  and  small,  are 
turning  up  their  eyes,  and  expanding  their  palms  at  the  novel 
sight  of  "  Princeton  "  at  the  foot  of  the  title-page  of  a  u  Report " 
just  printed. 

My  real  troubles  commence,  unless  Providence  interpose  in 
an  unexpected  manner,  next  Thursday.  Then  may  you  expect 
to  hear  of  cracker-firing,  of  scraping  (do  you  understand  V)  of 
funking,  of  door-bolting,  of  ducking,  of  rope-tripping,  of  whidow- 
breaking,  of  all  the  petty  vengeance  which  unruly  striplings 
wreak  on  their  hapless  instructors.  My  colleague  in  the  tutor- 
ship, Mr.  Samuel  K.  Talmage,1  made  a  speech  at  the  Bible  So- 

1  Now  President  of  Oglethorpe  University,  Georgia.  In  a  public  letter, 
written  in  August,  1859,  Dr.  Talmage  says :  "  We  were  placed  on  terms  of 
very  intimate  intercourse  and  communion  as  fellow-tutors  during  the  year 
1824.  He  had  become  pious  since  we  had  parted  as  students,  and  I  now 
saw  much  of  his  inner  life,  as  he  disclosed  it  but  to  few.  He  had  grown 
graver  in  manner,  and  somewhat  prone  to  pensiveness  of  spirit.  To  the 
public  eye  he  seemed  retiring  and  apparently  distant.  But  when  with  a 
friend  in  a  retired  walk,  or  in  the  abandon  and  intimacy  of  private  personal 
intercourse,  he  was  the  most  cheerful  of  companions,  abounding  in  playful 
remark  and  discriminating  observation.  He  had  a  keen  relish  for  the  hu- 
morous, and  a  nice  appreciation  of  the  virtues  and  defects  of  his  fellow- 
men.  He  had  a  perfect  horror  of  cant,  pretension,  bigotry,  exclusiveness, 
and  was  himself  remarkably  free  from  all  these  failings,  thus  imparting  an 
irresistible  charm  to  his  intercourse  with  friends. 

"  His  piety  was,  even  at  that  period,  deep  toned,  and  remarkably  ad- 
vanced for  one  of  his  age.  He  was  at  times  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of 
sinfulness,  and  has  told  me  that  often  he  could  scarcely  refrain  from  crying 
out  in  the  college  chapel  from  an  awful  sense  of  guilt  before  God,  under  the 
pungent  appeals  of  the  beloved  Professors  of  the  College  and  Theological 
Seminary,  although  he  was  sitting  on  the  stage  before  the  assembled  stu- 
dents as  one  of  the  Faculty." 


46  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

ciety  anniversary  in  New  York.  How  long  shall  it  be  before 
our  turn  comes  1 

What  think  you  of  the  presidential  squabble1?  Jackson 
brightens  wonderfully.  His  recent  letters' — 1  mean  his  recently 
published  letters,  set  the  man's  character  in  a  noble  light,  and 
command  my  highest  respect. 

Saturday. 

My  boasting  is  generally  fatal  to  my  hopes,  by  throwing  me 
off  my  guard.  That  cold,  or  a  lineal  descendant  from  it,  has 
come  upon  me  like  a  strong  man  armed.  I  have  tried  the  valiant 
mode,  of  defying  the  cough,  and  going  through  thick  and  thin  in 
spite  of  it,  and  the  effect  has  been  to  fix  it  deeply  in  my  lungs. 
I  am  now  reduced  to  terms  of  submission,  and  am  driven  to  the 
humble  mode ;  i.  e.  sitting  by  the  fire,  keeping  out  of  the  wind, 
drinking  teas  and  slops,  and  eating  pectoral  medicaments  of 
various  kinds.  This  regimen,  together  with  an  approach  to  star- 
vation, promises  to  release  me. 

The  title  of  an  old  Scotch  song  furnishes  a  key  to  many 
of  my  actions — "  For  lack  of  gowdP  My  temptation  to  covet 
greater  affluence  is  small,  while  I  am  at  home ;  and  even  in  your 
city,  where  baits  are  hung  out  everywhere,  I  presume  that  habit 
would  soon  make  me  able  to  withstand  their  influence.  When  I 
look  around  me  at  those  who  have  silver  and  gold  always  in 
promptu,  I  cannot  perceive  that  they  are  one  whit  happier  than 

myself.     Is ,  think  you,  more  comfortable  and  easy,  than 

when  his  only  fortune  was  his  tongue,  his  whiskers,  and  his 
front  of  brass  ?  These  thoughts  you  will  doubtless  be  wonder- 
fully surprised  at,  for  their  originality. 

I  would  not  call  myself  an  admirer  of  the  "  Lake  school  of 
poetry,"  but  I  have  seen  passages  in  the  works  both  of  Coleridge 
and  Wordsworth  which  have  breathed  the  true  spirit  of  poetry, 
and  gone  home — I  know  not  and  ask  not  why — to  my  inmost 
soul.  If  these  lines1  are  not  to  be  found  in  the  "  Sybilline 
Leaves,"  or  perhaps  in  the  "  lines  upon  the  vale  of  Chamouny," 
which  I  have  not  ad  unguem,  you  will  find  there  much  that  is 
cast  in  the  same  mould.  It  would  be  difficult  to  extract  from 
the  Lake-poets  a  longer  passage  than  this  without  involving  some 
of  their  "  littlenesses,"  to  use  one  of  their  own  words,  yet  a 
good  delectus  might  be  culled  out  of  them  of  such  isolated  mor- 
sels. If  this  little  scrap,  which,  like  the  mutilated  Torse,  shows 
the  hand  of  a  master,  is  American,  so  much  the  better.    Tell 

1  Referring  to  some  twenty  lines  of  an  anonymous  quotation  on  Niagara. 
They  proved  to  be  the  American  BrainercTs. 

"The  thoughts  are  strange  which  crowd  into  my  brain,"  &c. 


1824—1825.  47 

that  Mr.  [Moses  C]  Searle  [of  the  Seminary]  is  within  nine 
inches  of  my  elbow;  has  just  played  and  sung  the  old  favourite 
"  O  years  are  flown,"  &c,  and  "  Suppliant  "  this  moment.     We 

have  not    heard  his  violoncello  since  Aunt  left  us,  and 

George  Potts  [when  in  Seminary]  used  to  make  one  in  all  our 
little  concerts.  The  absence  of  the  distant  friends  was  more 
deeply  felt  than  the  presence  of  those  at  hand,  and  music  has  a 
power  to  bring  back  old  recollections  with  a  life  peculiar  to 
itself.  The  scene  was  not  altogether  to  my  liking.  I  am  not 
fond  of  tears,  and  to  me  there  is  no  "  bliss  "  in  them  ;  they  are 
at  best  a  quid  pro  quo,  a  less  evil  for  a  greater,  a  price  paid  for 
getting  rid  of  grief,  or  the  swelling  outrageousness  of  grief.  Yet 
just  now  with  my  mother  overwhelmed,  my  father  to  a  consid- 
erable degree  melted,  Mr.  Searle  weeping,  or  something  like  it, 
and  Bill  looking  amazingly  comical  between  an  attempted  smile 
and  an  unaccountable  quivering  about  the  lower  lip,  premoni- 
tory, in  some  cases,  of  a  "  cry,"  I  felt  not  a  little  incommoded, 
and  read  with  might  and  main  in  an  obsolete  newspaper  that 
happened  to  be  within  reach.  "  Laimce's "  dog  in  the  Two 
Gentlemen  of  Verona  was  not  more  consummately  hard-hearted. 

Reed  ["  Student's  Notes  "]  certainly  is  a  fine  writer.  But 
do  you  not  see  a  very  close  imitation  of  the  mannerism  of  his 
favourite  Gibbon  ?  It  is  natural  that  he  should  glide  into  the 
same  style,  from  continual  intimacy,  but  there  seems  to  me  a 
studied  copying  of  the  gorgeous  and  protracted  simile,  the  meas- 
ured and  rhythmical  structure  of  sentences,  and  the  elaborate 
circumlocutions  of  the  great  Heathen.  He  writes  in  a  manly 
and  eloquent  manner,  notwithstanding  imperfections,  which 
those  who  cannot  equal  him  may  discover. 

My  fears  are  not  slight,  that  I  shall,  in  these  misanthropic 
walls,  become  "  the  mere  student,"  and  forget  my  duties  to  those 
without,  as  well  as  neglect  to  cultivate  the  society  of  the  amiable 
and  the  tender.  If  I  live  until  next  Autumn,  I  shall,  probably, 
be  even  more  a  clown  than  I  now  am,  and  need  an  evolution  of 
six  weeks  among  softening  scenes  to  bend  and  mollify  me. 

Sunday,  11  o'clock. 
I  am  left  at  home  while  the  rest  of  the  family  have  gone  to 
church.  My  hours,  in  my  present  condition,  are  likely  to  hang 
heavily  upon  my  hands,  therefore  a  little  serious  talk  with  you 
will  be  both  interesting  and  proper.  My  melancholy — I  com- 
mence at  the  old  point,  for,  you  know,  it  is  a  physical  impossi- 
bility to  start  from  any  other  point  than  that  in  which  the  body 
is  found  at  the  moment  when  the  motion  commences ; — my 
melancholy,  if  I  may  compare  great  things  with  small,  and  pre- 


48  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

tend  even  to  the  blemishes  of  a  great  man,  is  described  to  a  tittle 
by  Cowper,  in  one  of  his  letters  cited  in  the  "  May  Advocate."  1 
Like  him,  I  find  my  bitterest  ruminations  so  wrought  up  with 
fantastical  thoughts  and  phantasies,  that  I  am  forced  to  laugh  at 
my  own  creations,  when  I  feel  miserable  enough  to  hang  myself. 
That  (all  fellow  whom  he  describes  so  happily,  stands  preeminent 
in  my  chamber  of  thought,  and  utters  his  eternal  cry  like  the 
most  pertinacious  shad-woman.2  Like  him  (P.  S.  you  will  see  by 
reading  the  letter  that  I  am  wrong)  I  can  be  gloomy,  yea  wretch- 
ed, without  being  sober,  and  the  transition  is  oftener  easier  from 
hypochondria  to  levity,  than  to  seriousness.  Like  him  I  find 
religion,  and  religious  thoughts,  not  the  causes  or  the  concomi- 
tants of  melancholy,  but  its  surest  remedy.  When  the  promises 
of  Scripture  can  be  brought  to  bear,  as  I  thank  God  they  have 
sometimes  been,  upon  my  troubled  mind,  they  have  never,  never 
failed  to  diffuse  a  calm  and  a  sweet  content  which  makes  the  Gos- 
pel more  valuable,  as  to  this  life,  to  me,  than  it  would  be  under 
different  circumstances.  Yet  infatuated  creatures  that  we  are ! 
that  which  we  know,  and  have  tasted  to  be  the  chief  and  only 
good,  how  ready  are  we  to  neglect  and  abandon !  A  hymn  of 
Madame  Guion,  (whom  the  world  calls  fanatic,)  translated  by 
Cowper,  impressed  me  deeply  this  morning.  Among  other  lines, 
these : 

"  Long  plunged  in  sorrow,  I  resign 

My  soul  to  that  dear  hand  of  thine, 
Without  reserve  or  fear  ; 

That  hand  shall  wipe  my  streaming  eyes  ; 

Or  into  smiles  of  glad  surprise, 
Transform  the  falling  tear. 

My  soul's  possession  is  thy  love  ; 

In  earth  beneath,  or  heaven  above, 
I  have  no  other  store  ; 

And  though  with  fervent  suit  I  pray, 

And  importune  thee  night  and  day, 
I  ask  thee  nothing  more." 

Of  sorrow  she  says : 

"  It  costs  me  no  regret,  that  she, 
Who  followed  Christ,  should  follow  me  ; 

And  though,  where'er  she  goes, 
Thorns  spring  spontaneous  at  her  feet, 
I  love  her — and  extract  a  sweet 
From  all  my  bitter  woes." 

1  The  extracts  in  the  "Advocate"  were  from  the  "  Private  Correspond- 
ence "  of  Cowper,  first  published  by  his  kinsman,  Dr.  John  Johnson,  in  1824. 

2  "  My  thoughts  are  clad  in  a  sober  livery,  for  the  most  part  as  grave  as 
that  of  a  bishop's  servant.  They  turn,  too,  upon  spiritual  subjects ;  but 
the  tallest  fellow  and  the  loudest  amongst  them  all,  is  he  who  is  continually 
crying  out  with  a  loud  voice,  actum  est  de  te  ;  pcriisti." — Letter  to  Newton. 


1824—1825.  49 

Does  it  amuse  you  to  hear  me  talk  of  sorroius  ?  I  confess 
that  to  complain  would  be  a  heinous  ingratitude  in  me.  I  have 
had  perhaps  more  external  favours  and  forbearance  at  the  hand 
of  Providence  than  most  persons,  and  I  do  desire  to  thank  God ; 
but  still,  there  is  a  world  within,  a  world  that  seems  as  vast  and 
wonderful,  and  inexplicable  as  that  without,  to  one  who  has  the 
habit  or  the  disease  of  poring  inward  upon  it.,  And  here, 
whether  from  imaginary  fears  (though  these  are  not  my  great 
tormentors)  or  conflicts  between  inclination  and  duty,  between  a 
restless,  ambitious,  proud,  and  giddy  soul,  and  a  principle  that 
strives  to  keep  down  its  gigantic  writhings,  and  labours  to  re- 
press the  upheavings  and  desperate  agonies  of  effort,  in  the 
earthy  spirit,  which  oftentimes  gets  the  upper  hand,  and  crowds 
under  the  poor  weak  element  of  piety,  and  triumphs  in  a  mighty 
rage — here  in  the  inner  man,  when  the  gale  of  hilarity,  and  the 
bustle  and  hurricane  of  business  is  blown  over,  and  when  reli- 
gion, through  sinful  neglect,  is  not  at  work  to  make  this  ocean 
smooth, — "  when,"  as  Hurley1  says,  "  I  am  brought  to  face  at 
night,  or  in  solitude,  that  phantom  self,  which  all  clay  long  I  have 
laboured  to  avoid ;  what  can  be  conceived  more  horrible  !  " 
Enough,  far,  far  too  much  am  I  drivelling  to  you  of  this.  I  grant 
you  a  truce.  I  was  going  to  say,  just  when  the  unruly  quill  took 
the  bit  in  his  mouth  and  ran  away  with  me,  that  no  thought  has 
within  a  day  or  two,  struck  me  more  forcibly  than  this — "  why 
do  we  not  live  as  we  know  most  assuredly  we  ought  to  live  ?  " 
Why  do  we  not  obey  the  imperative  call  of  duty,  of  gratitude, 
which  commands  us  to  love  God  with  all  our  soul,  and  reiterates 
the  extent  of  this  demand,  with  all  our  strength,  &c.  1  Why  de- 
spise the  call  of  interest  ?  Godliness,  says  Jehovah,  who  cannot 
lie,  (and  O  my  slight  experience  enables  me  to  say  Amen  with 
exultation,)  is  profitable  for  all  things,  having  the  promise  of  the 
life  which  now  is,  and  that  which  is  to  come.  /  knoio  that  the 
love  of  God  in  the  heart  does  fill  and  satisfy  it,  partly  .by  filling 
that  void  which,  I  know  as  surely,  ambitious  thoughts,  or  glori- 
ous success,  or  wealth,  or  pleasure  can  never  fill ;  and  partly  by 
repressing  and  quenching  a  thousand  vain  desires  which  give  us 
incessant  and  fruitless  anxiety.  I  have  been  ambitious — What 
do  I  say  ?  I  am  this  moment,  in  spite  of  God's  law,  ambitious 
to  a  high  degree.  What  has  been  its  fruit  %  Am  I  happier  ? 
Do  I  not  still,  and  will  I  not  forever  be  gasping  after  something 
yet  to  come  1  something  which  never  can  come  1  Will  fame 
gratify  me  %  Will  universal  honour  give  me  peace  ?  Will  a 
conquered  world  make  me  more  content  than  my  insane  name. 

1  A  Roman  Catholic  preacher  whom  he  had  heard  in  Philadelphia. 
vol.  i. — 3 


50  WHILE   TUTOR   IN    COLLEGE. 

sake  of  Macedon  ?  No  !  my  experience,  and  universal  testimo- 
ny, and  the  word  of  Jehovah  thunder,  No  !  Did  you  ever  read 
the  life  of  Henry  Martyn  ?  If  you  have  not,  upon  the  strength 
of  our  friendship,  I  charge  and  entreat  you  to  do  so.  My  pres- 
ent perusal  of  it  is  about  the  sixth,  which  for  me,  who  seldom 
read  any  book  through,  is  strong  proof  of  esteem.  If  there  is  on 
earth  or  on  record  a  character  which  I  love  more  than  that  of  II. 
Martyn,  I  know  it  not.  To  meet  him  in  heaven  is  a  wish  that 
burns  intensely  in  my  heart. 

Upon  taking  the  highest  honours  at  Cambridge,  an  honour 
which  ennobles  a  man  in  the  eyes  of  the  whole  British  nation,  and 
gives  him  a  name  in  the  whole  world  of  letters,  and  for  which  he 
had  for  four  years  laboriously  toiled — he  said  :  "  I  have  grasped 
this  bubble  honour,  and  it  vanishes  in  my  hand," — and  thence- 
forward renounced  the  world  and  himself,  and  became  a  self-de- 
nied and  honoured  servant  of  God.  Could  I  tread  in  his  steps,  I 
should  feel  no  envy  for  the  highest  potentate,  or  the  greatest 
scholar  upon  this  footstool.  And  why  cannot  you  and  I,  as  well 
as  Martyn,  take  up  our  cross  and  follow  Christ  1  It  is  not  that  the 
gate  is  not  thrown  wide  open.  Every  page  of  Scripture  gives 
the  lie  to  such  a  thought.  It  is  solely  because  the  way  is  so 
strait,  that  our  worldly  pleasures,  our  gods,  our  palpable  en- 
joyments, (which  lie  close  to  us  and  are  therefore  appreciated,) 
our  joys  which  are  merely  terrene  cannot  accompany  us. 

I  have  sometimes  been  inclined  to  murmur  at  the  idea  that 
we  must  deny  ourselves,  that  we  must  give  our  whole  souls  to 
God,  that  it  is  impossible  to  "  love  the  world  "  without  being 
"  the  enemy  of  God," — and  to  shrink  from  that  yoke  which,  to 
my  dim  eye,  seemed  to  bring  no  indemnity  for  the  loss  of  good 
things  ;  but  the  "demands  of  the  Scripture  are  inexorable,  and  it 
is  not  until  we  are  willing  to  receive  the  whole  truth  and  to  obey 
it,  that  we  can  pretend  to  be  willing  to  be  saved.  It  is  not  be- 
cause the  gate  of  entrance  is  inaccessible,  that  I  have  felt  my 
stubborn  soul  unwilling  to  strive  to  enter  in.  It  is  because  it  is 
too  low  for  my  pride,  and  too  arduous  for  my  indolence.  "  Be- 
lieve," is  a  price  too  small,  and  "  Work  out  your  salvation  with 
fear  and  trembling,"  a  labour  too  great  for  unsanctified  human 
nature.  Is  it  instruction  as  to  what  we  are  to  do  that  we  need  ? 
He  that  has  his  Bible  needs  nothing  else.  Is  it  assistance  in 
doing  what  we  know  is  duty  1 

"  Were  half  the  words  thus  vainly  spent, 
To  heaven  in  supplication  sent, 
Our  cheerful  song  would  oftener  be, 
Hear  what  the  Lord  has  done  for  me." 

Cowper. 


1824—1825.  51 

Monday,  May  1*1  th. 

Dr. preached  last  night ;  the  general  impression  left 

by  his  performance,  was  that  his  manner  was  by  far  too  light  for 
the  pulpit.  I  think  so  too.  He  prayed  that  God  would  destroy 
and  eradicate  "  that  cursed  superstition  "  (Popery)  from  South 
America.  Such  language  I  think  not  only  unchristian,  but  upon 
his  own  principles,  without  foundation.  The  popish  creed  does 
contain,  shrouded  in  great  superstition,  I  confess — but  still  it  does 
contain,  the  great  fundamental  saving  doctrines  of  the  Bible. 
Better  far  would  it  be  to  curse  those  doctrines  which  many  in 
our  communion  hold,  to  wit,  that  every  thought  of  man  is  an  im- 
mediate effect  of  God's  efficiency ;  that  every  blasphemous 
thought  is,  as  much  as  every  pious  thought,  caused  by  God's  imme- 
diate agency.    From  my  soul  I  could  curse  such  blasphemy  as  this. 

Nassau  Hall,  No.  25,  May  21,  1824. 
This  is  my  first  letter  since  I  came  into  this  house.  I  have 
indeed,  time  for  nothing  but  the  incipient  duties  and  preparations 
of  my  new  situation.  I  can  promise  you  but  few  such  volumi- 
nous reports  as  my  last  epistle.  So  fully  am  I  occupied  with 
little  arrangements  relative  to  my  own  accommodation  and  the 
admission  of  students,  that  1  have  not  been  at  our  house  since 
yesterday  morning.  It  requires  all  the  effrontery  which  I  can 
assume  to  fill  my  gown  with  any  kind  of  effect,  to  sit  in  the 
focal  point  of  vision  before  a  hundred  carping  young  gentlemen, 
on  the  scaffold  yclep'd  the  stage,  to  march  through  the  congre- 
gation at  the  foot  of  the  refectory  steps  with  manifold  tokens  of 
respect,  and  then  to  march  at  their  head,  and  sit  in  state  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  long  college  table,  &c,  &c.  However,  in  all 
such  matters,  when  a  thing  must  be  done,  I  am  fond  of  putting 
the  best  face  upon  it,  and — "  neck  or  nothing  "  going  forward. 
I  have  never  gained  any  thing  by  shrinking,  although  few  have 
oftener  made  experiment  of  it,  and  shrink  I  will  not,  though 
my  head  should  be  the  price  of  daring.  If  you  wish  to  view  an 
original  character,  and  gain  a  study  for  future  sketches,  come 
hither,  and  I  will  show  you  my  valet  de  place  Janles  McCarrier, 
a  true  born  Emeralder,  whose  delight  is  rendering  services,  and 
who  knows' no  greater  happiness  than  to  be  kept  constantly  run- 
ning, and  doing.  The  addition  to  college  is  small — 6  or  7  ;  it  is 
seldom  that  a  greater  number  is  added  at  the  commencement  of 
the  summer  term.  The  examination  of  even  this  small  band 
was  tedious — an  hour  being  consumed  upon  each.  You  will  no 
doubt  be  pleased  with  the  specimen  of  Princeton  typography  on 
the  other  side.1 

1  Proposals  by  Borrenstein  for  publishing  a  weekly  paper  under  the  title 
of  "  The  Princeton  Religious  and  Literary  Gazette." 


52  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

I  foresee  one  thing  with  pleasure,  that  occupation  is  ousting 
melancholy  thoughts  and  musings  from  my  mind.  I  have  so 
much  real  matter  for  anxiety,  that  the  creations  of  fancy  find  lit- 
tle room.     Love  and  regards  to  those  who  love  and  regard  me. 

Nassau  Hall,  May,  1824.1 
When  I  tell  you  that  six  hours  and  a  half  is  the  least  portion 
of  every  day  which  I  devote  to  Mathematics, — and  I  exclude  the 
time  of  recitation, — you  will  be  ready  to  pardon  me  for  writing 
no  more.  My  classes,  the  Freshman  and  Sophomore,  have 
both  made  considerable  progress  in  algebra,  and  the  problems  in 
Bonnycastle,  especially  in  the  last  editions,  are  truly  formidable. 
I  am  visited,  too,  by  my  hopeful  youth  from  time  to  time,  in 
order  to  be  consulted  respecting  difficulties.  These  things  re- 
quire labour.  Yet  my  motto  shall  ever  be,  Perseverando,  or  as 
my  friend  and  servant  Jemmy  McCarrier  would  render  it, 
"  Wid  patience  and  perseverance,  a  man  may  open  an  oyster, 
dear,  wi'  a  rollin-pin."  Add  to  these  things  such  items  as  these. 
With  us  tutors,  is  left  all  the  discretionary  power  for  preserving 
order.  No  one  can  change  his  room  without  our  permission, — 
or  go  to  the  tavern,  or  leave  the  bounds  in  study  hours,  or  leave 
the  refectory,  or  have  a  meal  sent  out  to  him,  or  take  his  seat 
after  grace,  or  get  a  letter  on  Sunday,  &c,  &c,  unless  we  give 
him  leave.  Besides  going  through  the  college  thrice  a  day  on  a 
round  of  inspection,  it  is  our  rule  to  send  for  every  student  who 
fails  to  come  voluntarily,  and  render  an  account  of  his  absence 
from  his  chamber.  This  week,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  preside  in 
the  refectory,  to  conduct  morning  prayers  in  the  chapel,  and  two 
prayer  meetings  connected  with  the  college,  as  well  as  to  have 
the  more  minute  supervision  of  the  students,  and  to  take  care 
that  the  edifice  is  never,  for  any  time,  left  without  one  officer. 

I  should  like  if  I  had  time  to  enter  into  a  more  free  discourse 
with  you  upon  Calvinism,  than  we  have  yet  had.  I  think  the 
matter  may  be  talked  over  more  satisfactorily,  with  less  partial- 
ity and  passion,  and  more  probability  of  adhering  to  the  subject, 
and  attaining  a  conclusion,  on  paper,  than  viva  voce  ;  and  there- 
fore, I  avoided  all  mention  of  the  matter  at  our  last  interview. 
I  rejoice  that  you  seem  little  disposed  to  cavil,  and  sneer.  Too 
many  use  invective  instead  of  argument,  especially  against  the 
doctrines  of  our  church,  which,  somehow  or  other,  like  their 
propagator  himself,  are  "  despised  and  rejected  of  men."     A  dis- 

I I  insert  the  simple,  incontrovertible  statements  that  follow  in  this  and 
other  letters,  for  the  benefit  of  such  sciolists,  young  and  old,  as  the  boy  to 
whom  they  were  originally  addressed. 


1824—1825.  53 

torted  view  of  Calvinism  is  often  held  up  as  a  target,  at  which 
the  Arminian  discharges  his  arrows  with  great  pomp  and  com- 
placency, and  marches  oft'  with  his  victorious  laurels,  won  from 
those  who  hold  no  such  doctrines  as  those  which  he  opposes. 
With  you,  I  find  no  such  doctrine  as  that  of  fate  in  the  New 
Testament,  nor  did  any  ever  pretend  to  such  a  discovery,  as  far 
as  my  information  extends.  Yet  like  some  whom  you  name, 
after  reducing  matters  to  certain  ultimate  principles,  I  am  guilty 
of  referring  much  that  is  inexplicable  to  the  unsearchable  ways 
of  God  ;  and  I  do  it  in  common  with  Arminians  themselves, 
who,  unless  their  knowledge  of  human  power  be  pitiably  meagre,- 
must  yield  up  many  points  as  beyond  their  ken ;  with  Socin- 
ians  themselves,  who,  professedly  rejecting  all  mystery,  are  still 
saddled  with  doctrines  which  they  cannot  thoroughly  explain, 
and  from  which  an  escape  to  professed  infidelity  cannot  entirely 
save  them.     I  am  willing  to  say,  with  Cowper, 

"  Deep  in  unfathomable  mines 

Of  never- failing  skill, 
He  treasures  up  his  bright  designs, 

And  works  his  sovereign  will. 
Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  err, 

And  scan  his  work  in  vain  : 
God  is  his  own  interpreter, 

And  he  will  make  it  plain." 

*i  know  that  doctrines  in  themselves  true  and  important  may 
be  made  instrumental  in  doing  great  evil ;  and  if  there  are  those 
concerning  whom  you  speak,  although  I  own  that  I  know  not 
whither  to  go  in  search  of  them,  I  doubt  not  that  in  their  hands 
this  doctrine  must  produce  an  ill  effect.  But  if  you  mean  to  ask 
whether  the  belief  of  sovereign,  unconditional  election,  leads, 
from  its  nature,  to  want  of  fervour  in  piety  and  preaching,  I 
would  not  hesitate  a  second  to  say  no,  with  full  assurance  of 
being  able  to  sustain  my  negative  by  a  host  of  examples.  I 
would  not  propose  this  as  a  test  of  the  truth  of  a  doctrine, 
although  if  victory  over  an  opponent  were  my  aim,  I  would  ask 
no  better  ground.  Look  around  you,  and  answer  to  your  own 
self,  your  own  inquiry.  Think  you  that  the  Arminian  clergy 
are  the  most  ardent  men,  or  that  they  evince  more  zeal  than  our 
own  preachers  1  Was  Luther  indifferent  to  the  soul's  interests 
of  men  when  he  thundered  so  nobly  for  God  and  truth  ?  and  yet 
he  states  the  doctrine  with  a  harshness  which  I  dare  not  imitate. 
Was  Martyn,  was  Newton,  were  Dr.  Scott,  Edwards,  Davies, 
devoid  of  anxiety  for  the  welfare  of  men  ?  Was  Whitefield,  who 
traversed  the  earth  in  seeking  the  lost  sheep  ;  or  Brainerd,  whose 
labours  in  a  solitary  wilderness  terminated  his  life,  destitute  of 


54  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

fervid  benevolence  1  Yet  all  these  men  did  assert  most  stoutly 
the  hateful  doctrine  of  election,  even  that  "  God  hath  chosen 
some,  in  Christ,  unto  everlasting  life,  out  of  his  mere  free  grace 
and  love,  without  any  foresight  of  faith,  or  good  works,  or  perse- 
verance in  either  of  them,  or  any  thing  in  the  creature,  as  condi- 
tions, or  causes  moving  him  thereunto,  and  all  to  the  praise  of 
his  glorious  grace."  And  what  shall  1  say  more,  for  time  would 
foil  me  to  tell  of  Eliot,  and  Buchanan,  and  Schwartz,  and  Ward, 
and  Carey,  and  Marshman,  and  (as  I  should  say  if  speaking  to 
one  of  my  own  belief)  of  the  great  teacher  and  defender  of  the 
doctrine,  the  zealous  and  indefatigable  apostle  of  the  Gentiles. 
Indeed,  if  you  inquire  who  they  are  that  in  every  place  are  most 
zealous  for  the  Lord  of  hosts,  you  will  find  them  men  who  de- 
light to  dwell  upon  God's  sovereignty,  and  man's  guilt  and  im- 
potence. The  Methodists,  to  be  consistent,  ought  to  cleave  to 
these  doctrines,  for  they  do  hold,  and  contend  for  the  sister 
truths  of  abounding  grace  ;  and  the  fervour  of  their  zeal  may  be 
attributed  to  the  influence  of  these  doctrines.  Upon  this  prin- 
ciple, I  proceed  in  forming  my  own  opinions.  The  Bible  speaks 
the  truth.  The  Bible  teaches  this,  or  that — ergo,  This  and  that 
are  true.  The  syllogism  is  reversed  with  many  persons.  Thus 
they  argue  :  The  Bible  speaks  nought  but  the  truth.  This  or 
that  doctrine  is  not  the  truth.  Therefore,  the  Bible  does  not 
teach  this  or  that  doctrine.  I  speak  logically  for  conciseness. 
The  major  of  the  first  syllogism  I  have  proved  to  my  own  satis- 
faction. If  I  had  not,  I  would  cease  to  give  myself  any  trouble 
about  religion.  The  minor  is,  to  me,  clear  as  day  ;  and  I  have 
been  forced  into  it  by  stress  of  absolute  conviction.  I  ask  for 
no  further  proof.  Explanation  I  may  require,  but  it  would  seem 
most  philosophical,  first  to  discover  what  the  Bible  does  say,  and 
then  to  ask  why  it  does  say  so.  Now  all  metaphysics  apart, — 
although  all  metaphysics,  as  I  have  no  doubt  a  brief  study  of  the 
controversy  would  convince  you,  bears  with  full  power  in  favour 
of  Calvinism.  Read  your  Bible.  If  you  believe  it  firmly  to  be 
the  word  of  God,  you  are  fully  prepared  to  commence  the  inves- 
tigation. If  you  do  not,  without  scruple,  without  the  figment 
of  a  doubt,  fully  rest  on  it  as  a  rule  infallible,  then  cease,  I 
pray  you,  to  query  with  regard  to  doctrine.  You  cannot  be  sat- 
isfied as  to  the  truth  of  a  proposition,  until  you  have  a  plenary 
reliance  upon  the  testimony.  Examine  your  reasons  for  believ- 
ing the  Bible  to  be  God's  word.  What  are  they  1  Unless  you 
can  answer  this  satisfactorily  to  your  own  mind,  pause,  and 
investigate  this  base  of  all  religious  argumentation.  Suppose 
that  you  should  meet  in  the  Bible  this  day,  such  a  text  as  this, 
"  He  that  sinneth  once,  shall  forever  be  damned,  and  that  with- 


1824—1825.  55 

out  the  possibility  of  atonement  or  rescue."  How  would  it  affect 
you  ?  Would  you  believe  it  ?  If  you  continued  to  inspect  the 
page,  and  still  continued  to  find  these  words,  and  could  find  no 
escape  or  evasion,  would  you  believe  them  1  If  not,  then  your 
confidence  in  the  Bible  is  yet  wavering.  I  hold  myself  ready  to 
believe  all  and  every  the  contents  of  the  Bible.  On  reading  such 
a  text  as  that  which  I  have  made,  I  should,  no  doubt,  be  startled ; 
I  might  doubt  whether  I  understood  it ;  I  might  suspect  it  to  be 
an  interpolation ;  but  as  soon  as  this  doubt  should  be  removed, 
so  soon  should  I  believe  that  proposition.  The  Unitarian,  in 
such  circumstances,  says, — it  is  false,  therefore  God  has  not  said 
it ;  therefore,  though  how  it  came  there,  I  am  unable  to  explain, 
yet  believe  it  I  will  not.  Evidently  he  is  now  tearing  up  the 
foundations  of  all  his  previous  "creed.  He  has  proved,  or  he 
ought  to  have  proved  to  his  own  mind,  that  the  Scriptures  are 
the  word  of  God,  and  that  all  which  they  contain  is  true,  or  ho 
ought  to  have  some  infallible  touchstone  by  whose  aid  to  dis- 
criminate between  the  true  and  the  false.  To  make  our  own 
limited  views  and  knowledge  this  touchstone,  is  obviously  irra- 
tional ;  for  thus  the  Hindoo  who  reads  the  Bible  would  reject 
the  unity  of  the  Godhead;  the  Mussulman  would  reject  the  spir- 
ituality of  the  Christian  paradise ;  the  lover  of  sin  would  de- 
nounce the  doctrine  of  eternal  punishment ;  and  every  carnal 
heart  would  answer  against  God,  and  say,  "  Why  hast  thou  made 
me  thus  ?  "     Our  only  firm  footing  is  here. 

A  book  comes  to  us  purporting  to  be  a  revelation  from  God. 
Examine  the  proofs  which  it  brings  to  substantiate  this  claim. 
If  they  are  incontrovertible,  believe  the  book,  and  believe  every 
word  in  it.  If  they  are  insufficient,  burn  the  volume.  Now  I 
think  that  the  Bible  tells  me  that  there  are  three  persons  in  the 
Godhead,  and  I  believe  it,  as  I  believed  my  father  when  he  told 
me  that  the  earth  moved  round  the  sun,  although  my  senses  flatly 
contradicted  it.  And  I  think  that  God  tells  me  in  the  Scriptures 
that  "  he  hath  chosen  us  in  Christ  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world," — "  that  we  should  be  (not  because  we  should  be)  holy, 
and  without  blame  before  him  in  love."  I  cannot  read  Bom.  viii. 
30,  and  doubt  whether  sanctification  be  the  cause,  of  our  election, 
or  election  of  our  sanctification.  So  2  Tim.  i.  9.  We  are  "  cre- 
ated in  Christ," — the  expression  is  a  notable  one — "  unto  good 
works,  which  God  hath  ordained  that  we  should  walk  in  them." 
Can  those  works  thus  foreordained  be  the  foundation  of  our  elec- 
tion ?  Say  so,  and  you  embrace  a  difficulty  liable  to  all  the  ob- 
jections which  can  be  urged  against  our  doctrine.  In  the  third 
chapter  of  the  confession  of  faith  you  may  find  my  creed  on  this 
subject.     This  is,  what  our  church  calls  it,  a  high  mystery,  and 


56  WHILE  TUTOK  IK  COLLEGE. 

yet  not  more  so  than  a-  thousand  other  credible  truths.  And  as 
to  its  repugnance  to  reason,  I  see  it  not.  Does  the  certainty 
that  an  act  will  take  place  destroy  the  liberty  of  the  agent  %  Yet 
this  certainty  is  what  God's  decree  secures,  and  it  does  nc  more. 
However,  as  I  shall  never  cease  to  say — read  your  Bible ; 
and  if  you  read  it  candidly,  I  care  not  what  else  you  read -not. 
This  simple  means  led  Luther,  and  Calvin,  and  Melanethon,  and 
Hamilton  to  the  truth,  from  the  corruptions  of  popery.  This 
simple  means  brought  the  candid  and  pious  Dr.  Scott  from  So- 
cinianism  to  Calvinism.  And  God's  word  has  never  failed  to 
enlighten  those  who  peruse  it  with  sincerity. 

June  1st. 

The  first  of  May  I  spent  in  your  company,  free  from  all 
cares,  and  all  regular  employment ;  this  day  finds  me  as  closely 
chained  to  business  as  was  ever  a  galley  slave.  Yet  business  is 
my  balm,  the  panacea  for  all  my  ailings,  and  therefore  I  never 
can  complain  of  the  greatest  amount  of  active  useful  labour, 
which  it  is  possible  for  me  to  undergo. 

I  have  been  reading  Irving's  orations  again  ;  particularly  the 
latter  parts  of  his  Argument,  and  my  admiration  for  the  man 
increases  with  every  nearer  view.  If  any  living  writer  may  be 
said  to  think  for  himself,  Irving  is  that  man  :  and  even  if  he  often 
draws  hasty  and  incorrect  conclusions,  who  would  not  pardon 
them,  when  the  general  character  of  the  work  is  so  manly  and 
independent  ?  His  affectation  ceases,  already,  to  appear  so  to 
me.  His  defence  of  eternal  punishment  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
manding arguments  I  ever  read. 

None  of  the  casualties  which  you  mention  have  yet  befallen 
your  tutor.  Indeed,  matters  have  proceeded,  as  yet,  very  swim- 
mingly. There  has  been  no  act  of  the  faculty  this  session  cal- 
culated to  excite  the  indignation  of  the  young  gentlemen,  and 
until  that  takes  place  Ave  may  expect  peace  and  safety.  Open . 
disrespect  has  never  been  shown  to  any  of  the  present  tutors 
during  the  eighteen  months  which  they  have  spent  here,  and 
although,  out  of  doors,  and  behind  their  backs,  /have  heard  them 
reviled,  and  calumniated,  and  ridiculed,  yet  they  tell  me  that 
they  have  never,  even  in  the  times  of  highest  excitement,  met  with 
any  thing  short  of  external  courtesy.  I  can  certainly  say  this 
much  for  the  manners  of  our  students,  that  I  never  received  more 
universal  and  continued  deference  from  any  persons  whatever. 
I  know,  from  my  own  recollections,  that  even  when  young  men 
talk  in  the  most  braggadocio  style,  and  vow  eternal  vengeance 
on  their  teachers,  they  arc  as  meek  as  lambs  in  their  presence. 
You  would  smile  at  the  difference  in  the  manner  of  a  young  man 


1824—1825.  57 

when  he  struts  among  his  mates  in  the  campus,  and  when  he 
comes,  with  all  possible  humility,  to  ask  leave  to  go  into  the 
town,  or  to  be  excused  from  recitation.  Our  laws  are  so  well 
digested,  and  our  discipline  so  exact,  that,  except  in  cases  of  gen- 
eral rebellion,  no  student  dares  to  offer  indignity  to  any  officer. 
The  faculty  are  always  united  in  supporting  their  own  authority, 
and  the  trustees  in  backing  the  faculty  ;  and  dismission  or  expul 
sion  is  what  no  young  man,  however  depraved,  will  hazard  for 
nothing.  Their  tricks  are  tricks  of  fear.  They  are  done  always 
under  cover  of  darkness,  and  are  generally  such  as  it  would  dis- 
grace them  among  their  own  comrades  to  avow.  As  to  personal 
danger,  I  believe  that  a  park  of  cannon  would  not  keep  me  from 
what  I  think  is  my  sworn  duty.  Strength  of  nerve  I  have  not, 
but  I  am  mistaken  greatly  if  I  dare  not  face  any  danger  which 
these  walls  can  ever  harbour.  Every  student  who  falls  under 
discipline,  as  many  must,  looks  on  the  person  who  exercises  it 
as  his  personal  enemy  ;  and  hence,  rancour  and  hatred  I  do 
expect.  Every  one  who  is  guilty  and  suffers  punishment,  makes 
up  the  best  story  possible,  to  clear  his  character ;  and  as  the  fac- 
ulty make  no  official  statements,  these  accounts  from  the  culprits 
are  those  which  gain  currency.  So  that  calumny  and  contempt 
I  expect.  Yet  I  know  that  the  straightforward  line  of  duty 
never  led  man  wrong.  I  may  suffer  in  a  thousand  ways,  but  if 
I  am  permitted  to  act  conscientiously,  then  may  I  say,  Integer 
vitce,  &c.  I  think — for  I  use  the  confidence  of  friendship — that 
without  vain  boasting,  I  can  say,  that  my  determination  is  to 
make  the  rule  of  duty  my  only  rule  in  my  new  station.  College 
popularity  is  a  wind  that  is  forever  shifting,  you  know  not 
why  or  wherefore,  and  it  seldom  long  fans  the  faithful  officer. 
For  so  changeable  a  thing,  and  a  thing  so  worthless,  let  me 
never  go  a  hair's  breadth  out  of  my  way. 

You  speak  with  justice  of  the  formality  of  ministers.  It  is 
a  woeful  truth,  and  it  is  with  shuddering  that  I  anticipate  adding 
myself  to  the  venerable  corps  which  contains  already  so  many 
drones.  Yet  there  are  those  who,  bating  the  inevitable  imper- 
fections of  nature,  are  what  their  Saviour  directed  them  to  be ; 
and  perhaps  the  reason  why  they  seem  to  be  so  few  is,  that  they 
do  not  seek  the  glare  and  bustle  of  publicity,  and  pompous  anni- 
versaries. My  own  favourite  Moravians  do  seem  to  have  caught 
some  of  the  apostolic  spirit. 

Your  notions  respecting  the  conduct  of  professors  of  religion, 
as  far  as  you  have  clearly  defined  them,  seem  to  contain  a  great 
deal  that  is  true.  Christians  do,  too  much,  connive  at  the  levity 
and  thoughtlessness  of  the  world,  although  I  think  that,  cceteris 
paribus,  whatever  is  lawful  and  expedient  for  a  non-professor,  is 
vol.  i. — 3* 


58  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

lawful  and  proper  for  a  professor  of  religion.  It  is  every  man's 
duty  to  love  God,  and  therefore  all  the  self-denial  and  obligations 
resulting  from  this  love  are  the  duty  of  every  man.  A  profes- 
sion of  faith,  is  merely  one  of  these  resulting  duties.  God  forbid 
that  I  should  say  aught  in  exculpation  of  our  brotherhood ;  our 
guilt  is  rank ;  yet  I  sometimes  think  that  the  "  world  "  who  keep 
not  one  commandment,  take  an  inconsistent  pleasure  in  crimina- 
ting the  "  church,"  who  endeavour  to  obey  in  some.  As  for  my- 
self, I  feel  a  daily  compunction  for  my  failings.  There  cannot, 
surely,  be  a  human  creature  less  satisfied  with  himself  than  I. 
In  religion,  in  moral  principle,  in  every  branch  of  attainment  and 
character,  I  see  myself  far,  far  below  what  I  desire  to  be,  and 
often  can  I  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  Apostle's  remarks,  Rom. 
vii.  14—25.  I  confess  that  I  see  very  little  in  the  selfish,  secluded, 
torpid  devotion  of  the  monk,  which  savours  of  the  glowing,  expan- 
sive, ever  active  piety  of  the  Apostles.  I  know  too  much  of 
solitude  to  have  very  romantic  ideas  of  the  piety  which  is  gen- 
erated by  it.  Spleen  and  moroseness  gain  more  rapid  growth  in 
the  cell,  than  benevolence  and  humility. 

Cicero  comes  next  upon  the  docket.  It  requires  no  great  in- 
dependence of  soul  to  think  him  a  master  in  eloquence.  This  I 
do,  and  my  conviction  of  his  just  claim  to  that  character,  in- 
creases with  every  new  approach  towards  familiarity  with  his 
writings.  I  do  not,  it  is  true,  rise  into  the  raptures  which  some 
affect,  and  which  a  few  may  feel,  and  for  this  simple  reason,  I  am 
not  sufficiently  versed  in  the  Latin  language.  Every  French- 
man who  has  been  in  America  six  months,  knows  more  of  Eng- 
lish than  I  do  of  Latin ;  and  yet  who  would  set  up  such  a  man 
as  a  judge  of  the  merits  of  Shakespeare  1  And  believe  me,  the 
peculiar  circumstances  which  render  the  latter  writer  obscure, 
exist  in  a  threefold  degree,  with  regard  to  the  orator.  Yet  his 
invectives  against  Catiline,  and  especially  the  peroration  "  Pro 
Milone,"  I  have  felt,  and  felt  in  a  manner  that  assured  me  how 
powerfully  his  words  must  have  smitten  the  souls  of  those  who 
listened.-  Demosthenes  I  have  never  felt,  and  yet  I  dare  not  sus- 
pect a  moment,  that  he  was  not  a  noble  orator.  I  do  not  pro- 
fess myself  able  to  judge,  I  cannot  feel  the  Greek  language,  and 
I  can  hardly  feel  the  Latin.  But  the  claims  of  these  men  do 
not  rest  on  what  may  strike  us,  nor  even  on  the  universal  suffrage 
of  scholars,  (I  say  universal,  for  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
wrongheads,  who  would  rather  broach  a  new  lie,  than  submit  to 

1  In  May  of  this  year,  he  contributed  to  the  National  Gazette,  ("from 
the  portfolio  of  a  solitary  student,")  an  article  on  "  Cicero  de  Amicitia . ;  " 
and  in  July,  another  on  "  Middleton's  Life,  and  Mehnoth's  Epistles  of 
Cicero.1' 


1824—1825.  59 

believe  an  old  truth,  I  know  none  competent  to  judge  who  have 
dissented,)  the  effects,  the  unparalleled  effects  at  the  time,  de- 
clare beyond  all  contradiction  how  eloquent,  how  superhuman 
were  their  powers. 

Aikin's  lines  upon  Melancholy,  &c,  have  much  reason  in 
them.  I  know,  as  to  my  own  case,  that  placidity  of  mind  is  the 
sole  preventive  and  remedy.  "  Is  not  this  like  saying  that  ease 
of  body  is  the  best  preventive  of  rheumatism  %  "  Not  exactly. 
Quiet  of  mind,  equally  removed  from  the  intoxication  of  com- 
pany and  the  intoxication  of  study  ;  the  medium  between  jollity 
and  spleen,  it  is  in  the  power  of  a  man  to  whom  belongs  "mens 
sana  in  corpore  sano  "  to  preserve.  This  quiet  is  to  be  found,  not 
in  the  bustle  of  life,  not  in  the  palaestra  of  literary  ambition,  not 
in  mystic  ravings,  not  in  that  most  variable  and  tyrannous  of  all 
pursuits,  authorship,  but  in  a  life  of  gentle,  virtuous,  regular 
business. 

I  have  been  confined  to  the  house  almost  all  this  day,  by  the 
rain,  so  that  I  get  more  time  than  usual  for  writing.  But  when 
I  do  sit  down  to  write,  after  the  fatiguing,  but  pleasing  studies 
of  the  day,  my  pen  and  my  thoughts  move  heavily,  and  remind 
me  of  men  whom  I  have  seen  walking  home  after  gorging  at  a 
great  dinner,  hardly  able  to  draw  one  foot  before  the  other.  For 
want  of  something  better,  I  send  you  some  lines  which  accom 
panied  a  bouquet,  sent  last  summer  to  a  little  girl : 

Perhaps  these  flowers,  so  fragrant  now,  and  fair, 

Culled  from  their  native  stalk  with  nicest  care, 

Ere  thy  young  hands  have  touched  them,  or  thine  eye 

Has  hailed  the  promised  gift,  shall  fade  and  die. 

Thus,  ev'n  in  tasting,  vanish  all  our  joys, 

Frail  as  our  clay-built  frame,  mere  transitory  toys. 

These  various  petals,  bright  as  clouds  of  eve, 

From  God's  creative  touch  their  hues  receive  ; 

These  tints  so  exquisite,  this  gorgeous  frame 

So  richly  coloured,  from  his  pencil  came. 

Yet  heaven-born  as  they  are,  and  to  the  sight 

Of  wond'ring  eyes,  too  sweet  to  know  a  blight ; 

Still  must  they  fade,  their  season  is  a  span 

Brief,  gay,  and  brilliant,  like  the  life  of  man, 

Seen,  like  a  flash,  through  midnight  clouds  to  quiver — 

A  moment  brightly  seen — then  gone  forever. 

Use  wisely  then  these  flowrets,  while  they  last, 

Quaff  all  their  sweetness — or  if  thou  canst  cast 

Some  charm  about  their  evanescent  bloom, 

That  may  prolong  their  day, — postpone  their  doom^- 

Or  perpetuity  to  odours  give, 

Formed  but  a  little  season  fresh  to  live, — 

This  do — and  kindly,  from  the  withering  breath 

Of  blasting  heat  release  these  heirs  of  death. 

But  shall  no  tender  wish  my  gift  attend  ? 


6  J  WHILE   TUTOR   IN   COLLEGE. 

Yes,  dearest ,  thy  early,  unchanged  friend, 

Prays  from  his  inmost  soul,  that  every  grace 
These  emblem  flowers  can  picture — in  thy  face, 
Thy  form,  thy  manners,  and  thy  opening  mind, 
In  sweetest  harmony  may  be  combined ; 
And  by  some  charm  of  richest  heavenly  dew 
Guarded  from  all  that  withering  blasts  can  do. 
And  when  from  Earth  transplanted,  may'st  thou  bloom 
In  a  new  Paradise  beyond  the  tomb. 

Do  you  ever  read  Wordsworth  ?  I  should  very  much  like 
to  get  a  copy  of  his  Lyrical  Ballads.  I  wish  the  men  who  so 
belabour  him  in  their  critiques,  would  borrow  from  him  a  little 
of  that  rare  originality  and  poetic  fire  which  sometimes  shine 
out  among  his  quaint  and  childish  thoughts.  Have  you  ever 
skated  1     Then  read  this : 

"  So  through  the  darkness  and  the  cold  we  flew, 
And  not  a  voice  was  idle  :  with  the  din, 
Meanwhile  the  precipices  rang  aloud  : 
The  leafless  trees  and  every  icy  crag 
Tinkled  like  iron  :  while  the  distant  hills 
Into  the  tumult  sent  an  alien  sound 
Of  melancholy,  not  unnoticed,  while  the  stars 
Eastward  were  sparkling  clear,  and  in  the  west 
The  orange  sky  of  evening  died  away." 

O  I  feel  it !  I  feel  it !  and  it  breathes  into  my  soul  all  the 
soft  recollections  of  just  such  a  scene,  a  long,  long  time  ago,  when 
I  was  all  sport  and  frolic.  This  accurate  description,  whether 
of  objects  of  perception  or  consciousness,  is,  after  all,  what  most 
enters  into  my  heart.  Here  is  a  quotation  that  will  bear  study- 
ing, and  I  confess  it  moves  me  not  a  little.  [Then  followed  the 
familiar  lines,  beginning  : 

"  Our  birth  is  but  a  sleep  and  a  forgetting."] 

June  hith. 

Had  a  cracker  about  two  o'clock  on  the  night  before  last ;  it 
was  exploded  at  the  prayer-hall  door,  which  it  burst  open,  about 
25  yards  from  my  head.  I  was  not  certain  what  it  was  that  had 
awakened  me,  until  my  room  was  filled  with  powder-smoke, 
which  came  in  through  the  glass  ventilator  above  my  door.  No 
bones  broken  yet.  Indeed  the  physical  inconveniences  of  my 
station  I  do  not  regard  one  straw. 

If  you  see  a  man  in  Philadelphia  dressed  in  a  Tartan  plaid 
frock  coat,  with  a  cape, — note  him.  He  is  a  captain  in  the  reg- 
ular service  of  the  British.  By  his  costume  you  may  know 
him  to  be  eccentric,  but  you  must  see  him  more  closely  to  know 
all  about  him.     He  is  a  man  of  considerable  property,  living 


1824—1825.  61 

upon  full  pay,  a  bachelor,  on  an  indefinite  furlough,  and  yet  is  as 
economical  as  a  miser,  and  as  laborious,  in  teaching  a  school,  as  a 
pauper,  and.  all  from  a  purity  and  benignity  of  motive  that  I 
have  hardly  ever  known  in  any  other  man.  I  know  him  to  have 
given  $2,000  in  private  charity  during  the  last  year.  He  lived 
thirteen  years  in  India,  is  a  thorough  master  of  the  Telinga, 
Hindoostanee,  and  Persian  languages,  and  more  than  all,  shows 
in  the  fervour  of  his  conversation,  and  the  beneficence  and  kind- 
ness of  his  life,  that  he  is  a  sincere  Christian.  If  you  wish  to  see 
benevolence  personified,  see  Capt. •. 

Nassau  Hall,  June  19,  1824. 
I  think  I  shall  throw  up  gazetteer ing '.  It  is  my  desire,  I  con- 
fess, to  leave  something  behind  me  that  may  testify,  after  my 
death,  that  I  have  not  been  altogether  a  useless  stock  in  this 
world ;  but  ten  years  will  not  be  too  much  to  spend  in  secret 
meditation  before  thinking  of  such  a  thing.  If  I  die  within  that 
time,  God's  will  be  done.  If  I  live,  I  shall  be  able  to  have  ma- 
tured my  crude  and  now  only  germinating  notions,  and  to  judge 
what  may,  or  may  not,  do  good.  Hear  a  short  translation  from 
Herder,  a  German  philosopher  :  "  With  the  greatest  possible 
solicitude  avoid  authorship.  Too  early,  or  immoderately  em- 
ployed, it  makes  the  head  waste,  and  the  heart  empty,  even  were 
there  no  worse  consequences.  A  person  who  reads  only  to 
print,  in  all  probability  reads  amiss  ;  and  he  who  sends  away 
through  the  pen  and  the  press,  every  thought,  the  moment  it 
occurs  to  him,  will,  in  a  short  time,  have  sent  all  away,  and  will 
become  a  mere  journeyman  of  the  printing  office,  a  compositor, 
"  ein  blosser  Diener  der  Druckerey,  ein  Buchstabensetzer." 
This,  from  a  fortunate  author,  has  weight. 

Nassau  Hall,  June  21,  1824. 
The  one  simple  question  with  me  is,  "  what  says  the  Scrip- 
ture ?  "  Unless  we  become  as  little  children,  we  cannot  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God,  and  in  no  point  is  the  unquestioning  humil- 
ity of  a  child  of  God  more  put  to  the  test,  than  in  receiving  doc- 
trines which  even  in  apostolic  times,  were  rejected  and  opposed. 
Very  few  Pharisees  ever  came  to  Christ  and  those  who  did, 
were  not  wont  to  inquire  of  him  how  far  his  doctrine  tallied 
with  their  preconceived  opinions,  but  simply  to  believe.  I  beg 
you  to  remember,  that  I  do  not  stake  myself  to  answer  for  all, 
nor  for  any  of  the  faults  of  Calvinists  ;  I  am  not  desirous  in  the 
slightest  degree,  of  vindicating  God's  character  against  those  who 
choose  to  accuse  his  doctrines  of  inconsistence  with  any  doctrine 
whatever  of  free-will,  or  free-agency.     "  If  any  man  will  do  his 


62  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be  of  God,"  and  I 
know  not  that  he  has  anywhere  promised  to  make  plain,  to  a 
mind  that  is  unwilling  to  obey  his  first  commandment,  those 
decrees  which  he  has  of  his  good  pleasure  chosen  to  reveal. 
"  All  the  disputes  between  us  and  the  Arminians  may  be  reduced 
to  these  two  questions  :  1.  Is  God  dependent  upon  man,  or  is 
man  dependent  upon  God  ?  2.  Is  man  a  debtor  to  God,  or  is 
God  a  debtor  to  man  %  "  Please  to  ponder  upon  them.  Accord- 
ing to  Arminianism,  as  I  have  heard,  grace  has  the  name,  but 
free-will  has  the  game.  But  enough :  and  to  use  the  words  of 
the  same  minister  whom  I  last  quoted,  "  One  moment's  com- 
munion with  God  is  worth  all  the  controversial  writings  in  the 
world  " — and  this  communion  I  would  fain  have  you  to  know. 

[After  mentioning  what  he  considered  his  spiritual  declen- 
sion, for  the  last  six  months,  the  letter  continues.]  But  I  thank 
his  name  that  he  has  caused  the  solitary  reading  and  devotion 
of  this  my  privacy  to  arouse  me  to  some  sense  of  the  realities 
of  religion.  My  determination  now  is  this — and  may  God 
prevent  my  falling  again  by  the  hands  of  my  adversary — hence- 
forward to  "  seek  the  righteousness  of  God,"  "  knowing  that  all 
other  things  shall  be  added  unto  me."  "  Henceforward  let  no 
man  trouble  me,  for  1  bear  in  my  body  the  marks  of  the  Lord 
Jesus."  I  can  enter  with  a  sweetness  which  I  never  before  ex- 
perienced, into  these  words,  Gal.  iii.  8-19,  and  address  them 
fervently  to  you.  And,  my  dear  friend,  let  me  exhort  you  from 
a  heart  that  knows  no  insincerity  upon  this  subject,  to  seek,  or 
rather  accept  that  righteousness  of  God  which  he  condescends  to 
offer.  "  What  am  I  to  do  ?  "  say  you  1  This  is  the  work,  saith 
Jesus,  which  he  requireth  of  you,  to  believe  on  him  whom  he 
hath  sent.  If  you  wish  to  know  what  belief  is,  and  what  conver- 
sion is,  I  could  not  refer  you  to  a  better  answer  than  that  of  one 
of  the  sailors  on  board  the  Thames  to  [Rev.  C.  S.]  Stewart.  See 
last  Advocate.1  Truly  the  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  ye 
hear  the  sound  thereof,  but  cannot  tell  whence  it  cometh  or 
whither  it  goeth.  So  is  every  one  who  is  born  of  the  Spirit. 
You  have  turned  over  the  Bible,  and  you  have,  I  can  say,  with-A 
out  oracular  insight  into  your  heart,  you  have  tried  various  ways 
of  becoming  pious  ;  you  have  done  this  and  that,  and  are  perhaps 
wondering  where  that  change  so  much  spoken  of  is  to  be  found. 
You  have  sought  relief  to  your  mind  by  endeavouring  to  shrink 
from  those  doctrines  of  God's  sovereignty  which  you  cannot  but 

1  "  It  is  not  any  thing  you  have  done  or  can  do.  It  is  only  believing 
and  trusting  to  what  Christ  has  done  :  it  is  having  your  sins  pardoned 
and  soul  saved,  because  he  died  and  shed  his  blood  for  sin,  and  it  is  nothing 
else." 


1824—1825.  63 

see  in  the  literal  text  of  almost  every  book  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment. Now  answer  to  your  own  conscience ;  I  do  not  assume 
the  part  of  a  questioner,  or  ask  for  an  answer — Have  you  any 
free-will  to  be  a  Christian  1  If  you  have,  why  then,  I  am  ready 
to  cease  inquiring  of  you  ;  for  this  unanswerable  question  stares 
you  in  the  lace,  Why  am  I  not  holy  1  If  your  heart  is  like  mine, 
it  is  a  sink  of  uncleanness,  and  so  long  as  you  endeavour  to  con- 
ceal this  from  yourself,  you  do  but  err.  If  you  are  able,  from 
being  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  to  raise  yourself  to  life,  (for-, 
give  the  solecism  ;  it  lies  in  the  absurd  doctrine,)  then  why  ask 
for  assistance  any  longer  1  Arise  and  stand  up  in  the  perfection 
of  Christian  character.  Look  back  on  your  past  life,  and  tell  me 
how  many  free  acts  you  ever  did.  Did  you  ever  do  one  thing, 
or  take  one  step,  which  was  not  the  effect  of  some  preceding  view 
or  feeling  %  If  you  have,  name  it,  and  I  will  grant  you  the  free- 
dom of  your  will.  Can  you  will  to  be  everlastingly  miserable  1 
Sit  down  and  try  ;  and  then  say  whether  your  will  is  free  :  if  it 
is  as  much  dependent  on  motives  as  the  wheels  of  a  watch  on  the 
spring,  it  is  about  as  free.  If  it  is  not  absolutely  and  literally 
independent,  in  all  possible  cases,  to  call  it  free  is  nugatory.  The 
carnal  mind,  believe  me,  is  enmity  against  God,  and  is  not  sub- 
ject to  his  will,  neither  indeed  can  be.  You  must  be  born  again. 
You  may  marvel,  as  did  Nicodemus ;  and  yet  if  I  have  told  you 
earthly  things,  and  you  believe  not,  if  the  first  doctrine  of  the 
Bible  is  beyond  your  comprehension,  how  shall  you  believe  if  I 
tell  you  of  heavenly  things  ?  how  shall  the  inscrutable  and  eternal 
things  of  God  be  clear  to  you  1 

Are  you  desirous  of  being  converted  to  God,  or  does  your 
pride  cause  you  to  reject  the  humbling  terms  of  the  Gospel  1 
The  gate  of  the  kingdom  is  strait,  and  pride  must  crouch  low 
before  that  little  wicket  gate  can  be  entered.  Now,  answer  con- 
science, and  not  me.  Suppose  God  to  judge  of  your  desire  to  be 
converted  by  the  means  which  you  use,  and  the  earnestness  and 
importunity  with  which  you  use  them,  what  do  you  suppose 
would  be  his  estimate  of  the  anxiety  which  you  manifest  1  An- 
swer to  him,  how  many  times  you  have  earnestly  sought  in  his 
word  for  the  means  of  salvation.  Ah  !  have  you  not  oftener 
asked  of  man  1  or  have  you  asked  at  all  1  I  feel  no  hesitation  in 
saying  here  as  elsewhere,  Go  straight  to  the  Scriptures.  Sec- 
tarians may  squabble  as  they  please,  yet  I  have  no  fear  in  direct- 
ing any  one  to  go  to  the  fountain  head,  the  Bible.  You  may  say 
that  you  have.  How  many  days  did  you  ever  devote  to  it  1 
how  many  anxious  nights  *?  If  the  body,  instead  of  the  undying 
soul,  was  in  peril,  you  would  scarce  think  of  aught  beside.  Re- 
member the  word  is  strive  (uyom^ere)  to  enter,  &c.     And  I  pre- 


64  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

diet  that  unless  your  eyes  are  opened  by  his  Spirit  that  you  will 
find  no  sweetness  there ;  therefore  pray,  and  that  not  in  half- 
earnest,  for  that  wisdom  which  he  has  promised  to  give  to  all 
who  ask. 

Nassau  Hall,  July  10,  1824. 
I  begin  by  informing  you  that  I  have  finally  been  humbled 
by  the  ■prostration  of  my  own  will,  which  has  been  since  birth 
free  only  to  evil,  to  the  point  of  entire  submission  to .  God.  I 
have  been  a  false  and  hypocritical  professor,  but  God  has  in 
mercy  brought  me  to  a  view  of  my  utter  impotence,  of  the  jus 
tice  of  the  law  which  would  condemn  me  to  eternal  wrath,  and 
of  my  being  helpless  in  the  hands  of  an  Almighty  Avenger. 
Henceforward,  my  single  aim  is,  to  submit  myself  to  God  as  an 
instrument  in  his  hands  to  be  used  for  what  he  chooses.  Death 
would  be  a  release,  should  it  come  this  instant ;  and  except  to  do 
God's  work,  I  desire  not  to  breathe  another  moment.  You  talk 
of  election,  &c.  Depend  upon  it  you  will  ever  sink  into  an 
abyss  of  perplexity  and  deeper  and  still  deeper  confusion,  until 
you  renounce  a  dependence  upon  your  own  powers  of  intellect. 
Spiritual  vision  or  faith  is  as  different  from  intellectual  vision 
or  mere  belief  (in  a  human  sense)  as  their  objects  are  diverse. 
The  one  is  conversant  with  naked  speculations  which  might  for- 
ever play  about  the  head  and  communicate  no  spark  of  heat. 
The  other  is  the  gift  of  God.  If  any  man  will  do  the  will  of  God 
he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine  whether  it  be  of  God.  Believe  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  you  shall  be  saved,  and  a  part  of  this 
salvation  is  a  knowledge  of  the  truth.  Christ  is  "  made  unto  us 
knowledge,"  when  you  have  received  power  to  be  the  son  of  God 
through  him,  then  shall  you  see  in  him  all  that  it  is  necessary 
for  you  to  know.  Read  1  Cor.  i.  18-31.  It  is  the  Spirit  that 
teacheth.  1  Cor.  ii.  6,  7,  and  10  and  14.  If  you  wish  to  under- 
stand these  things  let  me  direct  you  to  the  Scriptures.  Quere. 
How  many  days  did  you  ever  devote  exclusively  to  the  prayer- 
ful reading  of  the  Bible  %  And  how  great  is  the  probability  of 
your  understanding  it  until  you  dig  in  it  as  for  choice  treasure  1 
And  how  great  is  your  anxiety  on  the  subject,  if  you  have  never 
given  even  a  week  to  the  book  *?  Are  you  not  more  fond  of  reading 
human  discussions  on  the  subject,  than  of  going  to  the  fountain- 
head  ?  Do  you  not  often  dispute  in  your  own  mind  certain  propo- 
sitions before  you  have  had  them  fairly  defined  ?  Are  you  not  a 
little  afraid  of  finding  certain  doctrines  in  the  Bible  if  you  should 
search  it  too  closely  or  candidly1?  If  this  doctrine  should  stand 
out  prominently  as  a  declaration  of  the  word  of  God,  "  God  will 
damn  all  men  ;  "  would  you  believe  it  ?     If  God  should  thunder 


1824—1825.  65 

it  in  your  ear  would  you  believe  it?  If  you  would  not,  then 
you  would  be  making  God  a  liar;  the  very  essence  of  that  un- 
belief which  keeps  us  from  him.  You  wish  to  believe  not  as  the 
word  of  God,  but  as  the  word  of  man ;  not  because  God  says  it, 
and  you  humbly  credit  whatever  he  says,  but  because  it  is 
demonstrated  to  you.  At  this  rate  you  may  become  a  grand 
skeptic,  but  never  a  Christian.  If  you  do  not  come  to  the  Scrip- 
tures with  a  mind  equally  willing  to  believe  one  thing  as  another, 
you  come  with  a  bias,  you  come  without  believing  it  to  be  the 
word  of  God,  and  you  come  in  vain.  Now  observe,  I  assert 
nothing  to  be  believed  upon  my  ipse  dixit,  or  that  of  any  human 
creature.  Please  to  read  over  in  connexion,  without  stopping 
for  any  difficulties,  or  quarrelling  about  any  doctrine,  the  gospel 
by  John  ;  read  it  three  or  four  times  ;  and  if  you  do  not  see  that 
the  Scripture  is  clear  and  consistent,  and  plain,  too,  if  we  were 
not  blinded  by  the  God  of  this  world,  then  I  forfeit  my  character. 

Nassau  Hall,  September  20,  1824. 

You  have  here  another  prospectus  of  another  Princeton  work 
which  I  trust  will  prove  honourable  to  us,  and  useful  to  the 
cause.1  The  election  of  our  next  Professor  of  Languages  is  a 
matter  of  considerable  interest  to  us  at  this  time.  I  would  hope 
that  it  might  be  Professor  Patton,  of  Middlebury.  He  is  a  ripe 
scholar  in  modern  as  well  as  ancient  languages,  has  made  his  re- 
searches upon  the  European  continent,  and  in  his  private  man- 
ners is  said  to  be  highly  interesting.2 

You  suggest  to  me  to  write  something  on  "  Irving."  The 
fact  is  just  this,  I  should  like  to  do  it  very  well,  but  I  feel  no 
motion  that  way  at  present.  I  have  not  that  enviable  self-com- 
mand which  enables  some  men  to  decree  that  they  will  do  this 
or  that,  and  then  sit  down  and  effect  it.  I  must  take  myself 
when  I  am  in  the  notion  of  it.  I  must  humour  myself.  Most 
of  my  scribbling  is  done  at  single  sittings,  and  currente  calamo. 
When  I  am  full  of  a  particular  subject,  and  find  that  the  ink  will 
run,  I  usually  drive  the  quill  to  its  utmost,  which  is  sometimes 
only  ten  lines.  That  I  ever  finished  any  thing,  I  dare  not  aver. 
I  count  those  productions  happy  which  have  a  beginning  and  an 
end,  and  of  course  are  fit  for  the  press.     I  would  almost  engage 

5  The  hope  has  been  abundantly  realized,  for  the  work  referred  to  was 
the  Biblical  Repertory,  the  publication  of  which  was  begun  in  1825,  and  is 
still  continued,  under  the  same  editor,  with  the  second  title  of  "  Princeton 
Review."  The  original  proposals  are  "  for  the  periodical  publication  of  a 
collection  of  dissertations,  principally  in  Biblical  Literature.  By  Charles 
Hodge,  Professor,"  &c. 

2  Mr.  Robert  B.  Patton  was  elected. 


66  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

to  send  you  beginnings  of  essays  enough  to  make  your  fortune, 
if  you  will  only  tack  bodies  to  them.  The  enclosed  tractate  I 
did  intend  to  purge  and  perfect,  and  perhaps  make  the  first  of  a 
series,  but  for  reasons  like  those  above,  I  can't  promise.  If 
Walsh  takes  it,  very  well ;  if  not,  it  may  sleep  among  its 
brethren. 

I  pray  you  if  you  are  going  to  write  to  me  about  La  Fayette, 
that  you  will  find  out  something  new,  or  something  that  he  is 
doing  himself.  I  hear  a  great  deal  about  what  they  are  doing 
to  him,  taking  him  here  and  taking  him  there ;  but  it  might  be 
the  College  shoe-black  as  for  any  life  or  character  that  there  is 
in  it.  I  am  heartily  sick  of  it,  and  make  a  point  of  skipping  every 
column  in  the  paper  which  has  his  name  in  it. 

Princeton,  October  2,  1824. 
From  amidst  all  the  delightful  confusion  of  vials,  porringers, 
spoons,  bowls,  boxes,  and  the  other  paraphernalia  of  a  sick  room, 
with  a  head  muddled  with  a  week's  debauch  upon  opium,  and 
my  whole  person  redolent  with  Castor  oil  and  ipecacuanha,  with 
griping,  with  retching,  in  short  among  all  the  little  agremens  of  a 
confinement  with  the  dysentery,  I  am  (by  stealth)  inditing  you 
an  epistle.  On  the  day  of  La  Fayette's  transit,  I  was  seized, 
after  having  had  the  honour,  if  honour  it  can  be  called,  when  con- 
ferred on  all,  of  handling  his  fist,  and  gorging  myself  at  what 
they  were  pleased  to  call  a  cold  collation.  I  trust  that  I  am 
getting  well  now,  although  I  feel  a  lamentable  feebleness  in  all 
my  limbs,  and  a  weakness  in  body  and  in  brains.  I  scarcely 
know  why  it  is,  but  so  contrary  is  my  disposition,  that  the  oc- 
currences of  life  operate  upon  me  in  a  manner  seemingly  oppo- 
site to  their  natural  tendencies.  I  am  never  less  solemn  than 
when  on  a  sick  bed ;  perhaps,  in  this  case,  because  I  have  been 
drunk  with  opium  all  the  time.  I  know  that  I  ought  to  feel  the 
solemnity  of  the  occasion,  but  it  is  all  the  reverse.  On  the  con- 
trary, in  the  crowd,  and  in  the  fete,  in  the  merry  circle,  I  am 
most  ready  to  have  a  long  face,  to  feel  a  great  vacuity,  and  to  be 
deeply  impressed  with  the  emptiness  of  the  world.  Amongst 
other  memorabilia  of  this  siege,  witness  the  following : 

Ad  J.  W.  A.    Hexametr.  5. 

Crede  mihi,  juvenis  docilis,  me  maxime  taedet 

Audire  aggrotum  esse  virum,  tam  longe  celebrem. 

Pulveribus  (quid  tu  Anglice  vocas  ?)  te  cumularint, 

Et  medicus,  veneranda  materque,  Aneliza,  niger  Ned. 

Nunc  spero  finemque,  quiem  tibi  sero  dederunt.  J.  A.  A. 


1824—1825.  67 

Princeton,  October  27,  1824. 
I  am  safely  arrived  at  home,  and  find  myself  surrounded  by 
all  those  peaceful  enjoyments  which  one.  never  relishes  so  much 
as  after  a  short  absence.  I.  have  little  to  communicate  to  you  in 
the  way  of  news  or  adventure.  My  passage  in  the  steamboat 
was  like  most  other  steamboat  passages,  tedious  and  uninterest- 
ing ;  enlivened  a  little,  however,  by  the  company  of  two  or  three 
Spanish  Americans,  with  one  of  whom,  a  young  fellow  from  Cuba, 
I  contrived  to  scrape  an  acquaintance.  He  was  going  to  Mr. 
Brown's  school  at  Lawrenceville.  He  informed  me,  probably 
erroneously,  that  it  was  the  purpose  of  the  Colombians  to  blockade 
Havana  within  three  weeks.  I  have  read  "  Redwood,"  and 
am  much  pleased  with  it.  I  think  it  may  well  rank  with  the 
Pilot  and  Pioneers.  As  a  novel,  it  undoubtedly  excels  either, 
the  style  is  chaste  and  beautiful,  and  the  conversations  as  natural 
as  any  1  have  seen.  Yet  in  description  of  scenery  it  is  much 
inferior  to  Cooper's  works.  I  still  think  that  it  scarcely  merits 
the  wonderful  encomiums  of  the  British  Critics.  I  can  assure 
you  that  Princeton  is  an  exceedingly  dull  place  in  vacation,  and 
I  am  forced  to  study  with  all  my  might  as  a  refuge  from  ennui. 
I  am  looking  between  the  covers  of  some  Italian  books,  and  in- 
tend to  revise  my  German.  It  seems  to  me  that  Walsh's 
Gazette  is  very  barren  of  any  thing  literary.  I  wish  you  would 
take  up  your  pen.  I  know  you  will  retort  the  request  and  there- 
fore have  my  answer  ready.  I  have  thought  of  it  repeatedly, 
and  invoked  the  Muse,  demon  or  what  not,  until  I  am  despairing 
of  ever  again  being  in  a  writing  mood.  Surely  there  is  nothing 
more  thoroughly  beyond  the  reach  of  a  man's  volitions  (Dr. 
Johnson  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding)  than  the  ability  to 
write,  not  verses  merely,  but  prose.  I  can  think  of  no  subject, 
and  when  I  get  a  subject,  I  can  engender  no  ideas. 

Nassau  Hall,  November  17,  1824. 
I  am  now  safely  lodged  in  my  cell  in  College,  unmolested  by 
the  shrieks  of  children,  or  any  form  of  domestic  broils.  And 
never  did  I  feel  so  unspeakably  listless,  and  insufferably  lazy,  as 
at  this  present  time.  Think  yourself  favoured  if  you  get  from 
me  any  thing  like  an  intelligible  or  coherent  letter.  There  is  as 
yet  no  Freshman  class,  and  I  have  but  one  class  to  instruct,  and 
that  upon  a  subject  which  I  have  attended  to  before,  so  that  my 
labours  are  greatly  diminished,  and  my  diligence  is  inversely 
as  my  leisure.  I  have  as  yet  done  nothing  like  real  and  regular 
study.  I  have  read  Chaucer  until  I  was  tired,  and  then  Jeremy 
Taylor,  and  then  Brown's  Philosophy,  that  poem  under  the  guise 


68  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE 

of  Metaphysics,  and  then  taken  a  nap,  or  ruminated  over  the 
coals  of  a  hickory  fire,  or  scribbled  somewhat  of  crude  nonsense 
in  my  Book  of  Scraps,  and  thus  pass  my  days.  1  must  try  to 
give  you  my  notions  of  these  several  books.  With  Chaucer  I 
have  been  highly  gratified — excepting  of  course  those  grossly 
indelicate  passages  which  should  never  have  seen  the  light. 
There  is  a  wonderful  degree  of  natural  incident,  and  simple,  ac- 
curate description  in  his  poems.  Some  of  his  tales  are  highly 
amusing,  and  some  very  tender  and  pathetic.  The  Knight es  tale 
is  an  admirable  Eomaunt,  full  of  delightful  strokes  of  native  feel- 
ing. The  Nonne's  Preestes  tale  is  an  admirable  piece  of  humour, 
in  which  a  cock  and  hen  moralize  in  wondrous  manner.  The 
second  Nonne's  tale  is  a  highly  wrought  Catholic  legend,  yet 
sweet  and  moving.  The  Prioresse''s  tale,  has  some  passages  of 
great  beauty.  The  little  Christian  martyr,  walking  through  the 
canton  of  the  Jews,  sings  loudly  : 

"  As  I  have  said,  tlmrghout  the  Jewerie 
This  litel  child,  as  he  came  to  and  fro, 
Ful  merily  than  wold  he  sing  and  crie 
0  Alma  Redemptions  I  ever  mo. 
The  swetenesse  hath  his  herte  persed  so 
Of  Cristesmoder,  that  to  her  to  pray 
He  cannot  stint  of  singing  by  the  way." 

As  to  the  dialect,  though  perplexing  at  first,  it  soon  becomes 
familiar.  The  Sermons  of  Bishop  Taylor  have  been  ranked 
among  the  finest  prosaic  specimens  of  imaginative  writing.  I 
never  read  any  wrorks  which  exhibit  such  an  unrippled  flow  of 
easy,  luxuriant  thoughts,  and  rich  illustration  and  similitude. 
There  is  nothing  in  modern  writing  like  him.  Irving  reminds 
one  of  him.  And  by  the  way,  I  have  had  with  me  a  friend  just 
from  Europe  who  heard  both  Chalmers  and  Irving.  He  gives 
the  former  greatly  the  preference.  Brown's  Philosophy  you 
ought  certainly  to  read  forthwith,  if  it  were  only  as  a  specimen 
of  magnificent  writing.  He  unites  qualities  "which  rarely  meet 
in  one  individual ;  clearness  of  thought,  and  patience  of  analytic 
investigation,  and  strong  unbiassed  judgment,  with  the  most 
rich  imagination  and  the  purest  fund  of  eloquent  and  appropri- 
ate language.  I  do  not  envy  the  taste  of  the  man  who  would 
lay  down  his  work  for  any  novel  that  ever  was  written.  Pent 
up  as  I  am  within  these  walls,  and  chained  still  more  closely  by 
e?mui,  I  seldom  exert  myself  so  much  as  to  visit  in  the  town. 
There  is  a  club,  consisting  of  all  the  literary  gentlemen  and  clergy- 
men of  the  place,  which  I  have  the  privilege  of  attending,  but  this 
is  not  just  the  thing.  The  Round  Table,  too,  has  its  weekly 
meetings,  but   the   social   circle   I   have  not.     There  are  many 


1824—1825.  69 

things  which  seem  to  conspire  to  make  me  an  eremite.  One  of 
the  principal  temptations  is  the  great  facilities  afforded  to  me 
for  reading,  as  it  regards  leisure  as  well  as  "books.  Our  libraries 
are  abundant  and  always  accessible.  How  it  is  with  you  I  do 
not  know ;  but  I  find  it  hard  to  prevent  the  dribbling  away  of 
much  of  my  time  upon  periodical  works  and  literary  journals. 
We  counted  thirty  journals  the  other  day,  taken  by  the  individ- 
uals of  the  faculty.  Our  college  library  takes  the  four  princi- 
pal reviews,  many  scientific  journals,  &c.  &c.  I  lounged  away 
an  hour  this  morning  over  the  prize  essays  in  the  Cambridge 
Classical  Journal,  instead  of  studying  Mathematics.  It  is  a  pur- 
pose (half-matured  indeed)  of  mine  to  write  a  series  of  essays 
for  Walsh,  upon  modern  Latin  poetry.  The  field  is  one  com- 
paratively novel,  giving  an  opportunity  for  some  research,  some 
historical,  biographical,  and  critical  investigation,  and  one  which 
to  scholars  I  should  suppose  would  prove  interesting.  What 
think  you  of  it  ?  I  suppose  you  have  read  "  Butler's  Reminis- 
cences." The  book  highly  delighted  me  a  year  ago,  and  I  see 
that  you  have  had  a  very  new  edition  of  it  in  your  city.  The 
rules  which  he  mentions  as  having  guided  his  literary  pursuits 
are  admirable.  I  have  had  some  addition  made  to  my  labours 
this  afternoon  by  the  arrival  of  a  Freshman,  which  with  a  couple 
of  private  scholars  in  Mathematics  will  just  about  double  my 
engagements. 

Nassau  Hall,  December  6,  1824. 

I  have  not  opened  Blackstone  since  I  saw  you.  The  necessity 
of  a  unity  in  my  pursuits  has  determined  me  to  confine  myself 
to  theological  reading — at  least  to  the  allied  subjects. 

I  am  glad  that  you  have  taken  Brown  in  hand,  the  second 
volume  I  admire  most,  especially  his  remarks  on,  and  indeed  his 
whole  theory  of  simple  suggestion.  His  ideas  upon  virtue  also 
pleased  me  very  much.  The  lectures  upon  the  emotions  I 
thought  less  satisfactory  than  the  rest  of  the  work.  After  all, 
my  ideas  of  the  practical  importance  of  metaphysics  are  very 
low.  The  only  part  of  Brown  which  I  should  think  absolutely 
useful,  is  the  latter  half  of  the  third  volume.  I  am,  nevertheless, 
fond  of  the  science ;  it  is  never  dull  to  me.  I  have  read  no 
works  on  the  subject  which  please  me  more  than  the  articles 
Logic,  Metaphysics,  and  Moral  Philosophy,  in  the  New  Edin- 
burgh Encyclopaedia,  written  by  Gordon  of  Edinburgh  to  whom 
Irving  dedicates, — also  a  review  of  Stewart's  Dissertations  sev- 
eral years  ago,  in  the  Quarterly. — It  was  Brown's  Cause  and 
Effect  which  Fisher  reviewed.1     He  promised  a  review  of  the 

1  Professor  Fisher  of  Yale  College,  in  the  "  Christian  Spectator"  of  New 
Haven. 


70  WHILE  TUTOK  IN  COLLEGE. 

Lectures,  but  died'  before  its  completion.  Brown's  disquisitions 
upon  touch  are  by  no  means  satisfactory  to  me,  although  in  the 
particular  point  of  which  you  speak,  I  should  think  him  correct. 
I  have  just  concluded  "  Haly  bur  ton's  rational  inquiry  into  the 
principles  of  the  Deists  "  ;  a  heavy  work,  but  one  which  displays 
in  a  masterly  manner  the  nakedness  of  the  Deistical  creed.  I 
am  about  to  commence  reading  Edwards  on  the  Will,  a  work  of 
which  some  parts  formerly  had  greatly  pleased  me,  and  which 
Calvinists  always  refer  to  as  triumphantly  decisive  on  their  side. 
Chalmers,  in  one  of  his  late  works,  mentions  Edwards  as  the 
greatest  of  all  metaphysicians ;  and  Dugald  Stewart  is  said  to 
have  declared  that  he  was  afraid  to  finish  this  work,  lest  he 
should  become  fatalist.  Have  you  ever  read  Berkeley's  Minute 
Philosopher  ?  I  recommend  it  as  one  of  the  most  interesting 
books  I  ever  read. 

By  the  modern  latin  poets,  I  mean  all  such  moderns  as  have 
written  latin  poetry,  such  as  Vida,  Casimir,  Buchanan,  Heinsius, 
Milton,  &c,  &c.  This  project  I  must  of  necessity  abandon,  as  I 
have  not  the  works  of  any  of  these  excepting  Buchanan.  I  am 
now  almost  ashamed  to  propose  any  thing  more.  I  hope,  how- 
ever, ere  long  to  transmit  some  sheets  to  you.  My  present  mo- 
nastic seclusion  is  truly  delightful  to  me  ;  uninterrupted  leisure, 
and  every  facility  for  study,  make  it  in  all  things  such  a  situation 
as  it  would  be  criminal  in  me  not  to  be  satisfied  with.  Such,  how- 
ever, is  the  tendency  of  man  to  discontent,  that  I  am  continually 
looking  forward  to  something  in  prospect ;  the  ministry,  settle- 
ment, actual  labour,  <S$c,  &c,  although  I  am  firmly  convinced, 
when  I  think  seriously  on  the  subject,  that  I  shall  never  in  this 
world  have  better  means  for  happiness. 

In  French,  I  have  lately  read  some  of  Voltaire's  silly  ro- 
mances, Elngenu  and  La  Princesse  de  Babylon ;  some  of  Les 
Oraisons  funebres  de  Bossnet,  and  Sermons  de  Massillon.  The 
last  of  these  are  my  favourite.  I  have  read  some  of  Bourdaloue 
and  La  Flechiere,  but  they  do  not  please  me.  Idare  not  promise 
myself  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  to  Philadelphia  within  less  time 
than  four  months.  HandelPs  Messiah  would  be  no  slight  induce- 
ment. Spring  may  have  its  charms,  but  winter  is  the  season  in 
which  I  delight.  It  is  not  merely  because  I  always  enjoy  much 
better  health,  but  because  of  the  numerous  domestic  and  social 
enjoyments  of  this  comfortable  season.  And  whether  sitting 
among  the  lively  circle  at  our  fireside  at  home,  or  as  I  now  do, 
by  my  own  solitary  but  cheerful  blaze,  with  my  table  spread, 
my  candle  lighted,  my  elbow  chair  adjusted,  I  feel  nearer  to  con- 
tentment than  in  any  other  situation.  When  the  nights  are 
clear,  I  generally  take  a  solitary  walk  about  ten  o'clock ;  this 


1824—1825.  71 

stirs  up  one's  romantic  feelings,  braces  the  nerves,  quickens  the 
pulse,  and  prepares  for  a  sweet  sleep  and  pleasant  dreams.  As 
you  may  suppose,  I  am  cast  entirely  upon  my  own  resources  for 
entertainment;  my  visits  at  home  are  necessarily  flying  calls, 
and  my  books  and  pen  furnish  most  of  my  amusement.  After 
hard  study,  Shakespeare  or  Horace  or  the  Waverleys  while 
away  an  hour. 

Nassau  Hall,  December  24,  1824. 

We  have  had  some  serious  disturbances  in  the  college,  orig- 
inating in  a  rupture  between  the  two  societies,  and  which,  we 
were  apprehensive,  would  end  in  a  battle-royal ;  we  have  how- 
ever seen  the  conclusion  of  it,  and  are  in  peace.  There  is  some- 
thing wonderfully  inflammable  in  the  nature  of  young  men,  which 
is  fostered  and  promoted  by  the  manner  of  living  together,  here 
adopted.  A  feeling  of  resentment  or  indignation  communicates 
itself  like  electricity,  and  what  I  most  wonder  at,  is  that  we  have 
not  more  riots.  Mr.  Hodge's  new  work  will  appear  on  the  first 
of  next  month.  I  have  been  hard  at  work  for  some  days,  trans- 
lating some  German-latin  for  him.  I  am  endeavouring  as  much 
as  I  can  to  concentrate  my  efforts  towards  a  direct  preparation 
for  the  active  services  of  the  pulpit  and  congregation,  reading 
theology,  and  trying  to  write  sermons.  I  tried  my  abilities  at 
preaching  the  other  night  at  the  preaching  society  of  the  Sem- 
inary, in  presence  of  most  of  the  ladies  of  Princeton.  It  was  the 
first  regular  sermon  I  ever  wrote.  I  received  a  very  sweet  affec- 
tionate letter,  not  long  ago  from  Mr.  Summerfield  ;  he  is  sta- 
tioned at  Baltimore  for  the  winter.  There  is  a  Christian  sim- 
plicity about  all  that  this  man  says  and  does,  which  greatly 
charms  me.  Are  Indian  rubber  shoes  for  ladies  to  be  got  in 
your  city,  and  at  what  price  1  *  My  present  course  of  reading  is 
not  of  such  a  nature  as  would  be  likely  to  interest  you  in  the 
recital.  Edwards  on  the  Will,  I  have  concluded,  with  great 
admiration  of  the  author's  profundity  and  acuteness,  and  yet  with 
the  opinion  that  he  is  unguarded  in  his  use  of  language,  and  that 
his  book  is  liable  to  great  misrepresentation. 

I  am  now  at  the  Theses  de  Theologia  JVaturali,  by  Alfonzo 
Turretine  of  Geneva,  a  successor  of  Calvin,  but  an  Arminian,  an 
elegant  and  learned  writer. 

Nassau  Hall,  January  11,  1825. 
To  be  busy,  is  to  be  happy  ;  thus  says  my  experience ;  and 
yet  this  forenoon  is  drawing  to  a  close  without  my  having  done 
more  than  to  <;  clear  my  decks  for  action,"  as  the  sailors  say. 

I I  let  this  item  stand  for  the  sake  of  noting  the  date  at  which  the  arti- 
cle inquired  for  was  still  a  novelty. 


72  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

And  herein  I  find  the  advantage  of  a  strict  methodical  division 
of  time,  which  precludes  the  tedious  discussion  of  that  most  mo- 
mentous of  all  questions,  "  What  shall  I  do  next  1  "  Wesley's 
rule  is  a  capital  one :  "  Have  a  time  for  every  thing,  and  do  every 
thing  at  its  time."  Such  have  been  my  meditations  upon  the 
loss  of  this  morning.  And  now,  to  your  letter.  Dugald  Stew- 
art's dissertations  I  have  read  with  much  satisfaction.  You  will 
find  that  the  Quarterly  abuses  his  work,  as  much  as  the  Edin- 
burgh praises  it ;  in  this,  as  in  most  cases,  I  think  Veritas  in  medio 
jacet.  I  have  not  read  Playfair's  dissertation,  although  my 
father  estimates  it  much  more  highly  than  Stewart's.     I  suspect 

that  the  rumours  respecting have  their  origin  in  his  being 

what  is  called  a  Hopkinsian,  i.  e.  a  New  England  Calvinist. 
One  of  the  main  disputes  among  our  clergy  has  reference  to  the 
question,  "  Whether  Christ  died  for  all  men,  or  only  for  those 
who  believe,"  and  which  in  my  opinion  is  a  mere  logomachy. 

Did  you  read  the  representation  made  to  Congress  by  Mr. 
Benton,  respecting  the  inland  trade  with  Mexico  1  It  interested 
me  very  much,  as  all  does  which  relates  to  our  communication 
with  Spanish  America.  I  should  have  no  objection  to  take  an 
exploring  tour  upon  that  route.  In  looking  forward  upon  my 
future  course  in  life,  I  am  often  filled  with  great  anxiety.  There 
is  more  in  our  profession  to  give  occasion  to  this  than  in  others. 
Physicians  and  lawyers  can  generally  make  election  of  a  situation 
for  life ;  they  need  wait  for  no  caucusing  of  old  women,  and  no 
contested  calls.  They  are  not  liable  to  be  tossed  from  Dan  to 
Beersheba  without  a  settlement,  or  to  submit  to  the  indignity  of 
setting  up  as  candidates,  and  then  being  refused.  For  instance, 
I  have  not  the  most  remote  notion  of  my  future  settlement, 
whether  I  shall  pitch  my  tent  in  a  city  or  a  desert,  in  New  York 
or  Missouri,  in  France  or  Paraguay.  In  truth,  all  that  reliance 
upon  Providence  which  we  profess  is  thus  brought  to  the  test ; 
and  perhaps  viewed  in  this  light  it  is  a  useful  discipline.  You 
may  think  it  both  affected  and  fanatical,  but  I  certainly  see  very 
little  in  this  world  worth  living  for,  except  to  be  public  bene- 
factors. This  is  not  the  result  of  any  peculiar  exercises,  but 
arises  from  my  daily  experience  of  this  fact,  that  earthly  enjoy- 
ments excite,  but  cannot  gratify  ;  that  I  am  daily  pursuing  some 
expected  good,  of  which  I  am  daily  disappointed.  The  labours 
of  the  ministry  excite  most  of  my  wishes  and  desires ;  and  I 
confess,  that  to  serve  God  in  the  Gospel  of  his  Son,  is  the  only 
desirable  thing  which  I  have  in  view.  Yet  I  find  myself  daily 
entering  with  ardour  upon  the  same  pursuits  which  have  already 
deluded  me  a  thousand  times.  There  is  little  new  among  us. 
An  Atheneum  is  in  projection,  and  will  probably  succeed.     We 


1824—1825.  73 

have  an  anatomical  lecture,  in  addition  to  our  other  literary 
exercises.  The  first  number  of  Mr.  Hodge's  new  work  is  issued, 
and  has  a  fine  appearance.  I  am  also  almost  ashamed  to  tell 
you  that  we  are  brooding  again  upon  the  addled  scheme  of  a 
Princeton  newspaper  ;  we  have  some  hope  that  it  may  yet  suc- 
ceed. As  to  my  reading,  I  have  despatched  Butler's  Analogy, 
an  immortal  work  for  its  power  of  argument  and  depth  of  origi- 
nal thought ;  also  Dr.  Hartley's  Evidences  of  Christianity, 
decidedly  the  best  work  on  the  subject  which  I  have  seen,  and 
contained  in  the  5th  volume  of  Watson's  tracts.  Either  of  these 
books  would  make  you  a  good  Sunday's  entertainment.  I  gen- 
erally keep  a  volume  of  the  British  poets  upon  my  table,  to  read 
"  between  meals."  With  all  my  attention,  I  am  unable  to  see 
any  thing  in  Dryden  to  raise  him  to  the  eminence  which  he  has 
attained.  His  versification  is  undoubtedly  fine,  and  he  occa- 
sionally flashes  out  into  exquisite  elegance,  but  in  general  he  is 
one  of  the  dullest  of  poets.  His  prose,  I  think,  cannot  be  too 
much  extolled.  He,  as  well  as  Milton,  Cowper,  and  Cowley,  give 
the  lie  to  the  saying  "  that  no  poet  can  write  prose."  Appear- 
ances seem  to  indicate  that  all  our  fears  are  to  be  realized  with 
regard  to  the  election  of  General  Jackson.  I  suppose,  in  that  case, 
we  must  try  how  loyally  we  can  support  his  administration.  Be 
it  known  to  you  that  I  have  not  yet  relinquished  that  deplorable 
habit  of  smoking  the  weed.  I  have  an  idea  that  it  suits  my  con- 
stitution very  well ;  and  under  cover  of  such  a  notion  as  that,  a 
man  may  do  any  thing.1 

From  my  Cell,  Nassau  Hall,  February  26,  1825. 
The  success  of  John  Q.  Adams  has  pleased  me  as  much  as  it 
can  have  done  you.  As  to  William,  when  he  could  no  longer 
disbelieve  the  report,  he  left  his  beard  to  grow  to  a  lugubrious 
length  in  token  of  his  chagrin.  My  only  fear  is  that  the  tran- 
quil and  equitable  administration  of  our  President  will  be  some- 
what ennuyante.  I  am,  like  other  scribblers,  well  enough 
pleased  with  the  reception  of  my  essay.2  It  is  one  of  those  things 
which  attract  some  attention  among  the  good  folks  of  Prince- 
ton, and  it  is  amusing  to  hear  their  various  conjectures  as  to  the 
author. — Byron  (to  follow  the  items  of  your  letter)  is  an  author 
whose  imagination  and  genius  command  my  respect,  and  whose 
principles  call  forth  my  detestation.  With  all  his  powers,  how- 
ever, he  is  often  pitiful  and  grovelling.     Childe  Harold,  in  my 

1  Notwithstanding  this  salvo,  the  habit  proved  seriously  "  deplorable," 
when  his  health  compelled  him  to  relinquish  it. 

2  An  article  in  the  National  Gazette. 


74  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

view,  stands  flu-  above  the  rest  of  his  poems,  and  is  the  only  one 
which  will  deserve  the  name  of  a  classic.  He  seems  to  have 
been  the  victim  of  a  scepticism  which  rather  gave  scope  to  his 
unhappy  feelings  and  his  perverted  sensibility,  than  encouraged 
him  in  loose  and  merry  libertinism.  I  have  sometimes  fancied 
that  in  his  gayest  passages  I  could  discern  the  forced  smile  of  a 
man  whose  sins  were  a  heavy  burden.  There  is  no  talk  small  or 
great  in  this  corner  of  the  world.  Dr.  Romeyn  is  dead — very 
suddenly.  Dr.  Milledoller  is  to  succeed  Dr.  Livingston  in  the 
Theological  chair  at  New  Brunswick.  Upon  the  22d  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  being  fastened  into  my  room  at  2  A.  M.  and  hearing 
the  bell  rung,  horns  blown,  and  the  like  noises  for  a  season. 
I  wish  I  had  something  interesting  to  send  down  to  you,  but 
there  is  an  entire  dearth.  There  is  a  court  lately  instituted 
among  the  students  which  affords  them  a  good  deal  of  talk  and 
amusement.     Addison  acts  as  Clerk. 

Have  you  ever  read  Madame  de  Stael's  Germany  ?  She  has 
been  well  denominated  par  excellence  the  genius  of  her  age.  It 
is  a  work  full  of  deep  thoughts  which,  wonderful  to  tell,  strike 
you  as  true  and  yet  as  new  acquaintances.  It  is  a  most  pleasing 
exercise  to  the  mind  to  be  engaged  in  the  perusal  of  such  a  book. 
She  wanders  continually  from  her  subject,  but  ever  with  her 
reader's  full  consent.  I  read  her  essay  on  the  "  influence  of  lit- 
erature on  society  "  with  less  pleasure.  Anatomy — This  has 
been  my  amusement  for  some  time  ;  with  the  assistance  of  some 
dry  bones,  and  some  elegant  engravings  by  Lizars  of  Edinburgh, 
I  have  obtained  a  pretty  good  insight  into  Osteology.  I  should 
like  the  opportunity  of  attending  a  few  dissections. 

You  talk  about  a  sermon.  What  sermon  ?  Well  :  let  it  be 
any  sermon.  Perhaps  you  mean  one  of  my  sermons  ;  permit  me 
to  say  that  I  am  afraid  it  would  do  you  very  little  good.  My 
thoughts  are  so  inefficient  with  regard  to  my  own  habits  and  prac- 
tices, that  I  have  very  little  hope  that  they  will  be  more  effec- 
tual when  consigned  to  paper.  Nothing  to  which  I  put  my  hand 
ever  dissatisfies  me  so  much  as  sermon  writing.  I  am  enough 
chagrined  after  every  effort  of  this  kind  to  throw  the  thing  in  the 
fire.  Whatever  complacency  I  may  feel  in  any  thing  else,  my 
sermons  are  truly  mortifying  to  me.  The  ideas  seem  of  the 
most  unspeakably  trite  and  shallow  kind.  As  a  sermon,  you 
could  not  be  pleased  with  one  of  mine.  Let  me  recommend  you 
to  one  Chalmers,  or  to  good  old  Davies  :  as  my  composition 
you  cannot  need  it,  after  having  so  full  a  specimen  of  all  that  I 
can  do  in  that  department.  I  could  fall  to  work  now  and  finish 
the  sheet  with  an  exhortation;  and  if  I  thought  that  I  could 
induce  you  by  it  to  come  to  the  rational  determination  of  seek- 


1824—1825.  75 

ing  an  interest  in  that  salvation  which  you  must  know  to  be  par- 
amount in  its  claims  to  all  other  things,  I  would  gladly  do  so  ; 
but  after  all  the  unanswerable  arguments  of  Dr.  Wilson,  and  all 
the  pungent  appeals  of  Mr.  Skinner,  what  could  I  say  1  Why 
has  religion  crept  out  of  our  letters  so  entirely  1  Perhaps  it  is 
my  fault.  I  am  indeed  glad  that  we  have  got  clear  of  polemics, 
but  I  am  by  no  means  satisfied  in  conscience  at  letting  the  whole 
matter  rest.  You  surely  know  me  well  enough  to  give  me 
notice  when  my  advances  on  this  subject  are  unpleasant,  and 
with  this  safeguard  I  wish  you  would  let  me  know  how  far  your 
resolutions  have  been  matured  by  all  the  excellent  instructions 
which  you  have  from  the  pulpit.  Like  the  other  gifts  of  God, 
religion  is  put  mediately  in  our  power ;  and  while  the  estab- 
lished means  are  neglected,  we  must  stand  self-convicted.  Let 
me  beg  your  devout  attention  to  these  things. 

I  received  a  letter  the  other  day  from  an  old  friend,  who  is 
very  calmly  awaiting  death  with  the  consumption.  In  him,  as 
in  many  others,  I  have  an  instance  of  the  power  of  religion  to 
despoil  death  of  his  terrors.  It  is  perhaps  foolish  to  express  such 
unfounded  anticipations,  but  I  have  long  looked  forward  to  an 
early  death,  and  in  truth  I  see  no  reason  to  deprecate  it,  unless 
it  be,  that  I  might  act  a  more  faithful  part  in  future. 

Nassau  Hall,  March  22,  1825. 
I  preached  another  sermon  last  night,  [a  Seminary  exercise,] 
with  as  little  satisfaction  to  myself  as  ever  I  experienced.  I  do 
sincerely  hope  that  I  shall  conjure  up  a  little  more  life  when  I 
come  to  the  real  work.  And  now  to  say  a  little  upon  the  very 
interesting  topic  which  has  often  entered  into  our  correspondence, 
I  mean  the  matter  of  personal  piety,  permit  me  to  say  that 
you  are  mistaken  if  you  suppose  that  I  will  under  present  circum- 
stances exhort  you  to  a  mere  use  of  means,  however  assiduous 
and  sincere,  as  the  mode  of  securing  salvation.  I  will  not  say  to 
you  as  a  minister  of  your  city  once  said,  "  Go  on,  persevere,  be 
encouraged,  I  have  known  a  woman  seek  Christ  six  and  thirty 
years,  and  at  last  find  him."  No  :  this  I  consider  at  once  un- 
scriptural  and  cruel.  I  say,  repent  and  believe.  Do  it  now : 
delay  not  a  moment ;  and  instead  of  being  encouraged,  be 
alarmed  at  the  awful  truth,  that  every  day  you  remain  impen- 
itent your  burden  of  guilt,  and  your  lot  of  wrath  increases. 
Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  him  ;  and  whatever  you 
do  before  repentance  is  odious  in  his  sight.  Though  you  should 
weep  tears  of  blood,  and  macerate  your  body  by  prayer  and  fast- 
ing, nothing  would  rescue  you  from  the  curse  until  you  submit 
to  God.     Compare  this  statement  with  Scripture,  and  "  judge  ye 


76  WHILE   TUTOR   IN   COLLEGE. 

what  is  right."  Do  you  say  that  you  cannot  pray  aright,  &c.  1 
Let  me  quote  from  a  work  of  the  excellent  Andrew  Fuller  a  pas- 
sage in  point :  "  What  shall  we  say  then  %  Seeing  he  cannot 
repent,  cannot  find  it  in  his  heart  to  endeavour  to  repent,  cannot 
pray  sincerely  for  a  heart  to  make  such  an  endeavour ; — shall 
we  deny  his  assertions,  (viz.  of  inability,)  and  tell  him  he  is  not 
so  wicked  as  he  makes  himself?  This  might  be  more  than  we 
should  be  able  to  maintain.  Or  shall  we  allow  them,  and  acquit 
him  of  obligation  1  Rather,  ought  we  not  to  return  to  the  place 
where  we  set  out,  admonishing  him  as  the  Scriptures  do,  to 
repent  and  believe  the  gospel ;  declaring  to  him  that  what  he  calls 
his  inability  is  his  sin  and  shame ;  and  warning  him  against  the 
idea  of  its  availing  him  another  day."  I  can  fancy  you  rising  in 
revolt  against  such  doctrine :  I  remember  when  my  heart  was 
stoutly  and  bitterly  set  against  it ;  and  yet  no  sooner  had  I 
gained  any  knowledge  of  the  truth  and  of  my  own  heart,  than  I 
was  convinced  that  nothing  prevented  my  submitting  to  the 
righteousness  of  God,  but  a  wilful,  wicked,  stubborn  aversion  to 
his  most  holy  law,  and  to  the  humbling  terms  of  salvation.  I 
know  that  I  can  in  no  way  evince  the  sincerity  of  my  friendship 
more,  than  by  dealing  thus  plainly  with  you.  I  do  greatly  fear 
that  your  present  views  will  lead  you  to  a  kind  of  hardened 
indifference  which  naturally  grows  more  and  more  hopeless,  and 
is  but  the  prelude  to  eternal  death.  The  repentance  I  urge 
(//.eTavoia,  a  change  of  mind)  is  a  solemn  and  cordial  determination 
of  soul,  to  renounce  sin  as  a  thing  odious,  loathsome,  and  dam- 
ning, and  to  embrace  the  service  of  God  as  infinitely  excellent  and 
desirable.  I  entreat  you  to  make  this  most  reasonable  of  all 
determinations.  Make  it  this  very  day.  What  but  a  wilful 
enmity  to  God's  holiness  can  induce  you  to  delay  1  How  can 
you  venture,  deliberately,  to  put  off  the  solemn  dedication  of  your 
heart  to  God  even  until  to-morrow  ? 


Nassau  Hall,  April  2,  1825. 

You  are  right  in  your  supposition  that  ministerial  functions 
will  suit  me  better  than  the  tedious  business  of  teaching.  1  say 
this  with  great  pathos,  as  our  semi-annual  examination  com- 
mences on  Tuesday  next.1  Waiving  the  considerations  of  duty 
and  religion,  the  active  labours  of  preaching,  &c,  will  be  to  me 
peculiarly  interesting ;  and  I  trust  that  while  I  live,  I  shall  be 
enabled  to  give  myself  "  wholly  to  these  things,"  according  to 
the  Apostolic  injunction. 

Law's  "  Call  "  is  a  book  read  by  vast  numbers  of  people.     It 

1  He  spent  part  of  the  vacation  which  followed,  in  a  tour  to  Niagara. 


1824—1825.  77 

is  a  sine  qua  non  among  the  Methodists  ;  and  while  there  is 
much  in  it  to  which  I  must  except,  I  consider  it  a  beautiful  speci- 
men of  moderated  asceticism.  Gibbon  says  of  the  author, 
that  he  preached  not  a  word  more  than  he  practised.  Since  you 
are  dipping  into  practical  works,  let  me  recommend  the  follow- 
ing to  be  put  on  your  catalogue,  all  of  which  are  excellent,  though 
far  inferior  to  Laio  in  style.  Baxter's  "  Call  to  the  Unconvert- 
ed ;  Edwards'  "  Sermons,"  (Pres.  Jonathan,)  such  as  are  addressed 
to  the  unconverted  ;  Davies's  ibid.  ;  and  "  The  Life  of  God  in  the 
Soul  of  Man,"  by  Scougal,  a  book  which  was  blessed  to  the  con- 
version of  Whitefield.  Let  me  suggest,  too,  the  propriety  of 
allotting  a  certain  portion  of  time  for  such  reading,  and  adhering 
rigidly  to  your  plan.  We  need  every  constraint  to  pin  our 
minds  down  to  a  subject  naturally  unpleasant.  Our  [Princeton] 
paper,  or,  as  it  is  pompously  yclept,  the  "  American  Journai,"  de 
omnibus  rebus,  et  quibusdam  aliis,  has  commenced  its  course. 
To-morrow,  if  a  cold  the  twin  of  that  incubus  I  had  last  spring 
will  permit  me,  I  hope  to  sit  down  at  the  table  of  the  Lord  in 
commemoration  of  his  death.  We  expect  an  addition  of  nine 
or  ten  new  members.  With  proper  sentiments  and  affections, 
such  seasons  cannot  fail  to  be  among  the  happiest  and  most 
sacred  of  a  man's  life.  Such  they  have  sometimes  been  to  me, 
and  oh  that  you  would  cast  in  your  lot  with  us,  and  taste  and  see 
that  the  Lord  is  gracious.  You  are  undoubtedly  convinced  that 
your  defect  is  a  defect  of  heart,  and  not  of  understanding ;  that 
you  view  divine  truth  in  what  Bacon  calls  "  a  dry  light."  Now 
to  remedy  this  let  me  exhort  you  to  force  your  mind  to  the  sol- 
emn and  daily  contemplation  of  those  subjects  which  seem  most 
calculated  to  excite  tender  emotion,  viz.,  your  aggravated  sins, 
the  mercy  and  love  of  Christ,  &c,  &c.  This  contemplation  is  best 
of  all  attained  in  prayer,  therefore  cry  mightily  unto  God  for  a 
"new  heart"  and  a  "right  spirit";  bearing  in  mind  all  the 
while  that  your  solemn  and  tremendous  obligation  to  keep  the 
whole  law  is  no  whit  diminished,  and  that  you  do  nothing  satis- 
factory to  God  until  you  believe  in  Him  who  has  kept  the  wThole 
law  for  you. 

Nassau  Hall,  May  21,  1825. 
I  have  just  come  from  a  room  full  of  laughing  girls,  who  had 
most  of  the  accomplishments  which  make  girls  interesting — 
laughing,  simpering,  assenting,  languishing,  bridling,  blushing, 
capering,  &c,  &c,  to  the  end  of  the  chapter  de  laqueis  femininis : 
yet  I  return  to  my  room  with  as  deep  a  shade — not  on  my  brow, 
(for  there  my  bitterest  thoughts  seldom  wear  any  wrinkles,)  but 
over  my  mind.  But  why  do  I  tell  you  this — except  to  indulge 
that   strange  egotism  which  talks  of  self,  and  seeks  for  sym- 


1r>  WHILE   TUTOR   IN   COLLEGE. 

patliy  where  it  is  least  deserved.  The  bloom  of  the  opening 
summer  has  less  charms  than  usual  for  me,  and  I  am  denied 
even  me  comfort  of  a  fireside,  and  a  friend,  where  to  unveil  my 
strange — and  you  will  say — irrational  gloom.  I  can  easily 
imagine  to  myself  the  clusters  of  black  coats,  who  clog  your 
streets,  (the  General  Assembly,]  and  the  crowds  with  itching  ears 
who  run  after  a  favourite  preacher.  To  me,  Philadelphia  would 
be  doubly  dull  at  this  crisis  ;  I  should  choose  to  make  my  visits 
at  a  more  quiet  season;  and  if  matters  and  things  go  on 
smoothly,  I  natter  myself  with  the  expectation  of  spending  some 
Sunday  with  you,  during  the  ensuing  summer. 

I  have  exchanged  mathematics  for  the  classics,  in  which  it  has 
now  become  my  duty  to  instruct.  Horace  has  usurped  the  place 
of  Euclid,  and  I  have  devolved  the  xs  and  ys  to  my  friend  Aik- 
man.1  As  for  as  mere  ease  is  concerned,  it  would  have  been 
much  more  agreeable  to  have  stuck  to  the  old  track,  which  a 
year's  toil  had  made  familiar. 

Nassau  Hall,  May  28,  1S25. 

Niagara  marks  an  epoch  in  my  history.  Its  thunders  will 
always  rise  in  my  recollection  when  sublimity  is  mentioned.  1 
have  said,  and  like  to  say  little  about  it,  because  I  find  all  words 
which  /  can  use  utterly  inadequate  to  convey  my  ideas.  I  have 
seen  many  drawings,  and  read  many  descriptions  of  Niagara,  but 
nothing  produces  any  thing  like  the  true  impression,  except  a 
little  morceau  of  poetry  [by  Brainard]  you  once  sent  me,  and  the 
description  by  Howison  in  a  back  volume  of  Blaclvwood. 

You  seem  desperately  ennuye.  Read  Gibbon's  autobiog- 
raphy again  ;  it  rouses  me  like  a  bugle  :  or  Boswell's  Johnson, 
or  Butler's  Reminiscences  :  or  sit  down  to  hard  study.  Add  a 
few  grains  of  mathematics,  and  a  quant,  stiff,  of  Lee's  Pills — and 
you  are  a  sound  man. 

I  keep  myself  alive  by  constant  delving  :  four  or  five  hours  a 
day  at  languages ;  relieved  by  a  little  Biography,  and  a  little 
Mineralogy,  with  which  last  study  I  have  been  amusing  myself 
a  little.  Any  thing  which  you  can  communicate  upon  the  sub- 
ject will  be  interesting.  No  scientific  book  has  ever  interested 
me  more  than  the  Geological  Essay  of  Cuvier. 

Did  I  mention  to  you  the  pleasing  acquisition  I  have  made 
of  a  new  acquaintance  in  Lieut.  David  Hunter,  U.  S.  A.,  of  Fort 
Snelling,  near  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony  ?  He  is  the  most  agree- 
able soldier  I  know.  We  met  at  Gen.  Porter's,  Black  Rock,  and 
travelled  in  company.  He  has  resided  nearly  three  years,  700 
miles  from  any  permanent  white  settlement,  among  the  Sioux 

]  The  Jate  Rev.  Alexander  Aikman. 


1824—1825.  79 

Indians.  From  him  I  learnt  more  of  that  region  than  I  have 
ever  got  elsewhere.  I  have  a  huge  desire  to  cross  the  ocean, 
"  but  when,  or  where  1 " — "  Axidax  omnia  perpeti,  Gens  humana 
ruit  per  vetitum." 

Nassau  Hall,  Wednesday,  June  8,  1825. 
For  a  month  or  two  my  mind  has  been  in  a  state  of  painful 
vacillation  between  the  wish  to  leave  my  present  situation  in 
autumn,  and  my  desire  to  prolong  my  course  of  study,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  wishes  of  my  father  and  friends.  The  peculiar 
circumstances  of  our  profession  render  the  future  a  gloomy  void. 
In  Canada  or  Missouri,  in  Maine  or  Florida,  I  may  be  found  three 
years  hence — but  in  which  of  these  directions  I  shall  go,  no 
human  soul  can  form  any  reasonable  conjecture.  For  myself — 
as  to  situation,  I  am  perfectly  indifferent ;  always  provided  that 
I  escape  a  large  city.  I  am  not  averse  to  commencing  with  a 
Virginia  Mission,  though  I  have  no  idea  of  ever  settling  there. 
I  should  greatly  prefer  a  high  northern  latitude  ;  yet  even  there 
the  summer  (to  me  the  trying  season)  might  be  intensely  hot. 
I  am  too  lazy  ever  to  be  a  profound  preacher ;  too  desultory  in 
my  studies  to  secure  rigid  mental  discipline ;  too  whimsical  to 
be  contented ;  too  cool  and  sleepy  to  be  popular ;  too  cautious 
to  be  efficient.  With  these  rare  qualifications,  I  can  swim  down 
the  stream  of  life  as  well  in  one  bark  as  another.  To  see  me 
after  dinner,  gazing  drowsily  out  of  my  window,  with  a  book, 
mayhap  upside  down,  or  lounging  among  the  silent  walks  of  the 
vicinity,  with  my  colleagues, — one  would  scarcely  prognosticate 
much  with  regard  to  my  future  usefulness.  I  have  so  long  acted 
on  that  delectable  adage  of  Shakespeare's, — "  No  profit  grows 
where  is  no  pleasure  taken," — that  I  suffer  my  days  and  nights 
to  flit  away  with  scarce  a  memorial  left  in  my  memory  or  under- 
standing. Writing  is  an  unfailing  amusement ;  but  as  to  writing 
about  Niagara,  I  should  just  as  soon  think  of  writing  upon  Mil- 
ton's Paradise  Lost.  All  my  writing,  too,  goes  now  into  our 
own  journal.  My  principal  rambles  at  Niagara  were  on  the 
Canada  side.  Under  the  sheet  of  water  at  Table  Rock,  I  was 
silly  enough  to  go  some  distance  with  no  increase  of  satisfaction. 
The  Niagara  River  was  high  at  the  time,  though  probably  not  at 
its  maximum.  I  have  been  informed,  however,  that  an  increase 
of  water,  by  making  the  inequalities  of  the  rock  less,  diminishes 
the  sublimity  of  the  cataract.  Brock's  Monument  I  thought  a 
pitiful  thing — by  no  means  equal  to  your  shot  tower. 

Princeton,  June  21,  1825.  ^ 
Let  me,  for  want  of  something  better,  tell  you  what  I  have 


80  WHILE  TUTOR  IN   COLLEGE. 

been  doing  this  morning.  At  a  quarter  before  5  o'clock,  skipped 
out  of  bed  with  uncommon  alacrity,  and  set  out  upon  an  explor- 
ing expedition  in  company  with  my  good  friend,  Prof.  Halsey, 
and  Mr.  Finch,  member  of  the  Brummagem  Geological  Society, 
a  Henglishman,  and  a  natural  Istorian.  Through  lanes,  and 
woods,  and  marshes,  and  meadows  we  made  our  way  to  a  stream 
called  Pretty  Brook,  alias  Petty's  Brook,  which  is  the  principal 
branch  of  Stony  Brook.  We  traced  this  stream  a  mile  or  two, 
catching  mussels,  terrapins,  bull-frogs,  et  hoc  genus  omne,  pick- 
ing weeds  and  flowers  to  which  I  found  sesquipedalian  names 
attached,  examining  the  "  red  sandstone  formation  "  (observe  my 
proficiency)  upon  which  Princeton  is  situated,  and  wading  through 
puddles,  and  rivulets,  until  my  feet  were  soaking.  To  variegate 
the  scene,  we  went  in  to  bathe  in  a  mill-pond, — swam  for  about 
forty-five  minutes,  and  taking  up  our  baggage,  reached  the  col- 
lege at  9  o'clock.  Sipped  six  cups  of  tea  with  the  professor, 
looked  very  knowingly  over  a  new  invoice  of  minerals,  and 
found  myself  at  10  in  No.  25,  where  I  now  sit  waiting  every 
moment  the  three  Freshmen.  Having  despatched  a  passage  of 
the  Anabasis,  (I  use  the  word  in  the  double  sense  of  finishing  and 
murdering,)  I  proceed  to  answer  your  letter.  As  to  inducements 
[to  remain  in  Tutorship]  they  are  many.  I  cannot  ask  more 
retirement,  pleasanter  company,  greater  literary  and  religious  ad- 
vantages, access  to  books,  contiguity  to  the  cities,  competent  sup- 
port, good  air — in  fine,  all  externals  that  can  make  a  man  con- 
tented, than  I  have  now,  and  have  too,  in  the  very  bosom  of 
our  own  family,  and  amid  my  most  pleasing  early  recollections. 
As  it  respects  the  money  matters,  with  my  present  $400,  board, 
fuel,  servants,  library,  &c,  I  am  in  a  better  situation  than  many 
ministers  who  have  a  wife  and  family  to  boot.  In  truth,  nothing 
but  a  deep  conviction  of  duty  will  take  me  from  Princeton — my 
second  birth-place — the  birthplace  of  all  within  me  that  can  dis- 
tinguish me  from  a  mere  animal.  The  year  just  closed,  has  been 
the  happiest,  beyond  comparison,  in  my  life. 

I  have  been  turning  my  attention  towards  Mineralogy  and 
Geology  as  a  matter  of  amusement.  I  wish  you  would  do  the 
same ;  it  would  give  us  something  to  talk  about,  render  travel- 
ling more  interesting,  and  keep  us  alive  in  the  warm  months. 
You  have  great  facilities,  and  the  Schuylkill  minerals  are  noted. 
We  might  accommodate  one  another  by  an  exchange  of  speci- 
mens, though,  by  the  by,  I  have  none  to  barter.  Some  pieces  of 
Talc  and  Mica  from  your  vicinity  would  please  me.  Is  there 
such  a  place  as  the  Adelphi  Mills — some  such  name,  four  miles 
from  Philadelphia  ?  I  am  told  that  there  are  fine  specimens  of 
graphic  granite  there,  &c,  &c.     I  have  just  read  in  addition  to 


1824—1825.  81 

Cuvier,  Hay  den's  Geological  Essays,  am  digging  into  Cleaveland, 
omitting  for  the  present  his  Crystallography,  and  comparing  the 
minerals  here  with  his  descriptions.  I  hate  to  be  alone,  and 
want  your  countenance.  We  have  lately  received  for  our  Min- 
eralogical  cabinet  a  box  of  Italian  specimens,  presented  by  R. 
Lenox,  Esq.,  of  N.  Y.  They  contain,  besides  volcanic  produc- 
tions, many  beautiful  petrifactions  of  fish,  perfectly  preserved, 
and  of  flowers  so  distinct,  that  you  would  think  them  artificial 
castings  ;  also  an  extensive  hortus  siccus  of  Italian  flowers.  Mr. 
Halsey  has  already  added  about  250  articles  to  the  cabinet,  and 
is  every  day  turning  in  something  new.  We  expect  to  get  Dr. 
Hosack's  likeness  to  adorn  the  room  where  his  donations  are 
deposited.  He  is  one  of  the  few  Alumni  who  remember  Alma 
Mater. 

Summerfield  has  indeed  gone  to  his  rest ;  for  truly  I  never 
doubted  less  with  regard  to  any  man's  salvation.  He  bore  the 
insignia  of  a  crucified  Saviour  too  manifestly  and  constantly,  to 
leave  any  doubt  as  to  his  union  with  him.  I  have  two  letters 
from  him  which  I  prize,  as  you  may  suppose,  with  a  reverence 
and  affection  most  peculiar.  In  my  view  of  his  character,  his 
public  performances,  remarkable  as  they  were,  form  a  part  far 
less  prominent  than  his  private  manners,  virtues,  and  Christian 
amiability.     I  never  expect  to  see  his  like. 

Princeton,  July  4,  1825. 
On  this  clay  of  tumult  and  outrageous  mirth,  I  am  glad  of  an 
opportunity  to  escape,  and  have  a  little  discourse  with  you, 
even  on  paper.  I  confess  that  I  have  not  patriotism  enough  to 
get  drunk  on  this  joyful  anniversary,  or  to  take  pleasure  in  see- 
ing others  so  ;  or  discernment  enough  to  trace  the  connection 
between  the  exultation  of  freemen,  and  the  squibs,  cannons,  and 
brutal  sports  of  a  mad  populace.  You  have,  however,  a  situa- 
tion infinitely  more  favourable  for  speculations  of  this  nature. 

The you  mention  cannot  be  from  Kentucky — we  never  had 

such  a  man.     If  it  is from ,  a  lank,  thin,  limber-kneed 

man,  with  a  face  just  like  Voltaire,  (in  Lavater,)  and  a  voice  which 
in  prayer,  preserves  an  unvaried  monotone — I  know  the  man , 
staunch  in  his  orthodoxy,  a  born  Polemic,  yet,  unless  changed, 
as  void  of  taste  as  of  politeness ;  yet  pious,  zealous,  harsh,  im- 
prudent, studious.  I  have  never  been  so  fully  sensible  of  the 
beauty  of  Sir  William  Jones's  style,  as  in  a  late  perusal  of  his 
anniversary  addresses  to  the  Asiatic  Society — a  series  of  learned 
and  interesting  discourses,  worthy  of  the  character  of  that  great 
man.  An  old  Seminary  friend,  Theodore  D.  Woolsey,  the  pro- 
foundest  classic  I  ever  knew,  is  about  to  sail  for  Europe  :  he  has 
vol.  i. — 4* 


82  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

been  two  years  tutor  in  Yale,  [afterwards  President.]  Water- 
bury  is  going  on  a  Bible  Society  agency  through  New  England. 
Christmas  is  married  to  Miss  Jones  of  New  York.  Your  hum- 
ble servant  is  busy  in  preparing  for  an  ordeal  before  the  presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick  at  their  August  meeting.  I  hope,  as  1 
have  already  told  you,  I  believe,  to  pay  a  visit  this  autumn  to 
my  native  State,  to  climb  the  blue  mountains  upon  which  my 
eyes  were  turned  almost  as  soon  as  they  were  opened  upon  any 
thing,  to  see  friends  at  the  head  of  families,  who  were  infants 
when  I  was  last  among  them,  and  to  search  for  the  graves  of  my 
ancestors,  and  the  spots  where  their  youthful  days  were  passed. 

My  dreams  of  a  transatlantic  pilgrimage  still  float,  almost 
daily,  in  my  disordered  imagination.  My  thoughts  begin  to 
rove,  and  before  I  know  what  I  am  doing,  I  find  myself  at  Lon- 
don, Oxford,  Gottingen,  Florence,  Constantinople,  Alexandria,  or 
Jerusalem.  What  is  to  be  done  with  such  a  truant  fancy  1  I 
fear  that  in  a  paroxysm  I  shall  beg  Southard  [Secretary  of  the 
Navy]  to  give  me  a  chaplaincy  on  some  armed  vessel — bah  ! 
what  am  I  talking  about '?  I  shall  be  sufficiently  schooled  out 
of  these  vagaries  by  one  year's  labour  in  the  backwoods. 

Pray  can  you  recommend  any  of  the  steel  pens  which  are 
advertised  1  I  shall  want  such  a  utensil  in  travelling.  On  Fri- 
day last  34  carriages  (stage  coaches  and  hacks)  passed  through 
Princeton  on  their  way  to  New  York.  What  mania  possesses 
your  citizens  %  Hogan,  the  Ex-Catholic,  is  building  a  mansion 
(on  dit)  near  Trenton.  He  came  on  Sunday,  a  few  weeks  ago,  to 
Chief  Justice  Ewing,  and  requested  him  to  sign  some  instrument 
of  writing  which  he  brought.  Mr.  Ewing  told  him  that  it  was 
not  his  custom  to  transact  secular  business  on  the  Lord's  day,  and 
that  it  would  be  moreover  invalid,  and  dismissed  the  pious  Greek 
priest  until  a  more  convenient  season.1 

Princeton,  July  16,  1825. 
The  Guest  [Lafayette]  spent  last  night  in  this  place.  A 
number  of  ladies  were  presented  to  him,  and  a  supper,  the  best 
our  village  could  afford,  provided.  He  seemed  much  fatigued, 
and  retired  as  soon  as  possible.  This  morning  early  he  set  out 
for  Point  Breeze  to  break  his  fast  with  M.  le  Comte  de  Survil- 
liers.  There  is  very  little  afloat  in  the  way  of  literature  which 
has  much  interested  me.  I  have  been  reading  "  Townley's  Illus- 
trations of  Biblical  Literature,"  3  vols.,  8vo  ;  a  work  which  for 
solid  entertainment  I  can  most  heartily  recommend.     I  was  led 

1  Hogan  was  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  in  Philadelphia,  who  became  no- 
torious by  his  resistance  to  the  authority  of  his  bishop,  which  led  to  a  public 
and  bloody  collision  between  the  partisans  of  each. 


1824—1825.  83 

from  the  title  to  expect  nothing  amusing,  but  have  become  almost 
an  antiquary  by  reading  it.  Indeed,  I  have  always  been  con- 
scious of  a  propensity  to  look  over  old  books,  relics,  and  monu- 
ments. I  was  very  much  gratified  in  ransacking  an  obscure  cor- 
ner of  our  Library,  to  find  two  little  manuscript  common-place 
books  of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  containing  various  memoranda  in  his 
own  handwriting,  skeletons  of  sermons,  &c. 

My  Grandfather,  James  Waddel,  once  preached  in  a  little 
brick  church  in  Orange  county,  Va. ;  his  predecessor  was  one 
Mungo  Marshall,  whose  tombstone  was  erected  near  the  church. 
At  this  time,  there  is  not  one  brick  of  the  edifice  upon  another ; 
and  my  mother  brought  me  a  fragment  of  the  tomb,  which  the 
villanous  wagoners  have  broken  to  pieces.  This  is  very  near 
the  spot  of  my  nativity. 

Princeton,  August  6,  1825. 

I  feel  raised  from  the  dead  by  the  favourable  change  in  the 
temperature ;  during  the  reign  of  that  scorching  heat,  I  could 
scarcely  be  said  to  live.  After  all  possible  stripping,  ventila- 
tion, and  refrigeration,  I  could  only  succeed  in  gasping  and  blow- 
ing over  a  book.  A  gentleman  of  your  city  who  has  spent  the 
last  year  principally  in  the  tropical  parts  of  South  America,  told 
me  this  morning,  that  in  lat.  4°  57'  North,  he  suffered  nothing 
equal  to  the  last  attack  of  hot  weather. 

I  see  many  notices  of  new  works,  but  have  seen  and  read 
none  of  them.  Indeed,  the  nearer  I  approach  the  actual  labours 
of  the  ministry,  the  more  deeply  am  I  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  giving  myself  wholly  to  its  great  concerns.  Life  is 
so  short,  my  knowledge  of  subjects  strictly  belonging  to  my 
calling  so  slender,  the  work  so  great,  and  opposition  so  varied 
and  strenuous,  that  I  can  scarcely  forgive  myself  for  wandering 
among  a  thousand  things  interesting,  indeed,  and  instructive, 
but  then  irrelative  to  the  grand  scope  of  my  ministrations.  Put- 
ting pastorum  for  vatum,  I  may  appropriate  the  lines  of  Horace, 

Denique  sit  quid  vis  simplex  duntaxat  et  unum. 
Maxima  pars  vatum,  (pater  et  juvenes  patre  digni,) 
Decipimur  specie  recti. 

I  am  willing  deliberately  to  sacrifice  the  character  of  a  man 
of  science,  of  taste,  of  varied  and  elegant  accomplishments, 
with  all  its  ease,  honours,  and  emoluments,  for  that  of  a  "  man  of 
God  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works" — a  character 
which  is  to  be  sought  in  the  study  of  the  sacred  volume.  In  the 
recesses  of  the  mountains  I  shall  probably  be  immured,  where 
ardent  piety  and  sound  theology  will  be  the  qualifications  most 
in  request.     The  old  copy-book  adage  contains  volumes  of  mean ^ 


84  WHILE  TUTOR  IN  COLLEGE. 

ing,  Time  is  short,  but  Art  is  long :  and  the  one  department  of 
Art,  which  under  God  I  intend  to  devote  myself  to,  is  the  art  of 
fishing  for  men. 

I  was  apprehended  on  Tuesday  last  by  the  Eeverend  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick,  and  kept  under  arrest  four  hours  ; 
during  which  time  I  was  put  to  the  question,  regarding  my 
knowledge  of  Ecclesiastical  History,  Theology,  and  Hebrew — 
and  made  to  read  two  exercises  upon  passages  of  Scripture  pre- 
viously appointed. 

On  Monday,  8th  instant,  the  examination  of  the  Senior  class 
[college]  takes  place,  which  continues  a  week — more  or  less. 
After  that  time  six  weeks  of  less  anxiety  ensue  before  the  com- 
mencement. 

I  suppose  entering  upon  the  cares  of  this  world,  and  depart- 
ing from  your  relatives  and  home,  is  a  thing  which  you  put  far 
away.  No  man  need  desire  it.  It  begins  to  assume  a  serious 
aspect  to  me.  Yet  the  cause  in  which  I  go  forth  is  one  which 
ensures  me  every  encouragement.  Never  for  a  moment  have  I 
regretted  that  religion  has  been  my  choice,  or  that  the  ministry 
is  to  be  my  profession.  My  sole  regret  is  that  I  have  manifested 
so  little  devotion  in  the  cause,  and  spent  no  more  time  and 
labour  in  forming  a  character  suitable  to  the  work.  With 
regard  to  the  whole  matter,  I  can  testily  that  the  greatest  hap- 
piness I  have  ever  enjoyed  has  been  in  the  exercise  of  religious 
feelings  ;  and  that  all  other  sources  of  pleasure  have  in  the  end 
proved  worse  than  nothing.  I  regret,  therefore,  that  you  have 
never  made  the  serious  and  sincere  resolution  to  renounce  all 
worldly  things — as  a  portion — and  to  devote  yourself  to  God. 
I  know,  too,  that  difficulties  must  increase,  and  that  five  years 
hence,  unless  a  callous  and  confirmed  indifference  shall  preclude 
all  such  considerations,  you  will  confess,  if  God  has  not  renewed 
your  heart,  that  you  are  tenfold  more  unable  than  now  to  obtain 
a  proper  spirit.  I  can  say  nothing  new.  But  let  me  entreat 
you,  as  one  not  without  some  experience  in  these  things,  to  have 
recourse  to  those  means  so  often  urged  upon  you ;  and  above  all, 
in  view  of  your  confessed  alienation  from  God,  to  relinquish  sin, 
and  embrace  the  religion  of  the  cross.  You  know  that  I  speak 
what  is  reasonable ;  that  your  acts  may  be  such,  is  my  earnest 
prayer. 


Princeton,  August  21,  1825. 
Since  my  examination  I  have  found  time  to  turn  over  the 
"  History  of  the  French  Church  "  by  Chas.  Butler — a  very  enter- 
taining collection  of  biographical  and  historical  notices.     For 
simple  chasteness  and  perspicuity  of  style,  perfect  transparency, 


1824—1825.  85 

I  do  not  know  his  equal ;  and  in  sketches  of  character,  I  cannot 
but  consider  him  a  master.  Perhaps  his  subjects  prepossess  me 
in  his  favour.  Biography  has  always  been  my  favourite  read- 
ing :  in  this  I  include  all  such  developments  of  manners  and  mind 
as  one  finds  in  correspondence,  in  anecdotes,  as  well  as  formed 
characters.  No  kind  of  study  so  excites  my  enthusiasm.  One 
example  is  more  to  me  than  discourses  innumerable.  This  I  find 
in  the  Scriptures  forcibly  exemplified.  The  history  of  wars  and 
revolutions,  and  discoveries,  are  eminently  dull  to  me,  except  so 
far  as  I  find  in  them  individual  traits  of  character  portrayed. 
The  history  of  opinion,  and  of  mind,  is  all  that  takes  much  hold 
of  my  feelings.  .For  this  reason,  I  never  could  join  in  the  enthu- 
siastic admiration,  common  to  most  learned  men,  of  Gibbon, 
and  Hume,  and  Kobertson ;  while  the  histories  of  Roscoe,  and 
Middleton,  and  even  the  Biographical  dictionary,  are  delightful. 
I  am  sure  that  no  works  have  had  so  much  influence  upon  my 
religious  feelings,  as  those  which  give  the  lives  of  pious  men. 
The  memoirs  of  Martyn  and  Brainerd  are  my  continual  advisers. 
I  have  this  month  read  with  high  satisfaction  the  Memoirs  of 
Andrew  Fuller,  and  Samuel  Pearce,  of  the  Baptist  church.  The 
latter  of  these  had  a  soul  of  heavenly  mould ;  and  the  man  who 
can  fail  to  love,  when  he  reads  his  life,  can  have  little  sense  of  the 
beauty  of  holiness.  Is  there  any  thing  in  the  Philadelphia 
library  which  would  be  of  advantage  in  studying  extensively  the 
Ecclesiastical  History  of  the  Protestant  Churches  in  Europe,  dur- 
ing the  eighteenth  century  1  I  should  feel  thankful  for  the  names 
of  a  few  books.  What  is  there  that  will  give  one  a  tolerable 
idea  of  South  America, — its  present  state, — geographical  divis- 
ions,— the  revolutions, — their  rise,  progress,  and  issue  ?  I  am 
always  alive  to  this  subject. 

1  should  feign  if  I  did  not  say,  that  I  do  earnestly  desire  to 
see  you  act  with  decision  upon  those  religious  truths  which  you 
profess  to  believe.  Instruction,  it  would  be  very  silly  for  me  to 
attempt.  You  already  anticipate  all  that  I  would  say.  You 
know  the  connexion  between  means  and  end.  You  know  the 
power  of  truth.  You  believe  the  peculiar  power  of  God's  truth 
as  revealed  in  the  Bible.  You  know  the  efficiency  of  prayer  and 
reflection.  Now  one  word  :  If  you  fail  through  any  defect,  how- 
ever small,  in  the  use  of  these — all  apology  is  shut  out.  Let  me 
recommend  the  "  Force  of  Truth,"  by  Scott — and  the  life  of 
Brainerd. 

Princeton,  September  12,  1825. 
Nothing  in  our  correspondence  lately  has  given  me  more 
satisfaction  than  the  resolution  you  express  in  your  last,  with 


86  WHILE  TUTOE  IN  COLLEGE. 

respect  tu  desultory  reading.  This  bane  of  real  study,  {hand 
inexpertus  loquor,)  is  opposed  no  less  to  the  true  enjoyment  of 
letters,  than  to  deep  proficiency.  There  must  be  a  stretch  of 
mind  to  give  the  highest  intellectual  pleasure ;  and  continuance 
at  one  department  of  study  is  necessary,  if  we  would  engender 
that  happy  enthusiasm  which  ensures  success.  None  of  my 
studies  have  afforded  me  more  gratification  than  those  which  I 
have  pursued  with  a  strict  method,  and  with  an  attention  almost 
undivided  to  my  peculiar  branches.  I  have  merely  looked  at 
Hopkinson's  defence.1  To  confess  the  truth,  I  am  unable  to  lash 
myself  into  any  warmth  of  interest  in  these  details  :  it  would  be 
quite  as  refreshing  to  me,  to  peruse  the  commodore's  log-book. 
I  rejoice,  however,  in  his  acquittal.  My  reading  has  of  late  been 
purely  theological,  if  I  except  a  little  dipping  into  some  of  the 
unequalled  descriptions  of  the  "  Faery  Queene."  "  Horsley's 
Tracts  against  Priestly,"  I  thought  the  most  triumphant  confuta- 
tion I  had  ever  read,  until  I  fell  upon  "  Magee  on  the  Atone- 
ment," which  I  may  safely  declare  gave  me  as  much  delight  as 
any  book  I  have  ever  seen,  of  a  speculative  kind.  The  naked- 
ness of  Unitarianism  is  there  exposed  with  the  most  invincible 
argument,  and  the  keenest  satire.  "  Outram  on  Sacrifices," 
"  Sermons  de  Durand  and  Bourdaloue,"  "  Claude  sur  la  Compo- 
sition," &c,  have  taken  up  some  of  my  time.  I  was  at  a  friend's 
house  the  other  day,  where  I  heard  a  young  lady  from  New  York 
sing  in   exquisite  style,    "  Like  the  gloom   of  night  retiring ;  " 

you  may  be  sure  that  my  mind  reverted  to  the  soiree  in 

Street.  I  soon  go  beyond  the  reach  of  music,  among  the  moun- 
tain tops  of  Virginia,  except  such  music  as  the  north  wind  plays 
among  the  recesses  of  the  hills.  Look  upon  the  map  of  Virginia 
at  the  smooth  face  of  the  counties  Bath,  Greenbrier,  and  Mon- 
roe, and  you  will  see  how  I  shall  be  cradled  among  the  cliffs. 
Is  there  any  fast,  festival,  or  high  day  in  any  of  your  Popish 
places  in  the  city,  shortly  1  I  have  as  you  know  a  great  hanker- 
ing after  such  things  :  and  I  have  been  so  lamentably  disap- 
pointed in  my  various  attempts  to  hear  Harold  preach,  that  I 
feel  willing  almost  to  travel  forty  miles  if  I  had  the  certainty  of^ 
so  doing.2  Apropos  of  Popery.  My  good  friend  and  corre- 
spondent, Etienne  Frontis,  formerly  of  the  Seminary,  is  now 
preaching  in  Monroe  county,  Michigan.  He  gave  notice  a  few 
weeks  ago  that  he  would  preach  in  French.  The  priests  took 
the  alarm,  and  threatened  excommunication  to  any  who  should 

1  Of  Commodore  Stewart,  then  before  a  court-martial. 

2  Dr.  Harold  was  for  many  years  the  most  prominent  Roman  Catholic 
clergyman  in  Philadelphia ;  and  not  only  as  an  orator,  but  as  a  polished 
gentleman. 


1824—1825.  87 

go  near  the  heretic.  On  Sunday  morning  the  Priest,  (Bellami,) 
who  is  just  from  France  and  knows  not  a  word  of  English, 
preached  on  the  subject ;  said  the  Protestants  were  divided  into 
hundreds  of  sects,  used  a  corrupt  and  false  Bible,  and  that  no 
good  Catholic  would  go.  Frontis  made  his  discourse  almost 
entirely  from  Scripture  quotations,  using  the  Catholic  authorized 
version  of  De  Sacij.  Twenty  of  the  Catholics  heard  him.  The 
next  Sunday  Bellami  said  it  was  a  pack  of  lies,  that  he  was  un 
minislre  de  demon,  and  the  like  gentle  expressions,  and  excom- 
municated five  persons.  In  the  evening,  at  vespers,  he  looked 
round,  and  saw  one  of  these  men  in  his  usual  place ;  he  threw 
off  his  vestments,  and  called  on  the  people  to  turn  out  the  her- 
etic. "  Turn  him  out  yourself,"  said  a  loud  voice  from  the 
crowd.  Two  men  pulled  off  their  coats  to  assist  the  priest,  but 
the  culprit,  who  had  hitherto  requested  them  not  to  interrupt  his 
devotions,  put  himself  into  an  attitude  of  carnal  defence,  and 
threatened  to  knock  down  the  first  who  should  touch  him.  None 
ventured  on  so  stubborn  a  heretic.  This  excommunication  was 
done  by  order  of  the  Bishop  Richard,  who  lives  at  Detroit,  is  a 
Jesuit,  and  a  member  of  Congress  from  that  territory. 

I  find  it  rather  difficult  to  obey  you  with  regard  to  disbeliev- 
ing all  reports  of  the  yellow  fever.  We  have  some  stories  quite 
plausible  of  the  existence  of  that  malady  in  your  city.  How- 
ever, I  trust  it  will  prove  false.  There  have  certainly  been  sev- 
eral cases  in  New  Jersey,  and  at  Bristol.  It  requires,  I  believe, 
some  rare  symptoms  to  indicate  yellow  fever  to  your  Board  of 
Health. 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

LETTERS    WHILE    A    LICENTIATE. 

1825—1827. 

New  Brunswick,  October  19,  1825.1 
Where  should  I  be  but  in  New  Brunswick  1  Here  therefore 
I  am,  attending  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  and 
enjoying  the  company  of  one  or  two  friends.  On  returning 
home,  I  spent  part  of  a  day,  and  might  spend  many,  in  looking 
over  the  library  of  Professor  Patton,  which  I  had  never  before 
seen.  In  his  own  department,  (languages,)  his  collection  is  su- 
perior to  any  thing  I  ever  saw.  He  has  the  best  editions,  ancient 
and  modern,  of  all  the  classics ;  and  every  book  which  can  be  named 
affording  any  facility  in  these  studies.  I  found  there  also  a  uni- 
form edition  of  the  whole  range  of  Italian  literature ;  and  all  the 
German  writers  of  eminence.  Among  other  curiosities  which 
his  residence  in  Europe  enabled  him  to  pick  up,  he  showed  me  a 
Dante  of  A.  D.  1497,  and  an  immense  work  containing  views  of 
all  the  ancient  ruins  of  Rome.  His  collection  of  Atlases  and 
Plates  is  noble  indeed.  I  went  to  Freehold  on  Saturday  and 
preached  twice.  The  only  business  of  importance  which  has 
presented  itself  as  yet  to  the  Synod,  is  the  case  of  two  com- 
plaints ;  one  is  from  the  congregation  of  Wall  street,  N.  Y., 
against  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabethtown,  who  have  refused  to  put 
their  call  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  McDowell :  another  is  the  appeal 

of ,  who  has  been  suspended  from  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel. 

20th. — Mr.  Hamilton,  of  Newark,  preached  a  very  long  ser- 
mon last  night  upon  Slavery. 

1  Mr.  Alexander  was  licensed  as  a  probationer  for  the  ministry,  October 
4,  1825,  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  in  session  at  the  village  of 
Cranbury.  His  trial-sermon  was  on  John  iii.  3.  The  first  discourse,  under 
his  license,  was  preached  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  Cedar  Street  church, 
New  York,  on  the  8th  October,  from  Jeremiah  ii.  19.  On  the  next  day, 
which  was  Sunday,  he  repeated  the  sermon  in  one  of  the  churches  of 
Brooklyn,  and  preached  in  the  Cedar  Street  church  from  Galatians  ii.  16. 


1825—1827.  89 

Home,  November  14,  1825. 

I  am  so  shortly  to  bid  adieu  to  Princeton  that  I  am  more 
sensible  than  ever  of  the  pleasures  it  has  afforded  me  as  a  home. 
Since  I  saw  you,  I  have  been  called  to  preach  every  Lord's  day  ; 
and  as  this  has  always  been  out  of  Princeton,  it  has  laid  me 
under  the  necessity  of  riding  up  and  down  continually.  Bruns- 
wick detained  me  a  willing  prisoner  during  the  session  of  Synod ; 
thence  I  went  to  Freehold — Trenton — Lawrenceville — Cranbury 
— and  have  just  arrived  here,  after  riding  in  the  face  of  a  cold 
November  storm. 

From  your  letter,  you  seem  to  be  truly  alive  in  Philadelphia. 
Surely  you  have  no  excuse  for  not  being  orators,  when  so  much 
eloquence  is  sounding  in  your  ears.  I  have  been  introduced  to  a 
Dr.  Barber,  an  Englishman ;  but  as  he  is  of  H.  M.  navy,  it  can- 
not be  the  lecturer  [on  elocution]  of  whom  you  tell.  Griscom, 
you  remember,  speaks  at  some  length  of  Thelwall  and  his  sys- 
tem. I  have  no  faith  in  these  systems — being  of  the  creed 
"  Orator  nascitur"  &c.  The  Seminary  has  commenced  with 
more  than  a  hundred  students  ;  among  the  rest  a  coloured  man 
from  Schenectady — a  very  sensible,  genteel  personage.  Our 
Legislature  gave  me  amusement  while  I  was  in  Trenton.  The 
motion  for  an  adjourned  "  Setting  "  (so  the  mover  proposed  it) 
was  lost.  I  saw  Seixas  and  his  [deaf  and  dumb]  pupils  there, 
seeking  patronage.  Some  of  our  Princeton  folks  have  petitioned 
for  a  bank.  What  next  1  The  proposed  canal  [Delaware  and 
Raritan]  will  come,  it  is  thought,  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of 
Princeton.  We  are  pleased  with  the  thought  of  being  able  then 
to  get  Lehigh  coal,  with  less  expense  of  transportation. 

My  departure  towards  Virginia  is  fixed  (Deo  volente)  at  the 
1st  December.  I  feel  not  a  little  anxious  with  regard  to  my 
future  course  Yet  two  things  support  me  :  1st.  I  have  devoted 
myself  to  a  good  work,  and  am  willing  to  be  spent  in  it.  2d.  I 
am  under  the  care  of  a  merciful  Providence,  by  which  all  tilings 
will  be  conducted  aright.  Something  of  my  own  insufficiency  I 
feel — deeply  feel — and  sometimes  am  conscious  of  an  ardent 
desire  to  live  only  for  the  work  of  Christ :  but  alas  !  my  ordi- 
nary tempers  and  manners  savour  little  of  the  cross.  Yet  I 
know  the  excellence  of  what  I  try  to  preach,  and  am  ready  at  all 
hazards  to  proclaim  it,  and  recommend  it  to  others. 

Baltimore,  December  5,  1825. 
The  introduction  you  were  so  good  as  to  give  me  to  Mr. 
Laussat1  has  proved  a  source  of  much  satisfaction  :  his  company 

1  Antony  Laussat,  then  a  student  of  law,  and  afterwards  a  member  of 


90  WHILE   A    LICENTIATE. 

rendered  agreeable  the  passage  which  would  otherwise  have  been 
almost  insufferable.  To  him  I  refer  you  for  all  the  curiosities 
of  our  journey,  viz.,  the  circus  riders,  the  odd  and  ludicrous  dis- 
putes of  the  stage  coach,  the  enlightened  Senators,  &c,  &c,  to  the 
end  of  the  chapter  on  steamboat  adventures.  On  arriving  here 
I  went  to  Barnum's  great  establishment,  which,  extensive  as  it 
is,  sinks  to  nothing  in  comparison  with  a  new  hotel  which  he  is 
erecting,  and  which  is  larger  than  the  New  York  City  Hotel. 
After  breakfast,  I  went  to  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Nevins. 
He  resides  in  a  very  large  and  handsome  mansion  in  Belvidere 
street.  No  one  could  be  more  cordial  and  friendly  than  he  has 
proved  himself.  On  Sunday  morning  I  heard  Mr.  Nevins 
preach,  and  there  is  no  man  living,  whom,  with  my  present 
knowledge  of  men,  I  should  prefer  to  him  as  a  preacher  after  my 
own  heart.  In  the  afternoon  I  filled  his  pulpit,  and  at  night  that 
of  Dr.  Glendy.  At  the  latter  place,  I  was  pleased  with  discov- 
ering, after  sermon,  Mr.  Laussat.  Had  I  discovered  him  before, 
I  should  have  felt  less  at  ease.  Last  night  I  was  inveigled  into 
an  address  at  the  Monthly  Concert  of  prayer.1  Baltimore  sur- 
passes my  highest  expectations.  I  looked  for  much  splendour  in 
this  great  emporium  and  thoroughfare,  but  so  much  elegance,  and 
neatness,  and  commercial  bustle,  and  public  improvement,  I  was 
not  prepared  to  find.  And  the  people  whom  I  have  as  yet  seen, 
are  in  manners  and  kind  attention,  superior  to  any  class  of  per- 
sons I  have  ever  known.  There  is  something  in  the  dialect  of 
the  Marylanders,  especially  as  it  flows  from  female  lips,  which 
is  truly  enchanting,  being  a  golden  mean  between  the  curt  and 
succinct  enunciation  (ut  ita  dicam)  of  the  Yankee,  and  the  full- 
mouthed  rotundity  and  carelessness  of  the  Virginian.  It  is 
worth  your  while  to  come  to  Baltimore,  were  it  only  to  see  the 
painting  by  Paulin  Guerin,  presented  to  the  Cathedral  here  by 
Louis  XVIII.  Nothing  in  the  arts  ever  so  transfixed  me.  It  is 
the  taking  down  Jesus  from  the  cross.  The  Cathedral  itself  I 
take  to  be  the  noblest  piece  of  ecclesiastical  architecture  in  the 
United  States.  It  has  a  noble  simplicity  of  design  which  enables 
you  at  a  coup  d'ceil  to  apprehend  its  vast  expression  of  sublimity. 
It  is  filled  with  paintings.  The  Unitarian  synagogue  which 
stands  opposite  is  elegant.  The  Exchange  contains  a  large  hall 
or  dome  similar  in  its  impression  to  the  interior  of  your  Bank. 
The  Atheneum,  Masonic  Hall,  Court  House,  Washington  Mon- 

the  Philadelphia  bar,  but  removed  by  death  at  an  early  period  of  what  had 
already  become  a  distinguished  career.    He  died  in  1833. 

1  On  Wednesday  of  the  same  week  he  preached  in  the  lecture-room  of 
the  First  Church,  and  on  the  following  Lord's  day  twice  in  the  Second 
Church,  (Dr.  Glendy's,)  and  once  at  the  Orphan  Asylum. 


1825—1827.  91 

ument,  and  Monument  in  honour  of  the  battle,  &c,  are  all,  in 
their  several  details,  truly  interesting  public  works.  I  am  in 
suspense  with  respect  to  my  movements ;  shall  probably  go  to 
Washington  next  Monday,  and  thence  on  through  Fredericks- 
burg to  Petersburg.  Mr.  Laussat  kindly  called,  but  I  was  so 
unfortunate  as  to  be  absent.  If  you  write  within  a  week,  please 
to  direct  here,  to  the  care  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  Nevins. 

Petersburg,  December  23,  1825. 
When  I  came  into  Virginia,  it  was  with  little  notion  of  the 
manner  in  which  my  time  would  be  engrossed  by  necessary  bus- 
iness, and  constant  avocations.  Scarcely  had  I  reached  this  place, 
before  I  found  myself  under  commands  to  hold  forth  at  the  rate 
of  five  or  six  times  in  the  week  ;  and  in  addition,  there  is  hardly 
a  day  in  which  nine  or  ten  hours  are  not  taken  up  in  giving  and 
receiving  visits ;  and  these  not  your  short,  formal  city  calls  ; 
but  bona  fide  visitations,  a  houseful  at  a  time,  enlivened  by  the 
peculiarly  abundant  good  cheer  of  this  bountiful  land,  and  the 
copious  flowing  of  rum  toddy,  and  the  like  refections.  Could 
you  see  me  galloping  in  the  neighbourhood  upon  a  high-blooded 
horse,  in  company  with  fellow  equestrians,  and  a  carriage  load 
of  beauty  and  vivacity,  you  would  declare  that  all  the  Virginian 
in  me  had  been  at  once  resuscitated  and  matured.  Corn  bread 
and  bacon,  oysters  and  hominy,  and  toddy,  dining  out  every 
day,  and  tongue  wagging  every  hour,  have  kept  my  blood  well 
in  motion.  But  you  wish  to  hear  something  of  the  country. 
Petersburg,  as  you  know,  is  the  county  seat  of  Dinwiddie,  sit- 
uated upon  the  river  Appomatox.  It  is  an  old  settlement  encir- 
cled by  hills  on  almost  every  side.  Population  8,000,  and 
thickly  built  upon  very  uneven  ground.  In  external  appearance 
it  would  strike  you,  like  most  Southern  towns,  as  squalid  and 
slovenly  :  yet  there  are  not  a  few  very  splendid'mansions  in  this 
vicinity.  The  principal  trade  was  once  in  tobacco  ;  this  has 
now  been  transferred  to  Richmond  ;  and  the  markets  here  are 
chiefly  stocked  with  cotton,  which  is  becoming  the  staple  article 
among  planters  here.  As  to  society ;  I  am  free  to  declare, 
that  I  have  never  so  enjoyed  social  and  Christian  intercourse  in 
my  life,  as  here.  Without  trying  it,  you  can  have  no  conception 
of  what  Southern  hospitality  means.  After  all  my  preparations 
and  previous  knowledge,  I  find  myself  daily  surprised  with  the 
winning  cordiality  and  kindness  of  the  people.  And  this  not 
merely  in  expression  and  words.  Every  house  seems  at  once  a 
home,  and  every  individual  devotes  himself  heartily  and  with 
manifest  satisfaction  to  your  service.  If  you  look  for  splendour, 
you  would  be  disappointed,  except  in  the  particulars  of  servants' 


92  WHILE   A   LICENTIATE. 

attendance  and  diet.  The  tables  of  the  seaboard  Virginians  are 
worthy  of  their  fame.  I  am  sometimes  almost  disconcerted  with 
the  multitude  of  servants  waiting  at  table.  Four  of  us  were 
attended  the  other  night  by  at  least  six  genteel  waiters.  An  old 
bachelor  of  great  wealth,  who  is  laid  up  with  the  gout,  gives  me 
the  freedom  of  his  spacious  mansion,  where  I  walk  in  and  out  at 
my  pleasure.  I  should  feel  no  hesitation  at  any  time  to  take  a 
horse  and  servant  from  his  premises,  and  ride  out  ten  miles  to 
dinner  ;  and  such  a  liberty  would  evidently  gratify  him.  There 
are  in  my  uncle's  [Dr.  Benjamin  IT.  Rice]  congregation  about 
twenty-five  young  men,  who  profess  religion,  and  are  more  active 
in  the  cause  than  many  ministers.  From  this  you  may  judge 
what  the  people  in  general  are ;  and  you  will  not  judge  too 
favourably.  Among  these  are  rich  merchants  in  the  Liverpool 
trade,  lawyers,  and  physicians.  The  number  of  agreeable  and 
pious  ladies  is  remarkable ;  and  the  easy  access  to  everybody's 
house  and  heart,  more  free  than  I  had  ever  expected  in  my 
fondest  hopes.  A  man  who  comes  here,  must  come  with  some 
equestrian  skill,  or  expect  to  get  his  neck  broken.  I  have  to 
ride  through  narrow  passes  in  the  hills,  going  to  make  visits  in 
the  country,  where  you  would  suppose  a  horse  could  scarcely 
balance  himself,  and  on  steeds  which  seem  to  be  trained  to  cur- 
vet and  run  away.  Let  me  assure  you  that  I  have  been  more 
than  once  in  "  bodily  fear."  Labour  is  growing  upon  me.  I  am 
engaged  to  assist  mv  uncle  for  a  month,  and  have  as  much  resr- 
ular  duty  as  though  I  were  actually  settled.  This  is  well :  it 
fills  my  thoughts,  and  directs  my  attention  to  the  work  of  my 
vocation  ;  and  my  daily  experience  is,  that  the  world  has  fewest 
cares,  and  my  heart  purest  peace,  when  I  can  in  some  measure 
live  among  earthly  things  without  expecting  my  pleasures  from 
them.  Never  shall  I  regret  having  made  religion  my  choice, 
though  it  is  every  day  my  lamentation,  that  it  has  through  my 
wilful  inattention  and  unfaithfulness  so  little  moderated  my 
worldly  affections,  and  lifted  me  above  sublunary  joys. 

Petersburg,  January  27,  1S26. 
You  can  have  little  idea  of  the  manner  in  which  I  am  pulled 
from  post  to  pillar,  or  you  would  not  wonder  at  my  long  silence. 
In  Virginia,  we  pay  longer  visits,  and  more  of  them,  than  I  have 
ever  known  anywhere  else :  and  as  much  of  my  business  consists 
of  visiting  among  the  people,  especially  the  members  of  the 
church,  I  find  my  hours  running  away  from  me.  Question. 
What  news  in  Petersburg.  Ans.  None  of  any  importance  since  the 
fire,  which  consumed  about  50  houses.  A  number  of  attempts 
have  been  made  within  a  few  weeks  to  fire  the  town ;  which  are 


1825—1827.  93 

traced  to  the  negroes.  One  woman  has  confessed,  and  is  in  gaol. 
Item.  The  noted  Wm.  B.  Giles,  after  having  proposed  himself 
as  a  candidate  for  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives, 
has  been  foiled  in  both  attempts.  Dr.  Crump,  of  Cumberland, 
is  elected  to  fill  the  place  of  John  Randolph.  Quest.  2d.  What 
strikes  you  as  being  new  or  remarkable  ?  Ans.  The  whole  face 
of  society  exhibits  an  appearance  very  different  from  what  one 
perceives  in  the  North.  Slavery  of  itself  is  enough  to  stamp  a 
marked  character  upon  the  Southern  population.  The  number 
of  blacks  which  I  met  in  the  streets  at  first,  struck  me  with  sur- 
prise, but  now  every  thing  has  become  familiar.  When  I  con- 
sider how  much  of  the  comfort,  luxury,  and  style  of  Southern 
gentlemen  would  be  retrenched  by  the  removal  of  the  slave  pop- 
ulation, I  can  no  longer  wonder  at  the  tenacity  with  which  they 
adhere  to  their  pretended  rights.  The  servants  who  wait  upon 
genteel  families,  in  consequence  of  having  been  bred  among 
refined  people  all  their  lives,  have  often  as  great  an  air  of  gen- 
tility as  their  masters.  The  comfort  of  slaves  in  this  country  is 
greater,  I  am  persuaded,  than  that  of  the  free  blacks,  as  a  body, 
in  any  part  of  the  United  States.  They  are  no  doubt  maltreated 
in  many  instances  ;  so  are  children  :  but  in  general  they  are  well 
clad,  well  fed,  and  kindly  treated.  Ignorance  is  their  greatest 
curse,  and  this  must  ever  follow  in  the  train  of  slavery.  The 
bad  policy  and  destructive  tendency  of  the  system  is  increasingly 
felt :  you  hear  daily  complaints  on  the  subject  from  those  who 
have  most  servants.  But  what  can  they  do  ?  Slavery  was  not 
their  choice.  They  cannot  and  ought  not  to  turn  them  loose. 
They  cannot  afford  to  transport  them  ;  and  generally  the  negroes 
would  not  consent  to  it.  The  probable  result  of  this  state  of 
things  is  one  which  philanthropists  scarcely  dare  contemplate. 
I  cannot  (to  change  the  subject)  say  enough  of  the  freedom  and 
cordiality  with  which  the  social  intercourse  here  is  conducted. 
You  must  come  and  see  for  yourself.  The  money  which  in  the 
North  is  spent  upon  the  houses  and  furniture,  is  here  laid  out 
upon  the  table.  I  presume  that  no  people  in  the  world  "  live 
higher  "  than  the  Low  Virginians,  or  Tuckahoes,  and  by  these 
terms  I  mean  all  who  live  on  this  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  There 
is  a  suavity  and  grace  in  the  manners  of  gentlemen  of  the  first 
rank  in  this  State,  and  a  peculiar  fascination  in  their  elocution, 
which  you  will  understand  better  if  you  have  ever  seen  Taze- 
well, Clay,  or  John  Randolph.  The  ladies  have  a  frankness 
which  surprises  a  Northern  man  at  first,  and  leads  him  to  think 
that  he  is  receiving  special  condescensions,  when  nothing  more 
than  common  civility  is  intended. 

The  trade  of  Petersburg  received  a  dreadful  blow  from  the  fire 


94  WHILE    A   LICENTIATE. 

of  1815,  in  which  five  hundred  houses  were  destroyed  ;  and  is  daily 
suffering  from  the  transfer  of  the  tobacco  trade  to  Richmond. 
The  chief  dependence  now  is  upon  cotton,  the  culture  of  which  is 
becoming  an  object  of  attention  here.  About  30,000  bales  of 
the  new  crop  have  already  come  into  town.  The  number  of 
commission  merchants  here  is  very  large,  in  proportion  to  the 
population.  I  suppose  half  only  of  the  heads  of  families  here 
are  Virginians.  The  trade  is  maintained  by  Yankees,  Irishmen, 
and  Scotchmen.  I  find  my  time  taken  up  altogether  by  my 
duties  as  a  preacher.  There  is  no  toleration  here  for  reading 
sermons  ;  so  that  my  extemporary  powers  are  called  constantly 
into  requisition.  My  business  is  one  altogether  delightful.  In 
proportion  to  the  zeal  with  which  I  devote  myself  to  religion,  I 
ever  find  my  happiness  increase ;  and  I  cannot  but  hope,  that 
after  having  so  long  thought  of  religion  theoretically,  you  will 
at  length  cast  in  your  lot  with  us,  and  taste  of  the  sweetness  of 
piety,  as  a  matter  of  experience  and  practice.  I  need  not  pre- 
tend to  say  with  how  much  joy  I  would  hail  you  as  a  Christian 
brother,  if  not  a  brother  in  the  ministry  of  reconciliation.  Will 
you  not  give  these  solemn  claims  a  new  hearing,  and  will  you 
not  seek  grace  to  overcome  those  bonds  which  fasten  you  to 
the  world.  Of  the  guilt  and  danger  of  impenitence,  it  is  needless 
for  me  to  warn  you  ;  but  let  me  say,  Why  will  you  not  deter- 
mine, immediately,  and  at  all  hazards,  to  beseech  of  God  to 
grant  you  the  influences  of  his  Spirit  ? 1 

Charlotte  County,  Va.,  May  19,  1826. 
If  you  wish  to  know  where  Charlotte  Co.  lies,  let  me  tell 
you  that  it  is  to  be  found  in  that  rich  plateau  of  Southern  Vir- 
ginia which  has  the  fine  Roanoke  for  its  boundary  on  the  south, 
just  where  that  river  is  formed  of  the  Staunton  and  the  Dan.  It 
is,  moreover,  the  county  of  John  Randolph,  that  greatest  of  oddi- 
ties ;  for  while  I  account  him  a  great  genius,  an  orator  absolutely 
unrivalled  in  America,  a  ripe  scholar,  aye,  and  a  consistent  poli- 
tician, I  cannot  help  thinking  him  crazed.  He  arrived  last  night 
at  his  residence  (Roanoke)  in  this  neighbourhood,  having  travel- 
led from  Washington  on  horseback  in  two  days,  and  after  look- 
ing at  his  multitude  of  horses,  he  set  out,  about  8  o'clock,  on  his 
return  to  Washington.  He  has  between  three  and  four  hundred 
negroes,  who  are  treated  writh  great  kindness,  and  regard  him 
with  a  feeling  allied  to  adoration.     This  is  a  rich  and  fertile 

1  He  remained  in  Petersburg  until  the  middle  of  March.  From  the  19th 
of  that  month  until  the  9th  of  April,  he  was  preaching  in  Richmond  ;  on 
the  11th  he  preached  in  Petersburg,  and  on  the  16th  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon in  the  church  at  Charlotte  Court  House,  of  which  he  was  afterwards 
the  pastor. 


1825—1827.  95 

region,  producing  great  quantities  of  prime  tobacco,  and,  of 
course,  growing  wealthy.  The  manners  of  the  people  are  plain, 
frank,  hospitable,  and  independent ;  proud  of  their  Virginianism, 
and  all  its  peculiarities.  I  suppose  that  no  set  of  people  in  the 
world  live  more  at  their  ease,  or  indeed  more  luxuriously,  so  far 
as  eating  and  drinking  are  concerned.  No  farmer  would  think 
of  sitting  down  to  dinner  with  less  than  four  dishes  of  meat,  or 
to  breakfast  without  several  different  kinds  of  warm  bread.  It 
is,  moreover,  (I  speak  of  this  county,)  a  moral  country ;  no 
gambling,  no  dissipation  or  frolicking.  The  spring,  with  all  its 
freshness,  has  opened  upon  us,  and  the  early  fruits  are  pouring 
in  abundantly.  The  face  of  the  country  exhibits  no  great  variety ; 
indeed,  the  forests  of  pine  in  many  places  obstruct  the  prospect 
altogether.  All  my  moving  from  place  to  place  is  on  horseback ; 
and  I  ride  from  sixty  to  seventy  miles  in  mere  visits  to  the  peo- 
ple whom  I  serve. 

I  wish  you  would  pay  a  visit  to  this  part  of  the  world.  It  is 
a  region  through  which  no  great  road  passes,  and  of  course 
hardly  any  travellers  ;  whoever  visits  it  must  come  on  horseback. 
I  am  about  two  clays'  ride  from  Richmond.  Mr.  Randolph  is 
the  Magnus  Apollo  of  this  county.  Every  one  knows  and  fears 
him.  His  power  of  sarcasm  and  invective  is  such  that  no  one 
pretends  to  contradict  him.  He  has  three  several  plantations  in 
this  county,  all  of  them  extensive.  His  horses  (I  mean  those 
which  are  never  used)  are  worth,  I  suppose,  about  $8,000.  In 
conversation  he  is  exactly  what  he  is  in  the  Senate ;  and  from 
almost  every  one  you  will  hear  some  of  his  repartees,  or  sar- 
casms. I  think  the  Southern  people  begin  to  manifest  some  dis- 
position to  uphold  Jackson  in  the  next  election.  I  have  never 
yet  met  with  a  friend  of  Adams  in  this  State.  Nota  bene.  If 
you  see  my  mother  in  Philadelphia  shortly,  1  commission  you 
to  take  her  to  some  good  miniature  painter,  and  have  her  like- 
ness. I  want  it  small  and  portable,  so  as  to  be  carried  about  my 
person.  I  leave  the  style  to  your  taste.  Remember,  it  is  not  to 
be  framed  for  hanging  up.  Take  notice,  no  "  quaint  device  "  of 
playthings  in  the  hand ;  either  bird,  bible,  or  book,  bodkin  or 
barnacles,  (I  have  seen  them  all.)1 

Retirement,  Charlotte  Co.,  January  26,  1827. 
I  have  been  waiting  with  anxiety  to  hear  from  you,  and  have 

1  In  June  of  this  year,  Mr.  Alexander  visited  Baltimore  and  Petersburg, 
and  returned  to  Charlotte  before  the  end  of  the  month.  In  July  he 
preached  frequently  at  Lynchburg,  and  in  August  at  Lexington  and  other 
places  in  the  county  of  Rockbridge.  After  this  he  was  ill  with  bilious  fever. 
He  then  made  a  visit  to  Princeton,  and  was  in  the  Charlotte  pulpit  again 
November  26. 


96  WHILE    A   LICENTIATE. 

at  last  concluded  either  that  I  have  made  a  mistake  in  our  reck- 
oning, or  that  you  have  never  received  my  last  letter.  It  is 
strongly  impressed  upon  my  mind  that  I  wrote  to  you  from 
Fredericksburg.  I  hope  that  you  will  bring  about  the  usual 
equilibrium  by  a  speedy  reply  to  this  letter.  Were  I  to  com- 
mence with  the  topic  most  current  here,  I  should  speak  of  Mr. 
Randolph.  His  recent  defeat  has  filled  this  county  with  chagrin, 
and  he  will  be  returned  for  the  lower  House  without  competi- 
tion. All  the  freeholders  hereabouts  treat  the  subject  as  if  it 
were  their  own  personal  cause.  How  different  just  at  this  mo- 
ment are  our  situations  !  You  are  enjoying  all  the  recreations 
and  delights  of  a  great  city,  with  such  a  multitude  of  attractions 
as  to  leave  no  excuse  for  ennui ;  I  am  almost  a  hermit,  with  no 
near  neighbours,  with  no  variety  of  scene.  If  I  could  for  a  little 
while  drop  into  Carey  &  Lea's,  [bookstore,  in  Philadelphia,]  or 
even  walk  down  Chestnut  street,  it  would  act  as  an  elixir.  1  am 
ashamed  that  I  have  nothing  to  communicate  to  you  ;  but  this  is 
the  lamentable  case.  You  must  answer  this  letter  in  mere 
charity,  and  give  me  something  to  think  about.  I  wish  partic- 
ularly to  hear  what  Mr.  Ridgely  [a  fellow-student  in  Seminary] 
is  doing,  where  he  preaches,  &c. ;  also  the  state  of  your  congre- 
gations, the  ministerial  squabbles,  (horresco  referens,)  and  such 
matters  as  you  know  I  take  an  interest  in.  I  should  be  glad  to 
hear  of  any  new  books,  or  literary  intelligence.  You  can  scarcely 
imagine  what  a  dearth  of  reading  there  is  here.  I  am  tempted 
to  send  on  for  a  supply  of  books,  but  scarcely  know  what  to 
order,  and  have  not  yet  received  any  of  my  salary.  I  think  that 
our  friend  John  Q.  [Adams]  is  gaining  ground  in  Virginia, 
though  not  in  this  quarter.  Everybody  in  these  parts  hates 
him,  hates  the  Panama  measures,  hates  Clay,  hates  roads  and 
canals,  hates  internal  improvement,  and  abominates  the  tariff. 
General  Edward  Carrington  is  the  only  man  who  dares  to  lift 
up  his  voice  here  in  favour  of  the  Administration  :  he  speaks  at 
almost  every  assemblage  of  people,  though  without  support,  and 
without  converts.  If  you  love  shooting,  come  here  ;  and  with- 
out going  off  this  plantation,  you  may  bag  your  four  dozen 
quails  a  day,  with  an  occasional  wild  turkey.  Pheasants  and 
rabbits  also  abound.  An  acquaintance  of  mine  has  caught  more 
than  twenty  foxes  this  winter,  and  is  now  following  his  hounds 
with  great  zeal.  Who  are  to  be  the  writers  for  this  new 
["  American  Quarterly  "]  Review  1  What  European  Magazines 
are  republished  in  Philadelphia  1  Any  new  French  books  of 
interest '?  Remember  me  to  all  inquiring  friends,  and  very  affec- 
tionately to  your  own  family,  and  believe  me, 

With    sentiments   of   very  distinguished  considering,  your 
most  obedient  servant.  — 


1825—1827.  97 

Retirement,  Charlotte  Co.,  Va.,  February  16,  182*7. 
I  have  just  returned  from  Halifax,  the  county  which  lies  be- 
tween Charlotte  and  North  Carolina,  and  have  little  else  to  tell 
you  than  some  of  the  varieties  of  the  trip.  My  visit  was  prin- 
cipally to  the  family  of  Mr.  Bruce,  to  which  I  beg  leave  to  intro- 
duce you.  His  house  is  noted  for  its  hospitality,  and  presents 
to  the  bon  vivant  as  great  temptations  as  can  well  be  found  in 
Virginia.  At  Mr,  B.'s,  we  seldom  sat  down  to  table,  during  the 
wTeek  I  spent  there,  with  less  than  ten  strangers.  I  also  visited 
Gen.  Edward  C.  Carrington,  who  has  a  seat  upon  Dan  River, 
(which  with  the  Staunton  forms  the  Roanoke.)  Gen.  C.  lay  sick 
nine  weeks  in  Princeton  during  the  last  war,  having  received  a 
ball  in  his  arm  at  Sackett's  Harbour.  He  is  a  scholar  and  a  gen- 
tleman, and  has  large  possessions.  The  information  which  he 
has  acquired  in  his  travels  in  Europe,  renders  his  conversation 
highly  interesting.  He  is  bold  enough  to  advocate  the  cause  of 
Adams  and  patriotism  in  the  midst  of  this  perverse  and  Jacksonian 
generation.  Let  me  not  forget  to  mention  that  Mr.  Bruce  pro- 
posed as  a  toast,  at  his  table  on  Thursday  last,  the  health  of  J.  Q. 
A.,  which  he,  I,  and  about  three  more  drank  with  right  good  will. 
You  ask  me  wThat  I  am  doing.  It  is  a  question  soon  answered  : 
preaching,  riding,  visiting  my  charge,  and  studying,  principally 
Hebrew.  I  have  read  a  good  deal  of  French  lately,  and  also 
twelve  books  of  the  Iliad  in  Greek.  I  would  try  to  write  for 
the  Quarterly,  but  I  do  not  know  what  to  review.  Every  thing 
becomes  stale  before  it  reaches  me.  The  crocus  and  Persian  iris 
are  in  bloom,  and  the  frogs  begin  to  sing,  so  that  you  may  judge 
of  the  difference  of  climate.  If  nothing  unforeseen  occur  to  pre- 
vent, I  shall  be  ordained  on  the  2d  March.  The  solemnity  of 
such  an  investiture  is  well  calculated  to  excite  some  deep  solici- 
tude. Never  did  I  feel  more  than  at  present  my  unfitness  for 
the  office.  There  is  a  frivolity  and  worldliness  in  my  character, 
most  remote  from  the  sanctity  of  the  Gospel.  In  my  best 
moods,  I  feel  great  delight  in  its  duties,  and  can  with  all  my  soul 
recommend  its  doctrines  and  spirit  to  all  whom  I  love. 


vol.  i. — 5 


CHAPTEK  V. 


LETTERS    WHILE    PASTOR    IN    VIRGINIA,    AND    UNTIL 
HE    LEFT    THE    STATE. 


1827—1329. 

Retirement,  Charlotte  Co.,  Va.,  March  13,  1827. 
We  are  now  enjoying  spring  in  all  its  sweetness.  I  am  sit- 
ting with  opened  windows,  into  which  the  "  sweet  south "  is 
breathing.  Our  gardens  are  redolent  with  vernal  fragrance. 
The  time  of  the  singing  of  birds  has  come,  and  no  country  can 
boast  of  more  charms  in  this  respect  than  Virginia.  The  wood 
lark,  and  the  mocking-bird  are  songsters  of  the  first  order. 
Read  a  graphic  description  of  the  latter  in  Wilson's  Ornithology. 
They  are  sometimes  taken  to  the  North  in  cages,  but  in  that  case 
you  seldom  hear  the  rich  gushing  of  their  natural  strains,  as 
when  they  sit  among  the  hawthorn  bushes,  and  pour  out  melody 
for  hours.  The  ploughs  are  all  now  in  motion,  and  with  this 
there  arise  many  agreeable  associations.  This  day  I  am  twenty- 
three  years  old  ;  and  the  recurrence  of  a  birth-day  when  prop- 
erly viewed  gives  occasion  for  many  solemn  reflections.  How 
much  of  my  life  has  passed  fruitlessly  !  How  little  have  I  done 
in  forming  an  elevated  character  !  How  many  have  been  emi- 
nent public  benefactors  at  this  age !  I  feel  as  if  my  religious 
proficiency  had  been  small  indeed,  compared  with  that  of  many 
whom  I  could  name.  Let  me  beg  of  you  also,  at  this  interesting 
period  of  your  life,  to  ask  seriously,  what  stand  you  intend  to 
take  with  regard  to  the  all-important  matter  of  religion.  In 
church  matters  I  have  some  encouragements.  My  congregation, 
though  small,  is  increasing,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the 
attachment  which  the  people  manifest  is  real.  Mr.  Randolph  is 
daily  expected  at  Roanoke.  The  citizens  have  determined  to 
send  him  to  Congress.     I  hope  to  hear  him  speak  on  the  first 


1827—1829.  99 

Monday  in  April.  His  silence  has  been  remarkable  during  the 
last  session. 

I  do  not  think  it  by  any  means  incumbent  upon  me  as  an 
Adams  man,  or  consistent  as  a  preacher,  to  talk  much  about 
politics  ;  but  I  am  sorely  vexed  from  day  to  day  at  the  enormi- 
ties of  the  opposition.  My  ears  are  forever  ringing  with  the 
cant  which  has  become  so  current  on  this  subject.  There  is 
some  show  of  reason,  I  must  confess,  in  the  arguments  of  the  pol- 
iticians here.  The  tariff  forces  them  to  pay  more  for  many  arti- 
cles, and  repays  them  with  no  advantage. 

On  the  3d  inst.  I  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry  by  the  Hanover  presbytery.  A  number  of  clergymen 
and  a  vast  concourse  of  the  laity  were  here  present.  More  than 
thirty  strangers  lodged  at  this  house  on  one  night.  It  was  a  sol- 
emn service,  one  which  I  hope  long  to  remember  with  feelings 
of  awe  as  well  as  gratitude.  Since  that  time  I  have  been  on  a 
visit  to  Prince  Edward  [County]  to  assist  a  neighbouring 
preacher.  I  there  saw  such  an  instance  of  solitary  life  as  I 
never  before  witnessed.  Mrs.  Spencer,  a  woman  of  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age,  has  lived  the  life  of  a  hermit  for  about  thirty 
years.  Her  residence  is  a  little  log  hut,  at  a  distance  from  any 
other  habitation,  and  she  suffers  no  living  being  to  remain  with 
her  during  the  night,  or  for  any  long  period  during  the  day. 
Her  victuals  are  cooked  about  half  a  mile  off,  and  sent  to  her 
once  a  day.  She  is  crooked  and  withered ;  dresses  always  in 
wThite  linen,  and  in  the  oldest  fashion.  Her  whole  time  is  spent 
in  reading  the  Scriptures,  singing,  and  prayer.  Visitors  some- 
times have  to  remain  nearly  an  hour  at  her  door,  before  she  con- 
cludes the  prayer  in  which  she  may  be  engaged.  She  is  the 
most  unearthly  being  I  ever  beheld  ;  her  conversation  is  pleasant 
and  rational ;  and  her  religion  seems  to  be  unfeigned  and  ardent. 
You  may  judge  of  the  difference  of  climate,  wThen  I  tell  you  that 
our  fruit  trees  were  in  bloom,  and  many  trees  in  leaf  on  the  10th 
instant.  For  about  six  weeks  we  have  had  weather  of  very  mild 
temperature.  Mr.  [John  C]  Calhoun  passed  through  our  coun- 
ty on  the  11  th  inst.  on  his  way  home.  On  last  Monday,  when 
two  or  three  thousand  people  were  assembled  at  the  court-house, 
we  had  several  "stump  speeches,"  as  they  are  called.  I  think 
this  mode  of  addressing  the  populace  well  calculated  to  advance 
popular  eloquence ;  while  it  gives  great  room  for  the  influence 
of  demagogues.  Two  of  the  persons  who  spoke,  were  men  of 
talents,  and  even  eloquence.  It  is  here  that  some  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph's most  brilliant  essays  have  been  made,  and  his  style  of 
oratory  has  given  a  character  to  that  of  the  people. 


100  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

Charlotte,  April  10,  182*7.  - 
I  do  not  remember  in  any  "  letters  from  the  South,"  a  de- 
scription of  a  Virginia  court  day,  and  as  I  know  of  nothing  which 
exhibits  in  more  lively  colours  the  distinctive  traits  of  the  State 
character,  I  will  employ  a  little  time  in  sketching  a  scene  of  this 
kind,  which  presented  itself  on  Monday  the  2d  of  April.  The 
court  of  Charlotte  Co.  is  regularly  held  upon  the  first  Monday 
of  every  month,  and  there  is  usually  a  large  concourse  of  people. 
This  was  an  occasion  of  peculiar  interest,  as  the  elections  for 
Congress  and  the  State  Legislature  were  then  to  take  place. 
As  the  day  was  fine,  I  preferred  walking,  to  the  risk  of  having 
my  horse  alarmed,  and  driven  away  by  the  hurly-burly  of  such 
an  assemblage.  In  making  my  way  along  the  great  road  which 
leads  from  my  lodgings  to  the  place  of  public  resort,  I  found  it 
all  alive  with  the  cavalcades  of  planters  and  country-folk  going 
to  the  raree  show.  A  stranger  would  be  forcibly  struck  with 
the  perfect  familiarity  with  which  all  ranks  were  mingling  in 
conversation,  as  they  moved  along  upon  their  fine  pacing  horses. 
Indeed,  this  sort  of  equality  exists  to  a  greater  degree  here  than 
in  any  country  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  Here  were  young 
men,  whose  main  object  seemed  to  be  the  exhibition  of  their  spir- 
ited horses,  of  the  true  race  breed,  and  their  equestrian  skill. 
The  great  majority  of  persons  were  dressed  in  domestic,  undyed 
cloth,  partly  from  economy,  and  partly  from  a  State  pride,  which 
leads  many  of  our  most  wealthy  men,  in  opposing  the  tariff,  to 
reject  all  manufactures  which  are  protected  by  the  Government. 
A  man  would  form  a  very  incorrect  estimate  of  the  worldly  cir- 
cumstances of  a  Virginia  planter  who  should  measure  his  finances 
by  the  fineness  of  his  coat.  When  I  came  near  to  the  village,  I 
observed  hundreds  of  horses  tied  to  the  trees  of  a  neighbouring 
grove,  and  further  on  could  descry  an  immense  and  noisy  multi- 
tude covering  the  space  around  the  court-house.  In  one  quarter, 
near  to  the  taverns,  were  collected  the  mob,  whose  chief  errand 
is  to  drink  and  quarrel.  In  another  was  exhibited  a  fair  of  all 
kinds  of  vendibles,  stalls  of  mechanics  and  tradesmen,  eatables 
and  drinkables,  with  a  long  line  of  Yankee  wagons,  which  are 
never  wanting  on  these  occasions.  The  loud  cries  of  salesmen 
vending  wares  at  public  auction,  were  mingled  with  the  vocifera- 
tion of  a  stump  orator,  who  in  the  midst  of  a  countless  crowd 
was  advancing  his  claims  as  a  candidate  for  the  House  of  Dele- 
gates. I  threaded  my  way  into  this  living  mass,  for  the  purpose' 
of  hearing  the  oration.  A  grey-headed  man  was  discoursing  upon 
the  necessity  of  amending  the  State  constitution,  and  defending 
the  propriety  of  calling  a  convention.  His  elocution  was  good, 
and  his  arguments  very  plausible,  especially  when  he  dwelt  upon 


1827—1829.  101 

the  very  unequal  representation  in  Virginia.  This,  however, 
happens  to  be  the  unpopular  side  of  the  question  in  our  region, 
and  the  populace,  while  they  respected  the  age  and  talents  of  the 
man,  showed  but  faint  signs  of  acquiescence.  The  candidate, 
upon  retiring  from  the  platform  on  which  he  had  stood,  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  rival,  who  is  well  known  as  his  standing  opponent. 
The  latter  kept  the  people  in  a  roar  of  laughter  by  a  kind  of  dry 
humour  which  is  peculiar  to  himself.  Although  far  inferior  to 
the  other  in  abilities  and  learning,  he  excels  him  in  all  those 
qualities  which  go  to  form  the  character  of  a  demagogue.  He 
appealed  to  the  interests  of  the  planters  and  slave  owners,  he 
turned  into  ridicule  all  the  arguments  of  the  former  speaker,  and 
seemed  to  make  his  way  to  the  hearts  of  the  people.  He  was 
succeeded  by  the  candidate  for  the  Senate,  Henry  E.  Watkins, 
of  Prince  Edward,  a  man  of  great  address  and  suavity  of  man- 
ner ;  his  speech  was  short  but  pungent  and  efficient,  and  although 
he  lost  his  electron,  he  left  a  most  favourable  impression  upon 
the  public  mind.  We  had  still  another  address  from  one  of  the 
late  delegates,  who  proposed  himself  again  as  a  candidate.  Be- 
fore commencing  his  oration,  he  announced  to  the  people,  that 
by  a  letter  from  Mr.  Randolph,  he  was  informed  that  we  should 
not  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  that  gentleman,  as  he  was  con- 
fined to  his  bed  by  severe  illness.  This  was  a  sore  disappoint- 
ment. It  was  generally  expected  that  Mr.  R.  would  have  been 
present,  and  I  had  cherished  the  hope  of  hearing  him  once  in  my 
life.  It  would  give  you  no  satisfaction  for  me  to  recount  to  you 
the  several  topics  of  party  politics  upon  which  the  several  speak- 
ers dilated.  We  proceeded  (or  rather  as  many  as  could  pro- 
ceeded) to  the  court-house,  where  the  polls  were  opened.  The 
candidates,  six  in  number,  were  ranged  upon  the  Justices'  bench, 
the  clerks  were  seated  below,  and  the  election  began,  viva  voce. 
The  throng  and  confusion  were  great,  and  the  result  was  that  Mr. 
Randolph  was  unanimously  elected  for  Congress,  Col.  Wyatt  for 
the  Senate,  and  the  two  former  members  to  the  Legislature  of 
the  State.  After  the  election  sundry  petty  squabbles  took  place 
among  the  persons  who  had  been  opposing  one  another  in  the 
contest.  Towards  night  a  scene  of  unspeakable  riot  took  place ; 
drinking  and  fighting  drove  away  all  thought  of  politics,  and 
many  a  man  was  put  to  bed  disabled  by  wounds  and  drunken- 
ness. This  part  of  Virginia  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its 
breed  of  horses.  There  is  a  scrupulous  attention  paid  to  the 
preservation  of  the  immaculate  English  blood.  Among  the 
crowd  on  this  day  were  snorting  and  rearing  fourteen  or  fifteen 
stallions,  some  of  which  were  indeed  fine  specimens  of  that  noble 
creature.     Among  the  rest,  Mr.  Randolph's  celebrated  English 


102  WHILE   PASTOR   IN    VIRGINIA. 

horse  Roanoke,  who  is  nine  years  old,  and  has  never  been 
"  backed."  That  which  principally  contributes  to  this  great  col- 
lection of  people  on  oar  court  days,  is  the  fact  that  all  public 
business,  and  all  private  contracts,  are  settled  at  this  time.  All 
notes  are  made  payable  on  these  days,  &c,  &c.  But  you  must 
be  tired  with  Charlotte  Court ;  I  am  sure  that  I  am.  I  have  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  a  reading  room  established  in  our  little  hamlet. 
"We  are  just  beginning ;  have  subscribed  for  the  American  Quar- 
terly, the  North  American,  Edinburgh,  Quarterly,  Westminster, 
Blackwood's  Magazine,  United  States  Literary  Gazette,  Christian 
Observer,  ^Yith  a  number  of  newspapers.  This  will  superinduce 
the  odours  of  literature  upon  our  desert.  If  you  will  not  come, 
1  must  proceed  to  give  you  a  topographical  description  of  this 
estate  of  Mrs.  Le  Grand's  upon  which  I  live.1  If  you  will  take 
the  trouble  of  looking  at  the  map  of  Virginia,  you  will  see  the 
village  in  which  our  court-house  stands  marked  Marysville,  and 
a  little  to  the  west  of  it  a  small  river  called  Little  Roanoke. 
Mrs.  Le  Grand's  estate  runs  from  the  court-house  southward 
about  three  miles,  and  in  breadth  is  much  less.  On  the  north  it 
reaches  to  the  village.  On  the  south  and  west  it  has  little  Roa- 
noke for  its  boundary.  On  the  west  it  is  bounded  by  an  estate 
of  Mr.  Randolph's  called  Bushy  Forest,  It  is  nearly  level 
throughout,  the  few  elevations  being  very  inconsiderable.  Most 
of  the  land  is  covered  with  thick  forests,  intersected  by  many 
roads.  The  most  fertile  portion  is  the  flat  land,  through  which 
the  stream  above  mentioned  runs.  The  central  part  is  in  the 
highest  state  of  cultivation. 

I  must  pause  to  tell  you  (what  you  certainly  could  never  find 
out  of  yourself)  that  the  birds  are  making  melody  this  day  in  a 
manner  more  exquisite  than  usual.  _  Be  it  known  to  you,  as  a 
matter  of  the  utmost  importance,  that  I  am  a  most  enthusiastic 
admirer  of  the  singing  of  birds,  and  that  I  live  in  a  region  where 
I  enjoy  this  sort  of  pleasure  in  perfection.     I  often  stop  for  half 

1  In  the  "  Life  of  Archibald  Alexander,  D.  D.,"  Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander,  re- 
lating the  first  pastoral  settlement  of  his  father,  says  :  "  His  residence  was 
in  the  county  of  Charlotte,  at  the  house  of  Major  Edmund  Read.  And  by 
a  remarkable  coincidence,  one  of  his  sons,  the  first  settled  in  the  ministry, 
dwelt  in  the  same  house  thirty  years  afterwards,  and  enjoyed  the  hospitality 
of  the  same  Christian  lady,  Paulina  Le  Grand,  formerly  Mrs.  Read.  Here, 
at  the  mansion  still  known  as  Retirement,  about  two  miles  from  the  Court 
House,  Mr.  [A.]  Alexander  resided  three  or  four  years."  (Chap,  viii.)  The 
letter  of  April  10  contained  a  diagram  of  the  dwelling  and  grounds  of 
"  Retirement."  The  coincidence  of  the  father  and  son  having  their  first 
pastorates  over  the  same  congregation,  has  been  in  a  measure  extended  to 
the  third  generation— the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander  having  been 
called  to  supply  the  same  pulpit. 


1S27— 1829.  103 

an  hour  to  listen  to  that  most  capricious,  sweet,  jovial,  fascinat- 
ing musician,  the  Mocking -bird.  Whatever  may  be  the  case 
with  the  European  mimic,  it  is  by  no  means  true  of  ours,  that 
he  has  no  originality.  I  have  never  heard  the  song  of  any  bird 
comparable  to  his,  and  I  watch  his  habits  very  closely.  He  is 
to  be  found  about  sunrise  upon  the  topmost  twig  of  the  highest 
tree,  swelling  and  throbbing  with  the  gush  of  melody,  pouring 
out  a  stream  of  song,  infinitely  varied,  of  clear,  liquid  notes, 
trilled  with  inimitable  rapidity,  and  wayward  changes.  No 
other  bird  ever  excites  my  laughter ;  but  his  imitations  are  so 
exact,  and  so  surprise  the  other  birds,  that  I  am  often  beguiled 
into  a  hearty  laugh,  in  my  solitary  walks.  And  I  have  other 
favourites.  The  beautiful  Red-bird  I  have  never  seen  elsewhere. 
It  is  of  a  light,  taper  shape,  of  the  deepest  crimson,  except  a  cir- 
cle of  black  velvet  on  each  side  of  the  face.  The  melancholy 
Whip-poor-will,  which  begins  its  monotonous  cry  at  twilight, 
though  its  note  is  not  pleasing,  has  the  power  of  making  me  lis- 
ten often  for  a  long  time.  And  even  the  Buzzard,  that  foulest 
of  fowls,  has  such  a  grace  and  majesty  in  his  sailing  among  the 
clouds,  that  I  almost  forgive  him  his  diet  and  his  stench.  If  you 
were  here  in  propria  persona,  you  would  be  ready  to  ask  what  I 
am  doing,  and  what  I  am  reading,  and  how  I  employ  myself.  I 
am  sure  I  speak  in  moderation  when  I  aver  to  you,  that  I  have 
not  enjoyed  two  days  of  uninterrupted  study  for  the  last  two 
months.  Riding,  riding,  riding — like  a  horse  in  a  ferry-boat,  an 
endless  round.  I  am  really  losing  all  habits  of  study  ;  and  you 
may  expect  to  see  me  coming  on  some  of  these  days  to  the 
Assembly,  with  my  elbows  out,  feathers  in  my  hair,  and  the 
stupid  look  of  a  chimney-sweep. 

I  have  been  looking  over  Burke's  works  again,  and  especially 
his  Reflections  on  the  French  Revolution.  Surely  he  is  the 
prince  of  English  writers.  His  description  of  Marie  Antoinette 
is  the  most  delicious  morsel  in  our  language.  And  then  the  pro- 
fundity of  his  reasoning,  the  political  sagacity  of  his  views,  the 
rich  contexture  of  his  language,  all  render  him  the  most  fascinat- 
ing and  commanding  of  writers  on  Government.  And  now  let 
me  wind  up  this  overgrown  affair,  by  telling  you  how  sincerely 
I  am  thine. 

Charlotte,  May  13,  1827. 
The  General  Assembly  I  suppose  is  now  in  session.     Mr. 
Maxwell1  is  a  member  of  it,  he  who  attracted  so  much  notice 
last  year  by  his  Bible  Society  speech.    I  hope  he  will  make  him- 
self heard  among  you.     He  is,  in  my  judgment,  the  very  best 

1  The  late  Wm.  Maxwell,  Esq. 


104  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

orator  I  know  anywhere.  I  have  never  heard  Tazewell,  with 
whom  he  maintains  a  successful  competition  at  the  bar.  Mr. 
Maxwell  is  a  man  of  wealth  and  influence,  and  he  casts  both  with 
great  effect  into  the  scale  of  Christianity.  He  is,  though  a  native 
Virginian,  the  faithful  and  fearless  champion  of  the  oppressed 
Africans.  For  a  publication  of  his  on  this  subject,  the  Norfolk 
people  menaced  him  with  an  application  of  tar  and  feathers. 
When  he  avowed  himself  the  author  of  the  paper,  which  was 
published  anonymously,  his  opposers  shrunk  away  before  a  char- 
acter so  universally  revered.  He  is  a  bachelor,  lives  in  good 
style,  has  an  elegant  library,  is  a  most  agreeable  companion,  and 
a  finished  scholar.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  him  recently 
at  Petersburg,  and  afterwards  of  accompanying  him  to  Norfolk, 
and  there  spending  a  short  time  at  his  house.  I  am  sorry  that 
you  did  not  visit  Norfolk.  The  situation  of  that  town  is  inferior 
to  that  of  none  in  America,  as  a  seaport.  The  bay  and  roads 
afford  a  roadstead  of  the  safest  and  most  beautiful  kind.  The 
town,  however,  is  in  a  low  condition.  Richmond  has  intercepted 
the  trade  in  the  staple  commodity,  the  yellow  fever  has  depop- 
ulated it,  a  recent  fire  has  left  it  in  a  state  of  dilapidation,  and 
the  loss  of  the  Colonial  trade  has  almost  completed  its  ruin. 
They  still  hope  for  better  times.  The  Dismal  Swamp  canal, 
which  is  in  progress,  will  open  to  it  all  the  rivers  which  fall  into 
Albemarle  Sound.  It  must  then  become  the  great  cotton  mar- 
ket of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  Their  navy  yard,  already 
extensive,  is  to  be  greatly  increased.  I  saw  there  two  seventy- 
fours,  a  frigate,  and  a  sloop  of  war.  A  naval  hospital  is  com- 
menced upon  a  large  scale.  It  was  with  feelings  of  reverence 
that  I  passed  the  ruins  of  old  Jamestown.  The  remnant  of  the 
old  church  tower  is  still  visible,  overgrown  with  ivy.  Large 
trees  are  growing  within  the  church  walls.  There  is  but  one 
habitable  dNvelling  at  the  place,  and  I  saw  ploughs  moving  among 
the  tombs.  This  is  certainly  the  most  venerable  spot  in  our 
country.  I  thought  of  Raleigh  and  Smith,  and  more  than  all  of 
the  generous  Pocahontas.  By  the  by,  I  have  met  with  many 
persons  who  trace  their  origin  to  this  squaw.  Much  as  I  admire 
my  own  name,  I  think  that  the  noble  James  River  should  still 
be  called  the  Powhatan.  I  have  seen  its  formation  in  the  moun- 
tains, its  impetuous  torrent  among  the  rocks  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
its  turbulent  passage  among  the  cliffs  above  Richmond,  its  broad 
majestic  flow  beyond,  and  its  sublime  expansion  between  the 
Capes,  and  at  each  successive  view  have  felt  new  admiration  at 
the  mighty  flood  which  welcomed  the  first  adventurers  of  the 
17th  century. 

I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  [Professor]  Hodge,  who 


1827—1829.  105 

is  at  the  University  of  Halle.  He  spent  the  winter  in  Paris,  and 
gives  a  most  glowing  account  of  the  literary  advantages  of  that 
city.  Sixty  or  seventy  professors  lecture  gratuitously,  and  a 
library  of  700,000  volumes  is  open  to  every  one.  At  Halle 
there  are  professors  enough  to  fill  a  pamphlet,  and  about  eleven 
hundred  students. 

Charlotte  County,  June  2,  1827. 
I  have  looked  for  no  book  with  more  avidity  of  expectation 
than  the  life  of  Napoleon,  and  I  do  not  join  in  the  lamentation 
of  those  who  regret  that  Sir  Walter  has  given  so  large  a  share 
of  his  labour  to  the  incipient  measures  of  the  Revolution.  Never 
has  such  a  spectacle  been  set  before  the  world,  as  in  the  convul- 
sive efforts  of  the  French  nation  to  put  an  end  to  tyranny. 
Never  has  there  been  exhibited  such  a  union  of  physical  and 
intellectual  greatness,  with  the  lowest  and  most  debasing  pas- 
sion. The  leaders  of  the  Revolution  fascinate  us  into  admiration 
at  their  energy  and  daring,  while  their  atrocity  fills  us  with  con- 
tempt and  abhorrence.  Danton,  Mirabeau,  Marat,  Robespierre, 
Hebert,  Clootz ;  such  were  the  comets  which  first  astonished, 
and  then  consumed  the  nation.  The  Liberty  whom  they  adored, 
would  have  her  emblem  in  a  gigantic  goddess,  whose  brow  and 
glance  are  fired  with  the  enthusiasm  of  genius,  while  the  lower 
visage  is  that  of  the  brute,  the  satyr,  the  fiend. 

State  of  Virginia,  County  op  Charlotte,  ) 
Parish  of  Cornwall,  July  3,  1827.  \ 
Alack !  when  shall  my  ears  cease  to  be  molested  with  end- 
less harangues  upon  tobacco  ?  I  declare  it  to  be  the  most  fertile 
subject  known  among  men.  The  glossary  of  the  planters  would 
compose  a  volume,  and  their  discourse  is  stark  naught  without 
an  interpreter.  What  would  you  understand  by  such  slang  as 
this  ?  "  Have  you  primed  your  crap,  Col.  Gouge  1  "  (Every 
man  is  on  the  army  list.)  "  No,  sir,  I  had  to  clod  in  May,  and 
my  'bacco  in  the  low  grounds  is  fired."  "  I  sent  my  last  crap 
to  Farmville ;  they  made  a  break,  and  said  it  was  funked,  too 
lean,  and  fired  too  much.  It  was  struck  too  soon,  and  was  in 
nice  order."  "  Well,  I've  got  through  priseing,  the  weather  was 
so  givvy,  that  the  tobacco  was  in  high  order  to  come  and  go,"  &c. 
What  have  you  been  reading  ?  A.  I  have  been  reading  the  2d 
No.  of  the  American  Quarterly,  also  Mad.  de  StaeVs  French  Rev- 
olution ;  a  work  of  great  originality  and  force,  yet  unjust  to 
Bonaparte,  idolatrous  to  Necker,  and  full  of  Anglomanie.  No 
American  can  read  without  delight  her  eulogy  of  the  good  La 
Fayette :  also  George  Buchanan's  Latin  poems,  of  which  tin? 
vol.  i. — 5* 


106  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

great  Scaliger  said  "  Buchananus  unus  est  in  tota  Europa,  onirics 
post  se  relinquens  in  Latina  poesi."  His  version  of  the  Psalms 
is  probably  the  most  elegant  that  ever  was  made  in  any  lan- 
guage. But  in  his  other  poems  the  real  character  of  his  mind 
shines  forth.  His  satire  is  at  once  bitter  and  ludicrous,  and  in 
his  attacks  upon  the  Franciscans,  I  discern  the  boldness  of  his 
countryman  and  acquaintance  John  Knox,  united  with  Virgilian 
elegance,  and  a  power  of  invective  all  his  own.  It  has  been  said 
of  the  three  Roman  satirists,  "  Horatius  ridet,  Juvenalis  verbe- 
rat,  Persius  jugulat."  Now,  Buchanan  does  all  three  in  regular 
succession  ;  he  taunts,  he  scourges,  he  annihilates.  I  had  no  idea 
of  the  enormous  and  unutterable  vices  attributed  to  the  monks, 
until  I  read  his  poems.  As  a  specimen  of  the  dialect  used  by 
the  instructor  of  James  I.  take  the  following  sentence.  A.  D. 
1570  :  "  Thair  is  a  certane  kynd  of  Beist  callit  Chamcelion,  en 
genderit  in  six  cowntreis  as  the  Sone  lies  mair  strenth  in  than  in 
this  Yle  of  Brettane,  the  quhilk  albeit  it  be  small  of  corporance, 
noghttheless  it  is  of  ane  strange  nature,"  &c.  He  was  the  friend 
and  correspondent  of  Roger  Ascham,  Tycho  Brahe,  Beza,  Gro- 
tius,  &c.  I  have  also  read  again  such  of  Cicero's  works  as  I 
own ;  greatly  longing  to  possess  them  all,  and  in  good  truth 
might  I  tell  thee  my  desire,  I  would  fain  have  all  the  Roman 
writers,  so  rich  are  they  in  goodly  matter,  and  adorned  after  so 
shining  a  manner  with  every  device  of  wit  and  similitude.  What 
is  called  the  Regent  s  ^edition  would  suit  me  very  well.  I  have 
also  read  some  of  the  works  of  Rapin,  Pascal,  De  la  Houssaye, 
in  French ;  of  Owen,  Baxter  and  Boston,  Bates  and  Cecil,  in  Eng- 
lish ;  Mastricht,  Mark,  Witsius,  in  modern  Latin,  and  Calvin, 
Dwight,  and  McDowell,  in  modern  English.  Item,  Peter's  Let- 
ters, [by  Lockhart,]  and  a  course  of  Mathematics.  Ques.  2. 
What  have  you  written  ?  1.  Letters.  2.  A  few  pieces  for  Rice's 
Magazine,1  signed  Atlanticus,  Quis,  M.  R n,  and  one  anon- 
ymous' intituled  "  The  Minister  of  Christ."  I  have  not  written 
a  single  sermon  since  I  have  been  in  Charlotte,  though  1  have 
composed  more  than  a  hundred.  Ques.  3.  Sow  do  you  spend 
your  time  ?  Here  is  my  plan  for  days  which  I  spend  at  home, 
not  always  adhered  to.  Rise  at  4 ;  shower-bath ;  dress ;  shave ; 
a  walk  or  exercise  in  the  garden ;  family  prayers  at  6 ;  break- 
fast ^  before  7 ;  read  Scriptures ;  a  lesson  in  Hebrew ;  Greek 
Testament  in  course  with  commentaries ;  Old  Testament  with 
commentaries  ;  cursory  reading  of  Greek  Testament ;  English 
Bible ;  preparation  for  sermons  ;  theology ;  German  ;  I  have 
luncheon  at   11,  dinner  at  2| ■;    after  dinner  I  expatiate,  read 

1  "  The  Virginia  Literary  and  Evangelical  Magazine,"  edited  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  John  H.  Rice,  from  1817  to  1829. 


1827—1829.  107 

every  thing,  ride,  walk,  lie  on  the  grass,  &c. ;  tea  at  7  ;  family 
worship  at  8  ;  bed  at  9. 

On  June  16th  we  had  a  visit  from  Mr.  Tucker,  Professor  of 
Moral  Philosophy,  &c,  in  the  University  of  Virginia.  He  is  a 
native  of  Bermuda,  and  has  been  on  a  visit  to  a  brother  who 
lives  at  Charlotte  Court  House.  They  have  at  the  university 
some  170  students.  Blatterman's  school  is  most  frequented. 
Poor  old  Williamsburg  has  about  15  students  ;  Hampden  Syd- 
ney about  80,  and  Washington  college  about  40.  I  take  a  lively 
interest  in  the  improvements  of  our  country,  notwithstanding 
my  being  hemmed  in  with  political  heretics. 

"  Faithful  among  the  faithless  only  found." 

Milton  (aside). 

I  take  no  trouble  to  conceal  my  sentiments,  although  I  enter 
into  no  disputes.  Although  I  hear  incessant  eulogies  of  General 
Jackson,  yet  I  am  utterly  at  a  loss  to  discover  among  the  wagon- 
loads  of  chaff  which  they  pour  forth  about  him,  one  grain  of  real 
qualification  for  the  Presidency.  The  temperature  is  canicular, 
tropical.  I  remember  not  any  suffering  from  heat  so  great  as  I 
now  experience.  The  direct  rays  of  the  sun  are  far  more  oppres- 
sive than  any  thing  I  have  felt  in  the  Middle  States,  or  even  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Accept  my  congratulations 
upon  your  entrance  into  the  practical  arena  of  litigation.  May 
you  prove  false  the  assertion  of  Burke,  who  while  he  acknowl- 
edges that  legal  science  strengthens  the  mind,  says,  "  but  it  is 
not  apt,  except  in  persons  very  happily  bom,  to  liberalize  the 
mind  exactly  in  the  same  proportion."  Or  rather,  will  I  say 
may  you  prove  that  you  are  one  thus  happily  born. 

Charlotte  Court  House,  August  25,  1827. 

I  have  only  strength  enough  to  write  a  mere  note.  My  mind 
and  body  are  racked  with  the  lingering  distresses  of  a  bilious 
fever,  shorter  (as  yet)  but  more  violent  in  its  immediate  symp- 
toms, than  that  of  last  summer.  Through  the  mercy  of  God,  I 
am  spared  again  (I  hope)  to  praise  him  more  sincerely,  and 
serve  him  more  faithfully.  Death  has  been  viewed  by  me  as  a 
precious  entrance  into  eternal  bliss.  My  dear  and  early  friend, 
I  have  only  strength  enough  to  say,  devote  your  heart,  your  life, 
your  all  to  the  blessed  Jesus. 

The  physician  thinks  me  altogether  free  from  disease,  nothing 
now  but  resuscitation  is  needed.  I  think  I  am  well,  unless  im- 
prudence bring  on  a  relapse. 

29th,  Tuesday. 

Very  much  improved.  Fever  gone,  and  only  weakness  and 
irritation  of  bowels  remaining;.     An  inundation    almost  unex- 


108  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

ampled  has  just  swept  away  half  the  river  crops  of  tobacco. 
Some  $50,000  loss  to  our  planters. 

I  shall,  Deo  volente,  write  soon  again.  You  may  say  confi- 
dently that  I  am  better.1 

Princeton,  March  19,  1828. 

The  6th  No.  of  the  Philadelphia  Monthly  [Magazine]  reached 
us  yesterday.  It  frowned  such  dullness  upon  the  title-page  that 
I  did  not  dare  to  read  it.  Me  judice,  these  general  discursive 
essays  about  science  and  literature  are  insufferable.  Why  do 
not  some  of*  you  pounce  down  upon  some  of  the  elegancies  of 
either  department,  and  afford  some  leaven  to  the  stupid  mass  ? 
But  hold,  I  am  incompetent  to  judge,  and  far  too  splenetic  to 
censure  with  candour.  Pray  inform  me  how  you  and  the  prac- 
tice agree.  Does  the  magnificence  and  awful  grandeur  of  the 
divine  science  of  law,  as  developed  and  exhibited  within  the  walls 
of  your  courts,  stupefy  you  with  amazement  ?  Or  have  you 
wrought  yourself  into  the  belief  that  a  cross-examination  is  the 
purest  occasion  of  attic  wit,  and  a  feverish  court  room  the  arena 
for  eloquence  %  Alack  !  The  world  looks  barren  to  me.  I  am 
unable  to  face  its  calculating  and  censorious  actors.  I  am  too 
inert  to  be  useful :  too  greedy  of  knowledge  to  digest  any  for 
use.  Unworthy  of  the  holy  calling  which  has  separated  me  nom- 
inally from  the  world,  I  have  too  much  of  worldly  attachment 
to  be  bold  and  decided  in  my  Master's  cause.  I  am  such  a  one 
as  needs  a  task  master  through  life  :  left  to  myself  I  am  a  mere 
butterfly,  sipping  at  every  flower.  Divine  mercy  has  again  -  and 
again  spared  me ;  and  I  still  wonder  for  what  end,  so  useless  do 
I  appear  to  myself. 

Princeton,  April  4,  1828. 

It  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  me  to  look  back  and  see  how  long 
and  uninterrupted  has  been  the  correspondence  instituted  be- 
tween us  in  boyhood ;  and  equally  delightful  to  have  a  friend 
with  whom  I  can  make  a  happy  and  welcome  exchange  of  many 
thoughts  which  burden  the  mind  when  retained,  and  which  can- 
not be  revealed  to  all  the  world.  I  count  upon  your  known  for- 
bearance when  I  undertake  another  letter  in  my  present  exile 
from  the  busy  world.  These  old  scenes  encourage  no  inquiry  : 
they  reward  it  not  when  made.  Were  I  able  to  walk  through 
our  dull  street,  I  should  see  a  few  well-known  faces  which  pre- 
dict a  total  barrenness  of  all  intelligence,  a  few  college  lads, 
newly  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  academic  strut  and  arro- 

1  After  this  apparent  recovery  a  relapse  took  place  in  the  latter  part  of 
September  ;  but  he  was  able  to  reach  Princeton  on  the  9th  October,  and  there 
he  passed  several  months  under  a  severe  continuance  of  the  same  disease. 


1827—1829.  109 

gance,  and  a  few  clamcs  whose  catechetical  and  commiserating 
visages  hold  out  no  sign  of  enjoyment  to  one,  who  for  six 
months  has  endured  the  visitation  of  "  How  do  you  feel  ?  Pain 
in  your  side  ?  Pale  !  Bloated  !  Put  out  your  tongue.  La  ! 
how  moping,"  &c,  &c.  Were  I  to  corner  myself  with  some  of 
the  old  ladies,  I  might  indeed  learn  some  of  the  antiquities,  as 
that  Gen.  Washington  had  his  hair  clubbed  at  the  battle  of 
Princeton,  &c,  &c. 

The  news  of  Princeton  is  as  follows  :  A  mineral  spring  has . 
been  discovered ;  that  is,  as  in  similar  cases,  a  hole  in  the  mud 
has  been  discovered  which  possesses  rather  more  nastiness  than 
the  common  water,  which  tastes  like  a  gunwashing,  like  a  black- 
smith's tub,  like  a  what  not.  I  have  no  fondness  for  these  ter- 
rene slops  ;  it  will  afford  many  walks,  however,  for  the  boys  and 
girls. 

I  have  read  "  Sketches  of  Persia,"  and  have  been  much 
amused,  but  Morier's  several  works  on  that  interesting  country 
are  incomparably  more  entertaining  and  instructive.  1  long  to 
read  Bishop  Heber's  books.  [Travels  in  India.]  Of  American 
literature,  I  observe  nothing  which  attracts  me.  We  certainly 
have  no  poet,  and  I  tremble  for  fear  that  W.  Irving  has  not 
made  Horace's  inquiry  as  to  his  Life  of  Columbus  "  Quid  ferre 
rccusent,  quid  valeant  humeri.''''  Dr.  Miller  is  writing  a  book 
upon  ruling  Elders,  in  opposition  I  suppose  to  Dr.  Wilson,  who 
has  been  publishing  for  several  years  on  the  same  subject  in  the 
Christian  Spectator  of  New  Haven. 

We  hear  occasionally  from  Mr.  Hodge,  who  is  at  Berlin. 
He  talks  of  the  low  state  of  religion,  and  the  abounding  preva- 
lence of  fantastic  systems  of  metaphysics.  I  long  to  visit  Eu- 
rope, but  have  no  prospect  of  ever  going  thither.  It  is  a  boyish 
wish,  which  perhaps  will  die  away  if  I  should  ever  have  a  family. 

Addison  has  just  completed  the  Koran  in  Arabic,  [he  com- 
pleted his  nineteenth  year  this  month,]  a  work  which  few  have 
attempted  in  America.  He  has  added  Spanish  and  Italian  to  his 
list  of  languages. 

I  should  relish  highly  a  visit  to  Philadelphia  :  but  my  coat  of 
rusticity  has  now  as  many  folds  as  the  shield  of  Ajax.  I  am  sur- 
prised to  find  upon  enumeration  how  few  actual  acquaintances  I 
have  m  your  city.  Still  there  is  no  place  where  I  would  rather 
live,  while  I  know  my  utter  incompetency  to  fulfil  the  duties  of 
a  city  pastor.  It  is  my  happiness  as  a  son  to  see  my  dear  par- 
ents, and  their  family  enjoying  health  and  happiness.  These  are 
favours  which  demand  new  recognitions  of  God's  holy  and  benefi- 
cent care.  May  you  also  long  enjoy  such  blessings,  with  the 
richer  satisfaction  of  pure  confidence  in  our  blessed  Redeemer. 


110  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

Princeton,  May  6,  1828. 
After  taking  so  sudden  a  departure  from  the  hospitalities  of 
Philadelphia,  it  seems  right  that  I  should  hasten  to  make  reply 
to  your  last  letter  ;  and  have  only  to  complain  that  the  mail  is 
about  to  depart,  leaving  me  but  short  space  to  frame  an  epistle. 
To-morrow  I  expect  to  go  to  New  York,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Kirk,  and  thence  probably  to  New  Haven  and  Boston.1  The 
country  is  as  lovely  as  the  sweet  and  genial  breath  of  spring  can 
make  it.  From  the  window  where  I  sit,  I  look  upon  fields  cov- 
ered with  a  rich  and  sudden  verdure,  and  upon  orchards  in  their 
fullest  bloom.  Something,  however,  has  so  chilled  my  nature, 
that  I  have  none  of  those  delightful  emotions  which  I  used  to 
experience,  when  I  carried  Thomson's  Seasons  on  my  long  walks, 
and  found  a  pastoral  scene  in  every  grove. 

Princeton,  July  18,  1828. 
In  consequence  of  delay  in  answering  your  last  letter,  I  found 
myself  cut  off  from  the  opportunity  of  doing  it  at  all,  as  1  was 
afraid  to  direct  to  Petersburg,  lest  you  should  have  left  that 
place,  and  as  you  did  not  communicate  to  me  the  intended  length 
of  your  visit.  Like  yourself  I  am  about  to  excurse,  but  in  a 
different  direction,  and  set  out  to-morrow  for  Long  Branch.  My 
situation  is  superlatively  ennuyante.  Without  a  charge,  without 
regular  labour,  or  the  stimulus  of  definite  prospects,  I  suffer 
much  from  the  increase  of  indolent  and  melancholy  musings. 
As  soon  as  summer  is  fairly  over,  I  expect  to  revisit  Virginia, 
with  the  view  of  winding  up  my  concerns  there,  and  then  look- 
ing around  me  for  some  situation  suitable  to  my  talents  and 
inclinations.  It  gives  me  pain  to  look  about  me,  and  see  how 
little  there  is  wThich  could  interest  you  in  the  repetition.  Prince- 
ton knows  few  changes,  except  changes  of  weather  and  of  ser- 
vants. Mr.  Gibson  is  building  a  house  and  a  barn ;  Mr.  Voor- 
hees,  a  store  ;  Mr.  Joline's  Cato  has  come  back  ;  we  have  got  a 
new  cow.  These  are  the  principal  articles  of  news.  In  politics 
there  is  a  slight  change  among  some  of  the  old  Federalists,  whose 
eyes  are  opened  to  see  the  treachery  of  John  Q.  A.,  and  who  are 
endeavouring  to  make  his  preference  of  the  Democrats,  and  his 
old  renunciation  of  Federalism,  a  ground  for  their  changing  sides, 
and  espousing  the  cause  of  Jackson.  This  attempt  to  revive 
ancient  feucls  is  too  late,  and  the  influence  of  such  men  as  Jos. 
Hopkinson,  &c,  will  weigh  with  the  Federalists  of  New  Jersey. 
The  cause  of  Mr.  Adams  is  sustained,  as  I  fully  believe,  by  the 
great  mass  of  enlightened  and  sober  men.     As  for  myself,  I 

1  The  trip  extended  to  Andover,  Albany,  and  the  Catskill  Mountains. 


1827—1829.  Ill 

admire  the  mean  for  that  simple  dignity  which  has  marked  all  his 
proceedings.  How  pitiful  are  the  Southern  recalcitrations  against 
the  tariff!  They  remind  one  of  the  pet  of  a  child  who  will  not 
eat  his  dinner,  because  he  is  forbidden  the  use  of  certain  articles. 
I  have  only  just  finished  Scott's  Life  of  Napoleon.  It  is  a  fine 
history,  but  evidently  a  most  hurried  production.  I  admire  the 
candour  of  Sir  Walter,  who,  as  an  Englishman  and  a  Tory,  might 
have  been  expected  to  have  great  prejudices  against  Napoleon. 
I  have  also  read  the  "  Fair  Maid  of  Perth."  The  court  scenes, 
and  the  Highland  part  of  the  story,  I  think  very  dull,  but  Henry 
Gow  and  his  neighbours  are  equal  to  any  thing  he  has  yet  writ- 
ten. Especially  after  those  pitiful  stories  in  the  first  of  the  Can- 
ongates,  we  have  reason  to  be  agreeably  disappointed.  Have 
just  finished  Pollok's  Course  of  Time.  Without  making  him 
equal  to  Milton,  as  some  of  the  English  reviewers  have  done,  I 
admire  his  work  exceedingly.  There  is  much  grandeur  of 
thought,  great  simplicity  of  language,  and  at  times  the  discovery 
of  a  satiric  vein,  which  place  the  author  in  a  high  rank  among 
contemporary  poets. 

I  have  sent  a  piece  to  Littell  for  his  projected  "  Remember 
me,"  [an  "  Annual "  :]  it  is  hard  to  say  whether  I  should  be- 
most  mortified  by  seeing  it  in  print,  or  by  having  it  rejected. 
It  is  a  sort  of  Tale  :  scene,  Athens  :  date  about  A.  D.  100-112. 

Addison  has  finished  Ariosto,  and  is  now  at  Boccacio.  He  has 
read  about  half  of  Corneille,  which  I  have  also  read.  In  Spanish, 
Addison  began  with  Don  Quixote  and  has  read  it  over  and  over. 

Princeton,  August  28,  1828. 
The  peregrinations  in  which  we  have  both  been  engaged, 
have  made  sad  infractions  upon  the  ordinary  regularity  of  our 
correspondence.  This  I  the  rather  regret,  as  you  are  at  present 
my  only  regular  correspondent.  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your 
letter  from  Utica,  and  I  should  have  answered  it,  had  I  not  sup- 
posed that  your  journey  would  have  been  more  rapid  than  it  has 
proved.  You  will  have  heard  that  I  have  visited  your  city  since 
you  last  saw  me.  My  pleasure  was  greatly  abridged  in  conse- 
quence of  your  absence,  as  I  was  without  a  Cicerone,  and  involved 
in  a  very  different  sphere  from  the  agreeable  little  circle  of 
friends  with  whom  I  commonly  hold  intercourse  in  Philadelphia. 
My  time  at  present  hangs  rather  heavily  upon  my  hands.  Being 
in  that  amphibious  state  between  actual  labour  and  total  idleness, 
without  a  settlement,  and  yet  subject  to  the  constant  demands  of 
persons  who  need  preaching,  I  feel  myself  very  much  impaired 
in  mind  and  spirits.  Surely  I  am  losing  all  that  romantic  senti- 
mentalism  which  used  to  sweeten  even  my  ordinary  walks,  and 


112  WHILE   PASTOR   IN    VIRGINIA. 

create  a  fairy  world  in  moments  of  idleness.  In  the  month  of 
October  I  expect  to  revisit  Virginia,  to  close  my  connexion  with 
an  affectionate  and  beloved  people,  and  shall,  with  leave  of  Prov- 
idence, return  about  the  first  of  the  year,  with  the  hope  of  finding 
a  resting  place  nearer  home.  I  already  feel  that  it  is  deeply 
injurious  to  a  young  man  to  be  so  long  in  forming  permanent 
connexions.  The  habits  acquired  in  this  changeable  sort  of  life 
are  peculiarly  adverse  to  mental  improvement  and  maturity  of 
character.  I  have  read  nothing  very  interesting  of  late.  Vivian 
Grey  is  an  amusing,  but  most  incoherent  and  extravagant  book. 
If  his  pictures  of  Germany  are  correct,  it  is  certainly  the  most 
crazy  country  upon  the  globe.  The  German  language  has  been 
an  object  of  my  attention,  at  intervals,  for  some  time.  I  am  still 
very  far  from  being  able  to  read  it  with  any  comfort :  yet  I  am 
encouraged  by  the  report  of  its  rich  literary  stores  to  persevere 
in  my  application  to  it.  As  to  politics,  the  Jackson  men  around 
us  are  nearly  frantic.  Meeting  upon  meeting,  wThere  the  dema- 
gogues disgorge  the  crambe  recocta  of  "  Coalition,  Tergiversa- 
tion," &c.  The  attempt  to  draw  off  the  Federalists  from  the 
Administration  has  had  some  effect :  yet  my  hopes  are  still 
strong  that  Adams  will  be  re-elected. 

A  new  society  connected  with  the  college  has  been  formed, 
called  the  Philological  Society,  to  which  Prof.  Patton  has  given 
the  use  of  his  choice  and  extensive  Library.  We  heard  to-day 
from  Mr.  Hodge — date  28th  July,  London.  He  expected  to 
sail  on  the  first  of  August,  so  that  we  expect  him  almost  daily. 
He  has  transmitted  a  large  collection  of  books  for  the  Seminary, 
principally  works  in  German  upon  Theology  and  Criticism.  The 
heat  and  the  drought  take  away  all  the  vigour  of  my  system, 
and  have  influenced  this  letter  by  their  terrifying  powers.  Ex- 
cuse my  dullness,  if  you  cannot  sympathize  with  it,  and  believe 
me,  as  heretofore — Thine. 

Princeton,  October  4,  1828. 

As  to  my  future  course  in  life,  I  am  able  to  speak  only  neg- 
atively ;  I  shall  never  seek  a  settlement  south  of  the  Potomac 
unless  driven  to  it  by  necessity.  As  to  Trenton,  the  place  has 
no  charms  for  me ;  yet  in  my  present  circumstances  I  must  do 
something,  and  the  unanimity  and  cordiality  of  the  call  to  that 
place,  in  the  absence  of  all  other  "  openings,"  cause  me  to  look 
with  some  favour  upon  the  situation.  It  would  be  no  small  sat- 
isfaction to  me  to  be  placed  within  a  few  hours'  sail  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  I  might  expect  to  be  a  more  frequent  visitor  to  your 
city.  I  am  weary  of  the  sickly  sympathy  manifested  for  that 
miscreant  Shelley.  Surely  the  just  indignation  of  the  public 
towards  a  hireling  Atheist  and  seducer,  deserves  a  better  name 


1827—1829.  113 

than  persecution.  His  unintelligible  poems  can  never  reaeem  a 
character  such  as  his.  I  am  glad  to  see  some  signs  of  an  interest 
in  German  literature,  manifested  in  the  article  [in  Philadelphia 
Magazine]  on  Schiller ;  I  should  be  still  more  pleased  to  meet 
with  some  of  his  works.  I  have  recently  read  some  of  them 
with  great  satisfaction.  The  other  members  of  the  Weimar 
quaternion  would  be  fit  subjects  for  as  many  articles,  viz. : 
Goethe,  Herder,  and  Wieland.-  The  articles  which  appear  from 
time  to  time  in  the  American  Quarterly  upon  German  litera- 
ture, certainly  manifest  a  familiarity  with  the  subject ;  but  they 
are  too  vague  and  superficial.  Instead  of  being  reviews  of  the  cel- 
ebrated works,  or  sketches  of  character,  they  are  such  loose  table 
talk  upon  the  subject  in  general,  as  might  be  taken  down  in  short 
hand  from  the  conversation  of  any  German  scholar. 

I  have  just  read  the  whole  of  Moliere's  Comedies.  Those 
which  are  in  prose  would  all  be  considered  forces  among  us. 
They  are  certainly  as  amusing  as  any  thing  I  have  ever  read. 
My  reading  at  present  is  principally  theological,  which,  though 
interesting  to  me,  does  not  afford  the  same  subjects  for  conversa- 
tion or  correspondence  as  some  lighter  studies.  I  have  been 
toiling  through  some  recent  specimens  of  German  Infidelity, 
which  Mr.  Hodge  has  brought  over,  and  am  also  reading  a  more 
evangelical  work,  Neander's  Ecclesiastical  History. 

1  suppose  Archibald  in  the  plenitude  of  his  Jacksonianism 
has  informed  you  that  Princeton  is  ornamented  with  a  Hickory 
pole,  in  the  most  conspicuous  part  of  the  village.  It  is  strange 
to  see  with  what  phrenetic  zeal  the  Hickories  are  traversing  all 
the  country.  Invasion  or  civil  war  could  scarcely  produce  a 
greater  fermentation  among  the  populace.  My  fear  is  that  New 
Jersey  will  give  her  vote  for  the  Chieftain  ;  and  indeed,  further, 
that  he  will  be  our  President.  Among  the  novelties  of  New 
Jersey  there  is  an  attempt  to  institute  a  school,  in  which  some 
hours  of  every  day  are  to  be  spent  in  agriculture,  or  other  man- 
ual labour.  This  is  somewhat  upon  the  plan  of  Fellenbergh,  and 
seems  to  be  wrell  adapted  to  the  wants  of  our  country.  The 
principal  agent  in  this  scheme  is  Mr.  Monteith,  late  Professor  of 
Languages  in  Hamilton  College.  We  have  had  a  rumour  here 
that  a  Brazilian  squadron  had  been  in  Long  Island  Sound  appa- 
rently with  hostile  intent,  and  that  the  Hudson  and  other  vessels 
were  despatched  upon  this  business ;  but  as  the  papers  contain 
nothing  on  the  subject,  it  is  probably  a  false  report.  I  have 
tried  to  respect  the  South  American  Governments,  but  in  vain. 
Their  bravery  is  a  sort  of  animal  courage,  and  their  independence 
mere  lawlessness.  Greece  seems  destined  to  be  divided  among 
the  beasts  of  prey  which  have  been  so  long  sitting  in  judgment 


114:  WHILE    PASTOR   IN    VIRGINIA. 

upon  her  fate.  But  you  are  not  likely  to  feel  great  interest  in 
my  political  speculations.  I  have  been  reading  Milton's  prose 
works  with  great  delight,  and  I  specially  recommend  to  you  his 
speech  for  unlicensed  printing,  if  you  have  never  read  it.  My 
time  passes  on  in  a  very  dull  manner.  I  have  had  to  preach 
every  Sunday,  without  stimulus  enough  to  lead  me  to  the  prep- 
aration which  is  my  duty.  1  rise  about  seven,  and  spend  most 
of  my  time  in  studying  German  ;  walk  a  little  in  the  woods,  and 
along  the  brooks,  visit  none,  and  have  no  company,  no  corre- 
spondent except  yourself.  My  health  is  generally  pretty  good, 
and  I  have  as  yet  escaped  the  bilious  attack  which  I  have  had 
some  reason  to  dread. 

Retireiueist,  Charlotte  Co.,  Ya.,  November  16,  1828. 
What  I  shall  ever  find  to  fill  this  portentous  sheet,  is  yet  to 
be  determined,  and  I  hope  you  will  judge  of  its  merits  by  meas- 
urement, and  send  me  an  equivalent.  On  my  return  to  Virginia, 
I  found  the  whole  population  in  a  ferment  upon  the  subject  of  the 
Presidential  election.  Jackson  is  carrying  it  with  a  high  hand, 
and  there  seems  little  doubt  among  the  politicians  here  as  to  his 
election.  Mr.  Randolph  attended  the  assemblage  here,  dressed 
in  a  coat  of  Virginia  homespun,  and  leather  breeches,  whipped 
his  servant  in  the  public  court-yard,  and  uttered  some  oracular 
■predictions.  It  was  the  5th  of  November,  and  he  said,  "  This  is 
the  anniversary  of  the  gunpowder  plot,  and  I  hope  we  are  doing 
that  which  will  blow  the  '  school-master  '  sky-high."  The  pecu- 
niary embarrassments  are  very  great  in  this  region, — five  fail- 
ures within  a  few  months  in  this  county.  A  rise  in  some  arti- 
cles, as  witeat  and  whisky,  promises  something  for  the  valley 
and  the  mountains.  There  is  no  longer  any  doubt  that  a  conven- 
tion will  be  called  in  Virginia,  which  will  establish  universal  suf- 
frage, and  probably  remove  the  seat  of  government  to  Staunton 
or  Charlottesville.  My  sentimental  journey  to  Virginia  might 
#  interest  you,  if  I  had  not  given  you  the  same  details  more  than 
once  before.  I  found  some  agreeable  young  ladies  on  board  the 
Norfolk  boat,  who  had  spent  some  time  in  Scotland,  and  was 
introduced  to  a  sensible  young  Englishman,  who  gave  me  much 
entertainment  and  information.  The  dirty,  gloomy,  ugly  town 
of  Petersburg  presents  the  same  appearance  as  it  did  three  years 
ago,  when  I  entered  it  for  the  first  time.  I  now  perceived  that 
I  was  in  Virginia  by  the  gangs  of  negroes,  some  with  burdens 
on  their  heads,  others  driving  wagons  of  cotton  and  tobacco, 
women  arrayed  in  men's  hats,  and  children  with  scarcely  any 
raiment  at  all.  I  preached  five  times  in  Petersburg,  and  came 
"  up  the  country,"  by  the  mail  route,  in  company  with  Mrs. 


1827—1829.  115 

Taylor  of  Petersburg,  sister  of  Judge  Marshall,  a  lady  of  genius 
and  information.  I  expect  never  to  see  so  many  persons  so 
rejoiced  to  meet  with  me,  as  appeared  at  the  little  church  last 
Sunday.  It  is  painful  indeed  to  leave  friends  so  cordial  and  sin- 
cere, but  I  believe  I  am  pursuing  the  path  of  duty.  I  enjoy  here 
a  delightful  retreat  from  the  world,  and  suitable  opportunities 
for  study,  if  I  had  such  books  as  I  desire.  For  my  solitary 
walks,  I  have  a  boundless  range,  affording  many  varieties  of 
rural  prospect,  and  I  indulge  myself  in  many  woodland  rambles. 
In  such  a  retirement,  however,  I  feel  the  need  of  some  extrinsic 
excitement  which  might  urge  to  continued  exertion :  the  total 
absence  of  this,  and  the  stagnation  of  mind  consequent  upon  this 
want,  convince  me  that  I  shall  not  lose  by  going  forward  a  few 
steps  nearer  to  the  busy  world.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  indulge  my 
writing  propensities,  as  I  shall  be  nearer  to  the  vehicles  of  thought 
and  literature,  and  may  perhaps  stumble  upon  some  department 
of  knowledge,  in  which  I  may  be  useful.  If  I  can  sufficiently  lash 
up  my  indolent  powers,  1  will  prepare  a  review  for  Walsh,  and 
if  the  Monthly  still  survives,  perhaps  communicate  some  mor- 
ceaux  to  its  columns.     If  you  have  any  pamphlets  or  papers  of 

,  any  sort,  pray  send  them  hitherward,  where  there  is  a  perfect 
destitution  of  such  provender.  Saxe  Weimar's  travels  proved 
dull  enough.  It  is  plain  that  a  man  may  be  a  duke  and  yet  have 
very  little  nobility  in  his  thoughts  :  he  is  too  much  like  Miss 
Wright, — not  a. spark  of  genius  or  life,  nor  even  amusing  Ger- 
man mysticism.  I  am  very  sure  I  could  make  more  reputable 
travels  in  Germany,  and  would  actually  do  it,  if  his  Highness  or 
anybody  else  would  pay  my  bills.  The  "  Remember  Me  "  will 
have  been  quite  obsolete  before  I  get  a  glance  at  my  famous  pro- 
duction. In  case  the  man  gives  any  quid  pro  quo,  I  shall  try 
my  luck  for  another  number.  Having  been  lately  engaged  in 
reading  a  Life  of  Erasmus,  it  has  struck  me  that  I  might  spend 
some  months  profitably  upon  the  biography  of  some  eminent 
man,  but  cannot  make  any  selection  from   the  rolls  of  fame. 

•'Melancthon,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  and  Grotius  have  danced 
oefore  my  imagination  without  leading  me  to  any  decision.  I 
have  also  projected  a  translation  of  Milton's  Latin  Correspond- 
ence, which  has  never  yet  appeared  in  an  English  dress.1  I  have 
in  readiness  for  the  Christian  Advocate  a  small  essay  upon 
"  Christian  Old  Age,"  2  The  noted  Mr.  Nettleton  spent  most  of 
the  last  summer  in  an  adjoining  county,  (Prince  Edward,)  and 

1  This  last  project  was  taken  up  by  his  correspondent,  and  the  translation 
was  published  by  Mr.  Littell,  in  April,  1829. 

2  Printed  in  the  April  number  of  1829.     In  the  August  number  he  gave 
h  "  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Cyprian." 


116  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

was  made  the  instrument  of  a  wonderful  reformation.  Multitudes 
of  irreligious  persons  have  been  brought  into  the  church,  and 
among  the  rest  some  of  the  most  respectable  professional  men 
in  this  region  of  country.  In  the  church  next  to  mine,  118  have 
professed  religion  during  the  last  few  months.  This  revival  still 
continues,  and  is  extending  itself  in  the  counties  of  Lunenburg, 
Cumberland,  and  Buckingham.  The  Theological  Seminary  at 
Hampden  Sidney  is  about  to  have  a  new  professor  [Biblical 
Literature]  in  Mr.  Goodrich,  who  was  educated  at  Princeton, 
and  who  lias  been  acting  as  teacher  for  a  year  or  two  in  Prince 
Edward.  They  have  about  120  students  in  the  University  [of 
Virginia.]  Dr.  [R.  M.]  Patterson  [of  Philadelphia]  was  re- 
ceived with  much  cordiality  [as  Professor.]  I  have  just  heard 
of  the  death  of  Noel  Robertson,  a  young  preacher  who  was  with 
me  in  the  Seminary.  He  left  North  Carolina  for  the  sake  of  his 
health,  but  has  been  cut  off  when  he  supposed  that  he  had  found 
a  salubrious  climate.  How  affecting  a  monition  to  myself!  I 
see  clearly  that  those  men  are  the  happiest  who  are  most  entirely 
devoted  to  a  religious  life,  and  who  not  only  profess  religion  as 
I  do,  but  exemplify  it  in  their  daily  conduct. 

Charlotte,  December  9,  1828. 
Since  I  wrote  I  remember  that  Butler  has  published  a  life  of 
Grotius,  and  just  now  I  am  so  taken  up  with  preaching  and  visits 
T.T.L.,  that  1  can  scarcely  find  time  to  put  pen  to  paper.  If 
spared  to  reach  Trenton,  I  may  hope  to  have  most  of  my  morn- 
ings in  my  study,  and  this  will  be  to  me  a  sort  of  Paradise. 
When  I  preach  in  the  week,  it  steals  away  a  whole  day,  and  a 
single  visit  is  sometimes  nearly  as  bad.  Most  cheerfully  will  I 
relinquish  to  you  the  Latin  Letters  of  Milton  ;  I  feel  almost  cer- 
tain that  they  have  never  been  translated,  and  you  will  find  it,  I 
think,  a  pleasant  and  a  popular  enterprise.  They  are  certainly 
difficult,  and  often  obscure  from  the  frequency  of  recondite  clas- 
sical allusions,  but  it  is  the  same  obscurity  which  pervades  all 
his  compositions.  Of  the  history  of  his  correspondents,  I  fear 
little  can  be  known.  Prom  the  various  biographical  dictionaries 
within  your  reach,  and  from  attentive  perusals  of  his  memoirs 
and  the  history  of  his  times,  something  may  be  gleaned.  I  take 
higher  ground  in  favour  of  translations  than  you  seem  willing  to 
assume.  Good  translators  are  among  the  greatest  benefactors 
of  the  age.  The  great  Mosheim  gave  the  impulse  to  German 
literature,  by  translating  the  Essayists  of  England,  and  the  im- 
mense work  of  Cudworth ;  and  if  I  live  to  learn  German,  I 
intend  to  set  about  the  business  in  good  sober  earnest.  We 
may  translate  works  truly  great,  useful,  and  popular ;  we  can 


1827—1829.  117 

write  originally  little  above  mediocrity.  Wieland  and  Schlegel 
have  both  translated  Shakspeare ;  Bishop  Marsh  has  translated 
Michaelis,  and  a  great  work  of  Eichhorn  remains  unknown  to 
most  of  us  because  no  one  has  been  bold  enough  to  turn  it  into 
English.  I  had  just  been  reading  [Rev.  John]  Newton  when 
your  letter  came,  and  was  pleased  to  find  your  opinion  coinci- 
dent with  my  own.  The  constant  correspondent  of  Cowper  could 
not  be  an  ordinary  man.  His  letters,  though  numerous,  I  think 
his  best  productions.  If  you  wish  to  be  delighted,  get  Hayley's 
Edition  of  all  Cowper's  Letters  in  five  or  six  8vo  vols.  :  probably 
in  your  library.  I  have  been  reading  the  original  Letters  of 
Abelard  and  Heloise,  which  have  set  the  characters  of  these 
great  and  unfortunate  people  in  a  better  light  than  Pope's  amor- 
ous and  fiery  epistles.     I  am  indeed  strongly  tempted  to  think 

that  the  poor became  a  true  penitent.     If  you  wish  to 

read  a  beautiful,  lucid,  and  unanswerable  piece  of  reasoning,  read 
Paley's  Horce  Paulinas.  In  the  October  number  of  the  Biblical 
Repertory,  you  may  see  a  translation  of  mine  from  Rosenmul- 
ler.  Mr.  Hodge  has  applied  to  me  to  review  the  life  of  Eras- 
mus, which  he  put  into  my  hands,  for  his  work,  [April,  1829.] 
This  will  prevent  my  undertaking  it  for  the  Am.  Quarterly. 
Yesterday  I  saw  a  family  of  blacks  who  were  suing  for  their  free- 
dom in  the  superior  court  of  this  county.  It  was  delightful  to 
see  the  joy  and  exultation  of  the  poor  creatures  when  they  suc- 
ceeded. They  seemed  to  think  that  nothing  now  remained  for 
them  but  to  eat,  drink,  and  do  nothing  for  the  remnant  of  their 
days.  I  have  been  reading  Miss  Hannah  More's  works.  There 
is  an  unaccountable  prejudice  against  that  good  and  useful 
woman.  I  esteem  her  to  be  the  best  of  female  writers,  and  had 
she  written  on  a  subject  more  consonant  with  popular  taste,  than 
those  she  has  chosen,  I  have  no  doubt  she  would  have  attained  as 
great  celebrity  as  Madame  de  Stael.  The  latter  is  truly  great, 
but  the  evident  straining  after  point  so  common  to  French 
writers  is  peculiarly  displeasing  in  her  works.  Mrs.  More's  best 
work  in  my  judgment  is  her  "  Hints  towards  Forming  the  Char- 
acter of  a  Young  Princess ;  "  a  book  which  convinces  me  that  she 
was  well  qualified  to  treat  that  difficult  and  interesting  science, — 
the  philosophy  and  ethics  of  history.  I  must  confess  that  she  is 
sometimes  deficient  in  vivacity,  and  always  in  brilliancy,  but  her 
thoughts  are  always  reasonable  and  profound,  and  her  aim  tow- 
ards practical  good.  The  question  Cui  bono  ?  is  one  appropriate 
to  all  our  literary  toils.  Especially  in  composition  I  think  it 
should  be  more  my  endeavour  than  it  has  heretofore  been,  to  do 
something  which  may  be  profitable.  The  thought  of  benefiting 
our  contemporaries  is  one  which  ought  to  excite  the  most  sacred 


118  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   VIRGINIA. 

ambition,  if  such  an  expression  may  be  tolerated.  "  For  what 
am  I  living  ? "  ought  indeed  to  open  our  eyes  to  those  practical 
duties  which  arise  out  of  our  social  relations.  This  is  undoubt- 
edly very  new  to  you,  and  perfectly  original.  I  venture  the 
thought  because  it  has  recently  dwelt  much  upon  my  own  mind. 
The  die  is  indeed  cast,  and  Adams  must  trudge.  I  am  deter- 
mined now  to  suspend  my  judgment,  until  I  can  see  what  meas- 
ures the  General  will  introduce.  Can  you  guess  who  will  form 
the  cabinet  %  I  have  thought  of  Van  Buren,  Benton,  Hayne,  and 
McLean.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  look  in  for  a  short  time  upon  the 
great  people  at  Washington.  Perhaps  you  may  desire  a  trip 
about  the  same  time,  and  meet  me  there.  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  much  I  admire  your  city  life.  If,  for  instance,  I  had  the 
command  of  the  "  Library  "  which  you  have,  I  should  think  it 
worth  $500  a  year.  No  subject  and  scarcely  a  book  to  which  you 
may  not  have  immediate  access.  But  my  duty  as  well  as  inter- 
est is  to  learn  contentment  with  the  exact  situation  in  which  I 
am  likely  to  be  placed.  To  be  near  you,  so  as  to  correspond 
not  by  letter  merely,  but  by  personal  interview,  will  be  a  pecu- 
liar pleasure.  I  am  young,  but  the  friends  of  my  childhood  are 
strangely  scattered.  With  the  exception  of  Kirk,  you  are  the 
only  one  that  adheres.  Our  friendship  has  been  made  more 
secure  in  my  opinion  by  its  eminent  sobriety ;  it  has  been  free 
from  romance  and  sentimentality.  I  know  that  you  would  be 
much  overpowered  if  on  meeting  you  I  should  give  you  an 
embrace,  and  tell  you  how  greatly  I  loved  you  :  yet  such  is  the 
friendship  of  many.  Some  have  thus  caressed  me,  who  do  not 
at  this  moment  care  one  straw  for  me,  or  my  interests.  I  rejoice 
in  any  thing  which  promises  your  return  to  your  Latin  classics  : 
though  you  have  probably  become  rusty,  yet  you  may  be  assured 
that  six  months  occasional  reading  will  renew  your  ability  to  read 
them  with  pleasure.  Try  the  experiment  with  Cicero's  Offices, 
and  I  ensure  you  that  you  will  find  the  task  a  delightful  one. 
What  I  have  learned  of  Latin  has  been  preserved  not  by  classical 
reading,  but  the  perusal  of  Latin  works  on  Theology.  The  clas- 
sics are  more  in  your  line  than  mine,  and  I  hope  you  will  pursue 
the  study.  Strange  as  the  idea  may  at  first  appear,  1  believe 
that  a  series  of  essays  upon  some  of  the  less  familiar  classics,  as 
Seneca,  Lucan,  Plautus,  or  Pliny,  would  be  a  work  quite  new 
and  interesting  to  the  Scavans  of  our  country.  Let  your  ink 
take  some  such  channel.  I  expect  to  leave  Charlotte  upon  the 
17th  inst.1 

1  He  preached  his  farewell  sermon  at  the  Charlotte  church,  December 
28,  from  John  xvi.  23. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

LETTERS    WHILE    PASTOR    IN    TRENTON. 

1829—1832. 

Trenton,  New  Jersey,  Greene  street,  near  ) 
Hanover  street,  January  16,  1829.1      ) 

What  chiragra  lias  disabled  that  faithful  hand  of  yours  which 
so  seldom  gives  just  cause  for  complaint  1  Now  mark  it  well — 
if  you  should  have  wrritten  to  me,  before  this  shall  have  been 
received,  you  must  consider  this  gratuitous  epistle  as  an  answer 
to  the  said  writing.  My  first  business  in  my  new  lodgings  is  to 
write  this  epistle.  I  am  peacably  inducted  into  my  very  pleasant 
little  study  facing  a  retired  street,  within  five  minutes'  walk  of 
my  church,  and  convenient  to  the  tavern,  barber's  shop,  and 
post  office.  I  have  no  shelves,  desks,  or  any  array  of  literary 
appointments  as  yet ;  and  as  to  my  ill-fated  books,  where  are 
they  ?  The  Delaware  has  broken  up  to-day  with  prodigious 
violence,  and  some  damage  to  property.  Our  little  town  is 
improving  in  manufactures.  M.  Sartori  has  brought  over  from 
Prance  a  complete  apparatus  for  calico  printing,  together  with 
experienced  artificers.  A  dam  across  the  river  is  talked  of,  and 
the  Canal  bill  is  before  the  Assembly.  Upon  next  Tuesday  an 
important  suit  in  chancery  is  to  be  called  up,  brought  by  the 
manufacturing  company  of  Paterson  against  the  Morris  Canal 
Company  ;  the  former  charging  the  latter  with  withdrawing  the 
waters  of  the  Rockaway  River  from  their  manufactories. 

In  fulfilling  my  office  as  pastor,  I  am  called  every  day  to 
visit  a  young  girl  of  seventeen  in  the  last  stage  of  consumption. 

1  Mr.  Alexander  was  elected  pastor  of  the  congregation  at  Trenton  in  the 
autumn  of  1828.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  Satur- 
day, January  10,  1829,  preparatory  to  the  Lord's  Supper  on  the  following 
day.  The  Presbytery  did  not  meet  for  his  installation  until  February  11. 
On  that  occasion  his  father  presided,  Dr.  Miller  delivered  a  discourse,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Cooley  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins, 
of  Allentown,  the  charge  to  the  congregation. 


120  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

You  know  the  flush  of  uncommon  beauty,  and  the  "brilliancy  of 
eye  which  sometimes  characterize  the  countenances  of  those  who 
are  the  victims  of  this  hopeless  disorder.  These  are  in  an  emi- 
nent manner  exemplified  in  this  interesting  creature.  She  was  a 
belle,  and  one  of  the  most  thoughtless,  and  it  was  her  sin  and 
folly  to  defer  preparation  for  death  until  the  last  hours  of  her 
life.  In  consequence  of  this  she  had  suffered  unspeakable  pangs 
of  remorse  and  apprehension,  and  my  sympathies  have  been 
awakened  by  the  appeals  of  this  lovely  yet  dying  penitent  to  me 
a  feeble  instrument,  for  some  ground  of  hope.  After  many 
struggles,  I  cannot  but  hope  that  she  has  found  secure  rest  in  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  herself  to  the  mercies  of  God  in 
Christ.  No  less  than  four  young  ladies  within  my  limits  are 
apparently  dying  with  pulmonary  complaints. 

I  have  a  notion  of  undertaking  a  history  of  New  Jersey. 
Such  a  work  is  in  great  demand,  and  I  am  at  the  very  fountain- 
head  of  information  on  the  subject.  I  can  have  free  access  to  all 
the  old  State  papers.  1  have  not  got  myself  at  all  fixed  yet,  but 
am  progressing,  (see  Webster  in  loco.)  Pray  did  you  know  that 
bridegroom  ought  to  be  spelt  bridegoom  ?  See  Webster's  Dic- 
tionary again.  If  you  ever  get  sight  of  a  Dutch  grammar  please 
to  buy  it  for  me. 

Trenton,  January  24,  1829. 
It  is  difficult  for  me  just  at  this  time  to  enjoy  as  much  leisure 
as  I  wish,  as  I  have  many  visits  to  make,  and  have  set  out  with 
the  determination  of  writing  at  least  part  of  my  discourses.  My 
father  was  here  upon  the  22d,  and  preached  a  sermon  upon  In- 
temperance. The  legislature  adjourned  to  attend,  but  not  more 
than  a  dozen  of  them  were  present,  much  as  they  needed  it.  I 
mentioned  to  you  in  my  last,  the  case  of  an  interesting  girl  who 
seemed  to  be  dying.  She  has  now  departed  with  great  increase  of 
hope  in  her  last  hours.  I  preached  a  discourse  over  her  remains. 
Such  scenes  as  these  make  me  sometimes  feel  the  vanity  of  all 
things  below,  and  the  importance  of  being  more  wholly  devoted 
to  preparation  for  eternity ;  but  alas  !  the  impression  is  too 
often  momentary.  My  church  numbers  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  communicants,  but  I  think  this  is  rather  more  than  the  num- 
ber really  attending  with  us.  The  Chief  Justice  (Ewing)  of  the 
State,  is  one  of  my  main  supporters,  and  Mr.  Southard  will  soon 
be  a  hearer.  Under  the  new  circumstances  I  feel  a  greater 
stimulus  to  what  may  be  called  the  external  or  literary  part  of 
preparation,  than  I  ever  experienced  among  my  simple  flock  in 
Virginia.  If  you  have  never  read  Dunlop's  History  of  Roman 
Literature,  make  it  your  business  to  peruse  it  immediately.     It 


1829—1832.  121 

is  at  once  learned  and  entertaining,  enthusiastic  and  profound. 
At  this  time  a  company  of  Indians  are  the  lions  of  Trenton,  on 
their  way  to  your  city.  As  you  have  probably  ventured  very 
little  into  the  palpable  obscure  of  the  German  metaphysics,  let 
me  give  you  a  single  paragraph  from  a  work  which  I  have  been 
reading  ;  it  refers  to  Fichte,  one  of  the  most  popular  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  Kant.  "  The  philosophy  of  Fichte  speaks  thus  :  I  do 
not  assume  as  a  postulate  that  I  am  immortal,  but  I  know  it 
immediately,  or  intuitively,  and  I  act  as  an  immortal  being,  as 
an  absolute  and  practical  Ich  (I),  I  am  myself  immortal ;  I  have 
eternal  life  in  myself,  and  God  is  in  me,  and  united  to  me,  while 
the  absolute  /  am  myself  and  God  as  an  absolute  self,  can  be 
nothing  else  than  the  absolute  practical  Ich,  which  is  the  object 
of  thought.  According  to  Fichte  I  am  at  every  moment  of  my 
practical  existence  God  within  ;  for  God  is  nothing  else  but  what 

I  am.  Kant  believes  that  there  is  a  God  :  Fichte  is  intuitively 
certain  of  it,  because  his  God  is  nothing  else  than  the  idea  of  his 
Ich"  What  think  you  of  this  ?  Surely  the  hospital  would  be 
the  proper  place  for  such  philosophers,  and  yet  all  Germany  is 
enamoured  of  such  notions.  Since  I  commenced  this  farraginous 
letter,  my  books  have  arrived,  to  my  inexpressible  joy.  No  hus- 
band ever  greeted  his  wife  more  gladly  after  a  six  months'  ab- 
sence. My  books  are  indeed  my  treasure,  and  limited  as  their 
number  is,  they  are  dear  to  me,  as  being  the  source  of  my  greatest 
enjoyment.  My  study  is  my  Paradise ;  and  when  evening  has 
closed  in  upon  me,  and  I  find  myself  seated  by  a  sparkling  fire, 
with  no  threatening  of  interruption,  and  with  a  mind  at  ease,  1 
envy  not  the  autocrat  of  all  the  Russias. 

Trenton,  February  11,  1829 
I  have  been  reading  German  until  my  head  tiijgles  with  the 
echoes  of  harsh  and  sesquipedalian  words,  yet  I  leave  the  study 
with  regret,  because  I  find  it  more  and  more  an  interesting  lanr 
guage,  opening  to  me  immense  stores  in  every  department  of 
literature.  The  history  of  human  opinion  is  one  of  the  most 
agreeable  of  all  subjects,  and  I  have  been  reading  an  excellent 
history  of  Theological  Science,  by  Professor  Staudlin  of  Gottin- 
gen.  I  have  often  given  you  a  schedule  of  my  daily  employ- 
ments ;  take  the  following  for  the  present :  it  is  my  plan,  but  I 
need  not  say  that  I  vary  more  or  less  every  day,  in  practice. 
Rise  at  7  ;  breakfast  at  8  ;  study  Original  Scriptures,  Theology, 
and  Sermons  until  dinner  at  1  ;  afternoon  spent  in  visiting ;  tea 
at  6 ;  and  then  meetings,  visits,  reading,  writing,  &o,  &c,  until 

II  or  12,  when  I  creep  into  my  cold  bed.  So  far  as  I  can  learn 
any  thing  of  my  people,  they  seem  disposed  to  treat  me  well,  and 

vol.  i. — 6 


122  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

are  very  much  such  a  flock  as  I  like  to  serve.  There  is  intelli- 
gence enough  to  afford  me  some  stimulus,  and  as  I  generally  ob- 
serve a  regular  theological  method  in  the  succession  of  my 
morning  discourses,  I  am  enabled  to  make  my  reading  in  divini- 
ty a  preparation  for  the  pulpit. 

I  am  desirous  of  investigating  "what  is  commonly  called  the 
"  Revival  of  Letters,"  especially  in  its  relations  to  the  Reforma- 
tion. You  may  render  me  great  assistance  by  referring  me  to 
books,  and  answering  occasional  queries  on  the  subject.  Be  so 
good  as  to  keep  a  quire  of  paper  for  such  notes.  For  instance, 
What  book  is  written  expressly  upon  this  subject  ?  When  did 
the  revival  of  literature  begin  to  take  place  ?  by  whose  means  1 
What  names  are  most  distinguished  in  this  great  revolution'? 
What  books  refer  to  it  1  Are  any  of  the  Latin  works  of  Petrarca 
in  your  (Philadelphia)  library  ?  any  ancient  life  of  Petrarca  1 
What  can  you  find  about  Peter  D'Ailly,  (1425,)  his  works  and 
influence,  (in  Latin  Petrus  de  Alliacus  1)  John  Gerson,  Nic.  v. 
Clemange.  Laurentius  Valla.  Marsilius  Ficinus.  Ludovicus 
Vives.  Any  facts,  or  references,  or  books,  will  be  gratefully 
received.  I  am  in  no  great  hurry,  and  as  you  read  you  may  find 
some  important  items.  In  Noah's  "  Enquirer  "  of  the  18th  inst.,  I 
see  a  notice  of  the  Anniversary  of  Tom  Paine's  birth-day,  on  the 
29th  ult.,  by  the  Society  of  Free  Inquirers.  It  is  a  horrible 
outrage  upon  the  moral  and  religious  public.  It  would  seem, 
however,  to  be  punishment  enough  to  be  pilloried  as  they  are  by 
name,  in  their  own  account  of  their  orgies.  The  Canal  bill  in 
this  State,  I  apprehend,  will  either  fail,  or  be  encumbered  with 
conditions  never  to  be  fulfilled.  Our  lower  House  of  Legislature 
have  just  adopted  a  new  school-system,  similar  in  its  leading  fea- 
tures to  that  of  New  York.  So  far  as  attendance  upon  public 
worship,  &c,  js  concerned,  I  am  encouraged  more  and  more  every 
week ;  and  am  peculiarly  comfortable  and  happy  in  my  private 
circumstances. 

If  there  is  such  an  old-fashioned  thing  in  any  of  your  stores 
as  an  hour-glass,  or  a  half-hour  glass,  (I  prefer  the  latter,)  oblige 
me  by  buying  it  for  me,  as  I  have  a  penchant  for  such  a  piece  of 
furniture.  I  am  just  reading  Irving's  Columbus  for  the  first 
time,  with  much  pleasure.  I  esteem  it  the  first  of  .American 
classics,  and  can  never  be  affected  enough  to  join  in  the  clamour 
against  his  crystal  flow  of  purest  English.  The  moral  solemnity 
of  Columbus's  character,  never  before  struck  me ;  his  persever- 
ance, his  noble  confidence  in  truth,  his  stubborn  resistance  of 
every  opposition.  Our  unfortunate  Bombastes,  Joel  Barlow, 
showed  some  judgment  in  the  choice  of  a  subject,  but  he  puffed 
it  up  like  a  bladder,  and  painted  it  like  a  butterfly,  and  even 


1829—1832.  123 

American  vanity  could  not  keep  up  the  bubble.  I  cannot  ex- 
press to  you  how  much  I  loathe  French  poetry.  Amazing  !  that 
a  nation  of  taste  should  persevere  in  writing  epics  to  the  tune  of — 

"  'Tis  the  voice  of  the  sluggard,  I  heard  him  complain 

You  have  waked  me  too  soon,  I  must  slumber  again." 
E.  g.  "  Quel  besoin  si  pressant  avez-vous  de  rimer  ? 

Et  qui  diantre  vous  pousse  a  vous  faire  imprimer  ?  " 

John  Wesley  says,  in  one  of  his  journals,  that  you  might  as 
well  undertake  to  play  an  oration  upon  the  jews-harp,  as  to  write 
a  heroic  poem  in  French.  Have  you  access  to  the  following 
works  ?  viz.  :  "  Joh.  Hen.  Maii  Vita  Reuchlini."  Humphry 
Hody's  "  De  Crrecis  illustribus  literarum  Grgeearum  in  Italia  in- 
stauratoribus."  "  Museum  Helveticum,"  (vol.  iv.,p.  163 ;)  also 
any  good  history  of  the  invention  of  printing,  and  its  effects  % 
You  see  my  eye  is  fixed  upon  my  great  work,  [see  p.  122.]  It 
shall  not  exceed  three  4tos,  wire-wove,  hot-pressed  paper,  russia 
gilt.  J.  Murray,  Albemarle  st.,  price  six  guineas  to  subscribers, 
dedicated  to  the  hon.  John  Hall,  sen.,  Chief  Justice  of  the  United 
States. 

Trenton,  March  2,  1829. 
Mr.  Walsh1  seems  much  delighted  to  find  a  divine  so  truly 
wedded  to  his  own  system  of  Christian  benevolence  as  Dr.  On- 
derdonk  shows  himself  to  be.  I  cannot  but  consider  the  address 
of  the  Rt.  Rev.  gentleman  one  of  the  weakest  defences  even  of 
that  groundless  scheme.  Will  he  pretend  to  say  that  our  coun- 
try is  not  as  well  supplied  with  the  means  of  grace  as  Palestine 
was  when  Paul  went  to  the  Gentiles  ?  We  have  begun  at  Jeru- 
salem, we  still  maintain  our  great  force  at  home.  The  mission- 
aries to  the  heathen  are  not  one  in  a  thousand  of  the  teachers  of 
religion.  At  what  point  shall  we  begin  to  send  the  truth  abroad  1 
when  all  at  home  are  truly  converted  ?  Upon  this  principle  the 
heathen  will  never  be  brought  to  God  without  a  miracle.  It  is 
not  true  that  we  rob  the  cause  of  home  missions  by  maintaining 
foreign  missions  ;  nor  are  the  supporters  of  the  latter  indifferent 
to  the  former,  for  generally  speaking,  the  money  for  sustaining 
both  comes  out  of  the  same  pockets.  As  to  that  truly  Walshian 
sentence  about  "  the  proclivity  of  our  country  to  the  centrifugal 
and  romantic,"  it  is  a  proclivity  which  finds  its  precedent  in  the 
Christianity  of  the  apostles.  The  school  system  lately  adopted 
by  our  legislature,  promises  more  for  the  good  of  New  Jersey 
than  any  thing  which  has  been  known  for  a  long  time  in  our 
State.     It  owes  its  passage  to  the  zeal  and  labour  of  a  single  man, 

1  In  his  opposition  to  foreign  missionaries,  on  the  ground  that  home 
duties  were  neglected. 


124  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

Rev.  Robert  Baird,  who  has  been  keeping  the  subject  before  the 
minds  of  the  people,  in  newspaper  essays,  for  some  months.  If 
we  aspire  to  usefulness,  I  know  no  way  in  which  we  can  promise 
ourselves  so  much  real  success,  though  without  noise  or  eclat. 
I  have  been  advised  to  write  a  Commentary  for  the  use  of  Sab- 
bath school  teachers,  and  I  have  the  subject  under  consideration. 
It  must  soon  be  decided,  or  I  shall  be  anticipated  by  some  more 
rapid  genius.  I  lecture  to  the  teachers  every  Thursday  evening, 
and  bestow  more  preparatory  labour  upon  this,  than  upon  any 
of  my  services  ;  it  is  by  far  the  most  delightful  of  my  employ- 
ments. 

The  Delaware  is  closed  with  ice,  and  the  weather  still  savours 
more  of  winter  than  of  spring.  The  suffering  poor  among  us 
have  excited  some  commiseration,  and  subscriptions  are  now  in 
circulation  for  their  relief.  I  have  been  reading  Hare's  Chemis- 
try, and  am  greatly  attracted  by  his  wonderful  mechanical  inge- 
nuity. Since  leaving  college,  this  is  the  only  book  which  I 
have  read  upon  the  subject.  Surely  it  would  be  profitable  for  us 
to  review  those  studies,  which  we  profess  to  think  so  important 
in  the  education  of  others. 

Trenton,  March  26,  1829. 
I  have  abandoned  my  literary  projects,  and  have  determined 
to  set  about  a  brief  commentary  upon  the  historical  parts  of  the 
New  Testament  for  the  use  of  Sunday  school  teachers.  The  im- 
portance of  such  a  work  must  be  at  once  obvious.  It  need  not 
be  mentioned.  If  no  one  anticipates  me  I  hope  to  be  thus  in 
some  degree  useful.  I  write  in  a  straggling  and  tremulous  man- 
ner, for  I  had  a  chill  last  night,  and  after  sitting  up  until  one,  at 
your  review,1  and  eating  no  breakfast,  I  am  totally  unfit  to  put 
pen  to  paper.  I  have  read  the  documents  upon  the  Panama  mis- 
sion so  far  as  they  have  been  published,  and  cannot  perceive  that 
they  add  much  to  Mr.  Adams's  reputation  for  wisdom.  They 
set  that  scheme  more  in  the  light  of  a  chimera  than  any  thing 
I  have  before  seen.  From  the  review  of  Irving's  new  work, 
["  Conquest  of  Granada,"]  I  am  not  disposed  to  expect  much 
from  it.  Mere  battles  are  interesting  to  me  only  in  real  history, 
and  not  often  there.  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  reading  which  has 
been  rendered  necessary  by  your  late  undertaking,  has  impressed 
upon  your  mind  the  truth  that  biography  is  one  of  the  most 
fascinating  studies,  and  that  the  lives  of  the  most  eminent  men 
have  generally  been  written  in  a  very  slovenly  manner.  Let  me 
recommend  to  you  to  set  about  the  life  of  some  eminent  literary 

1  Of  the  translation  of  Milton's  letters  for  the  American  Quarterly  Re- 
view, June,  1829. 


1829—1832.  125 

character.  You  may  be  sure  of  readers,  if  you  make  a  proper 
selection.  Amidst  all  the  changes  of  public  taste,  biographies 
have  been  popular  in  every  age.  The  life  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
is  so  nearly  connected  with  our  own  country's  history,  that  it 
might  be  made  a  very  attractive  work.  Gibbon  once  undertook 
the  job,  if  I  remember  right. 

Trenton,  April  4,  1829. 
Those  same  letters  of  Milton  are,  in  my  opinion,  as  frothy  a 
set  of  articles  as  I  ever  read.  Suppose  we  publish  our  familiar 
letters  ;  I  am  sure  that  the  correspondence  will  be  much  more  en- 
tertaining. I  am  truly  ashamed  of  the  stuff  I  have  written  as  a 
Review,  but  do  not  see  how  I  can  amend  it ;  it  is  quite  short, 
and  has  little  reference  to  the  work,  which  indeed  scarcely  admits 
of  extracts.  I  spent  last  evening  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Belleville, 
a  French  physician,  who  has  been  fifty  years  in  this  country. 
He  is  a  devoted  follower  of  Voltaire,  but  otherwise  a  venerable 
and  estimable  man.  He  is  intimate  with  Survilliers,  and  sup- 
poses that  he  will  publish  an  extended  narrative  of  the  events  of 
the  revolution  and  empire,  in  which  he  took  any  part.  He  rep- 
resents the  ex-king  as  a  truly  amiable  man,  of  a  literary  turn, 
spending  much  of  his  time  in  his  splendid  library  of  French  and 
Italian  works.  The  Doctor  showed  me  two  very  exquisite  French 
prints  of  Joseph's  daughters,  presented  by  themselves.  I  have 
just  been  to  a  meeting  held  by  Mr.  Case,  a  Methodist  missionary 
from  Upper  Canada,  with  some  Indian  converts.  Mr.  C.  is  a 
man  without  pretension,  but  is  an  honest-hearted  and  pious  mis- 
sionary, and  I  was  sincerely  gratified.  Judge  [Bushrod]  Wash- 
ington and  his  lady  are  here.  There  has  been  nothing  very  in- 
teresting in  the  Circuit  Court. 

Trenton,  April  8,  1829. 
I  have  been  reading  John  Adams's  Defence  of  the  American 
Constitution,  and  have  found  it  a  very  interesting  work.  I  am 
especially  pleased  with  his  abstract  of  the  history  of  the  Italian 
republic,  which  I  have  never  found  so  clearly  given  in  any  other 
book.  It  has  almost  set  me  upon  studying  Italian,  and  reading 
Machiavel,  Guicciardini,  Malavolti,  &c,  in  the  original.  A  gen- 
eral survey  of  all  history,  with  reference  to  the  principles  of  our 
constitution,  would  be  a  great  and  useful  work.  It  seems  to  me 
that  our  Colleges  ought  to  have  lectures  upon  that  very  subject. 
The  simple  principles  assumed  as  fundamental  by  Adams,  have 
really  cast  a  new  light  upon  all  the  history  I  have  read.  The 
annals  of  all  nations  seem  to  be  a  commentary  upon  the  doctrine 
that  the  three  primary  forms  of  government  must  be  so  tempered 


126  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

and  balanced  in  every  government,  as  to  check  the  extravagance 
of  each.  My  translation  from  Rosenmuller,  and  Review  of 
Scholz,  have  appeared  in  the  Biblical  Repertory. 

Trenton,  May  4,  1829. 

I  entertain  lively  anticipations  with  regard  to  the  results  of 
your  introduction  to  the  modern  Johnson,  [Mr.  Walsh.]  There 
are  few  men  in  our  country  whose  acquaintance  would  be  a 
greater  prize.  May  you  have  many  profitable  and  pleasant  hours 
in  his  conversazioni.  I  hope  that  you  will  come  forth  from  the 
den  of  lions,  unscathed  as  Daniel.  I  have  some  curiosity  to 
know  how  many  letters  I  have  written  to  you.1  I  have  the  most 
of  yours,  but  among  my  various  peregrinations  some  of  them 
have  been  lost.  I  am  unable  to  accept  your  invitation  to  dinner 
on  the  5th,  yet  I  will  drink  to  the  continuance  of  our  correspond- 
ence in  water,  the  only  beverage  to  which  I  have  access.  Judge 
Gould's  letter  is  in  my  view  one  of  the  most  just  and  most  severe 
castigations  that  Mr.  Adams  has  received.  Not  that  I  love  J. 
Q.  A.  less,  but  that  I  love  Federalism  more.  I  have  been  read- 
ing Terence  lately  with  much  pleasure.  He  is  the  only  Latin 
poet  in  whose  writings  I  have  ever  found  simple  pathos.  I  might 
except  some  of  Virgil's  sad  descriptions,  but  in  the  case  of  Virgil, 
the  pomp  of  the  verse,  and  the  artificial  epithets,  detract  from 
the  effect.  In  the  Andria  and  Hecyra  of  Terence,  there  are  some 
of  the  most  charming  touches  of  deep  feeling.  Erasmus  knew 
Terence  and  Horace  by  heart.  Who  ever  could  say  as  much  for 
Milton  or  Pope  1  I  have  seen  a  man  who  could  repeat  four 
books  of  Paradise  Lost. 

I  am  fully  persuaded  that  there  is  no  department  in  which  a 
man  may  be  so  sure  of  arriving  at  eminence  as  in  the  modern 
languages.  All  my  study  of  this  kind  has  been  for  amusement, 
and  yet  I  am  surprised  at  my  own  progress,  and  convinced  that 
one  who  would  devote  himself  to  the  subject,  might  in  five  years 
have  the  choice  of  authors  in  German,  French,  Spanish,  Italian, 
Dutch,  and  Portuguese.  A  scholar  in  modern  languages  may 
take  what  department  he  chooses,  read  always  what  is  entertain- 
ing, and  yet  have  the  reputation  of  a  great  linguist  or  critic. 

If  I  had  the  access  which  you  have  to  libraries  of  French  and 
Italian  works,  I  should  make  these  languages  a  main  object ;  but 
where  one  must  buy  every  book,  at  an  exorbitant  price,  the 
private  student  labours  under  great  disadvantages.  Will  you 
oblige  me  by  purchasing  "  A  selection  from  Italian  prose-writers, 
with  translations  according  to  the  Hamiltonian  system  "  ?     My 

1  This  was  tbe  ninety-ninth. 


1829—1832.  127 

reasons  for  wishing  this  is,  that  my  greatest  difficulty  in  lan- 
guages arises  from  the  particles,  and  little  words,  especially  aux- 
iliary verbs,  and  oblique  cases  of  pronouns,  as  well  as  adverbs 
and  conjunctions  which  have  various  meanings.  These 
may  all  be  learned  in  a  week's  time  from  a  living  teacher, 
or  a  very  literal  translation.  I  find  no  books  so  well  adapted 
to  take  away  the  darkness  of  a  new  language  as  travels  and 
biography.  I  wish  to  get  Goldoni's  life  by  himself,  if  it  can  be 
procured  separately.  Is  the  life  of  Boccacio  at  a  moderate 
price  1  Quere.  How  should  we  exist  if  so  separated  as  to  have 
our  correspondence  by  letter  broken  up  1  After  ten  years'  use 
it  has  become  with  me  almost  a  necessary  of  life.  I  have  just 
read  Carter's  travels,  [in  Europe,]  and  like  it  well,  with  two  ex- 
ceptions. 1.  He  is  forever  foisting  in  the  classics,  reading  Catul- 
lus on  the  grass  ;  Horace  in  the  diligence ;  Virgil  passim  :  while 
he  betrays  wonderful  ignorance  in  some  simple  points  of  anti- 
quity, does  not  know  what  a  Hermes  is,  which  Kennet  might  have 
taught  him,  and  denies  the  well-known  tradition  of  Luke's  having 
been  a  painter.  2.  He  compares  every  thing  with  New  York, 
and  makes  out  the  latter  to  be  the  greatest  city  in  the  world. 

Trenton,  May  11,  1829. 

With  this,  my  hundredth  letter,  accept  my  warmest  congratu- 
lations and  wishes  for  the  continuance  of  our  correspondence. 
A  catalogue  of  our  many  topics  would  be  quite  extensive.  I  am 
often  amused  when  I  call  to  mind  the  freaks  of  fancy  which 
used  to  enliven  our  early  letters.  By  the  bye,  did  I  ever  tell  you 
that  I  remember  having  seen  your  first  attempt  at  epistolary 
writing  ?  It  was  a  letter  to  your  aunt,  now  deceased,  who  re- 
ceived it  while  she  was  on  a  visit  to  my  mother. 

When  I  have  another  inspiration  I  will  patch  up  something 
for  the  [National]  Gazette.  I  will  translate  some  classical  ex- 
cerpts, to  be  incorporated  among  his  own,  if  he  will  accept  them  ; 
likewise  a  brief  memoir  of  the  celebrated  Buchanan.  In  your 
library  hours,  look  me  out  a  few  hints,  particularly  opinions  of 
scholars  as  to  his  latinity  and  poetry.  I  have  Johnson's  works, 
but  cannot  turn  to  the  compliment  which  I  remember  he  pays  to 
Buchanan.  Mayhap  it  is  in  Bozzy.  Have  you  seen  any  book 
upon  Italian  literature,  which  takes  the  same  view  of  it  which 
Dunlop  does  of  Roman  1  Prof.  Ticknor,  of  Harvard,  has  fur- 
nished the  Spanish  student  with  a  useful  manual  of  this  kind.  I 
have  been  reading  over  the  last  twelve  books  of  the  Iliad,  Ter- 
ence's Eunuchus,  and  have  got  half  through  Plautus.  Spring  has 
some  hard  struggles  with  the  winter,  which  seems  disposed  to 
adhere  to  the  throne,  being  made  arrogant,  I  suppose,  by  so  long 


128  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

a  reign.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  verdure  about  Trenton  ;  yet  I 
sigh  for  the  open  country,  and  remember  with  regret  the  tracts 
over  which  I  could  expatiate  in  Virginia,  the  forests,  the  streams, 

"  The  mossed  oaks 
"Which  have  outlived  the  eagle." 

Yet  I  should  be  loth  to  have  you  suppose  that  I  am  discon- 
tented. In  no  place  I  think,  except  Princeton,  could  I  be  more 
at  ease.  There  is  no  sort  of  liberty  more  precious  in  my  eyes 
than  the  liberty  of  visiting  only  when  and  where  you  please. 
Nov/  this  is  what  a  Pastor  cannot  enjoy.  He  must  visit  all  his 
people  ;  and  if  he  does  this  faithfully,  he  is  cut  off  from  almost 
every  other  out  of  door's  work.  In  Princeton  I  scarcely  ever  went 
anywhere  oftener  than  necessity  drove  me.  You  may  conceive 
how  little  qualified  I  am  for  indiscriminate  visits.  I  am  averse 
to  making  newr  acquaintances,  and  fond  of  sitting  at  home,  while 
I  have  an  exquisite  relish  for  the  society  of  one  or  two  whose 
pursuits  are  congenial,  and  with  whom  I  can  live  without  any 
mask  of  ceremony  or  dignity. 

Mr.  Southard  is  very  much  broken ;  stoops  like  a  man  of 
seventy,  and  seems  melancholy.  If  he  recovers,  he  will  proba- 
bly be  our  next  Governor.  My  old  room-mate  Waterbury  has 
removed  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Kirk  has  abundant  encourage- 
ment at  Albany  ;  great  increase  of  numbers  in  his  church. 

Trenton,  May  15,  1829. 

Dull — headache  last-night — exceedingly  Mondayish.  Read 
Schiller's  Don  Carlos  on  Saturday,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  pro- 
nounce it  the  finest  tragedy  I  ever  perused.  Am  reading  Wal- 
lenstein,  which  is  considered  his  chef-d'oeuvre.  Also  the  De- 
camerone  of  Boccacio.  The  Biblical  Repertory  is  likely  to  be- 
come a  more  important  work  ;  a  number  of  clergymen  have 
determined  to  establish  it  as  a  theological  review. 

Lafayette's  hogshead  of  dirt1  is,  I  think,  unworthy  of  the 
good  sense  he  has  always  manifested ;  it  is  in  genuine  French 
taste,  however.  As  a  testimony  of  his  affection  for  America,  we 
cannot  but  receive  it  respectfully.  He  might  have  requested  to 
be  interred  at  Mount  Vernon,  which  would  have  been  more  truly 
honourable. 

May  26. 
Rain,  rain,  rain.     I  had  intended  to  rise  very  early  and  take 
a  walk  upon  the  banks  of  our  delightful  river,  but  am  weather 

1  He  sent  for  a  quantity  of  the  soil  of  the  United  States  for  his  private 
cemetery. 


1829—1832.  129 

bound.  Leigh  Hunt's  book  is  exceedingly  amusing.  I  have  half 
a  notion  to  write  my  own  life.  Coleridge's  Biographia  Literaria 
is  a  book  that  will  amply  remunerate  you  for  any  hours  you  may 
spend  over  it.  I  do  not  know  whether  I  mentioned  to  you  that 
Attorney-General  Berrien  will  deliver  the  annual  oration  before 
the  Societies  at  Princeton.  You  will  inform  me  of  what  is  to  be 
seen  in  the  Academy  of  Arts,  and  as  soon  as  possible  any  very  in- 
teresting business  before  the  [General]  Assembly.  I  have  finished 
"  Wallenstein,"  which  is  in  three  parts  ;  it  is  a  drama  of  intense 
interest.  Schiller  approaches  in  style  to  the  highest  flights  of  Shak- 
speare,  and  produces  much  of  the  same  deep  and  personal  interest 
in  the  fortunes  of  his  heroes,  that  is  experienced  in  reading  Scott's 
most  commanding  works.  I  have  tried  to  admire  Corneille,  but 
I  need  no  force  to  fill  me  with  wonder  at  the  powers  of  the  great 
German  poet.  Mr.  [Rev.  I.  V.]  Brown's  High  School  [at  Law- 
renceville]  has  opened  with  thirty-six  scholars,  his  buildings  are 
in  rapid  progress.  His  "  Trench  gentleman "  is  Mr.  Louis 
Hargous,  the  best  Frenchman  I  have  ever  seen,  and  one  who  is  a 
most  accurate  and  well-read  English  scholar ;  his  "  Native  of 
Germany,"  is  C.  J.  Haldemann,  a  lawyer  and  P.  D.  of  Heidel- 
berg, a  pupil  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Paulus.  His  principal  teach- 
ers are  Rev.  L.  Leake,  of  N.  J.,  and  his  son  George  Brown.  It 
will  be  a  good  school. 

Trenton,  June  27,  1829. 

Presuming  that  you  will  be  able  to  redeem  time  enough  from 
your  review  of  the  "  Egarements  "  and  your  musical  refections 
to  perstringe  a  sheet  of  foolscap,  I  take  my  pen  to  inform  you 
that  I  am  not  in  good  health,  and  hoping  that  these  lines  will  find 
you  not  in  the  same.  Bile,  bile,  bile  !  thou  chief  of  mysteries  ! 
The  old  women  tell  of  the  stomach's  being  full  of  bile,  and  how  it 
gets  into  the  blood  and  eyes,  and  makes  the  face  yellow.  The 
doctors  talk  of  secretions  and  excretions,  of  structural  and  func- 
tional derangement  of  the  liver.  I  shall  probably  be  forced  to 
go  to  the  springs  before  long.  If  you  are  disposed  to  go  in  com- 
pany, it  would  add  much  to  my  satisfaction ;  yet  my  jaunt 
would  probably  be  simply  to  Saratoga  and  Ballston,  without 
many  divergent  steps.  I  have  really  no  time  nor  spirit  at  pres- 
ent for  writing  for  Walsh.  This  laborious  commentary  takes  up 
as  much  time  as  an  extensive  and  critical  work  would  do ;  for 
while  the  results  are  very  simple  and  concise,  I  am  under  the 
necessity  of  collating  a  number  of  works,  and  am  forced  "  depro- 
mere  magno  acervo."  Have  you  read  Cadwallader  Colden's  let- 
ter on  Masonry  %  It  is  the  most  conclusive  argument  which  I 
have  seen  on  the  subject,  and  the  more  weighty  as  coming  from 
a  mason  of  high  standing. 
vol.  i. — 6* 


130  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

I  visited  Mr.  Brown's  school,  and  am  much  pleased  with  his 
arrangements,  while  I  cannot  but  think  there  is  something  vision- 
ary in  the  new-fangled  gymnastics.  Boys,  if  kept  at  it  as  a  part 
of  their  work,  will  soon  be  glad  to  exchange  climbing  a  mast, 
and  vaulting  over  a  wooden  horse,  for  climbing  cherry-trees  and 
playing  at  ball.  The  suffrage  of  all  ages  is  in  favour  of  some  of 
our  traditionary  games,  and  if  1  mistake  not,  even  in  Greece  and 
Rome,  to  the  example  of  which  we  constantly  defer,  children 
were  left  to  the  freedom  of  their  own  will,  with  regard  to  their 
sports.  Military  exercises,  if  they  could  be  introduced  without 
the  military  spirit,  would  be  a  happy  improvement  in  physical 
education,  and  riding,  fencing,  (to  which  you  will  add  dancing,) 
and  the  ordinary  athletics,  have  stood  the  test  of  centuries.  The 
most  important  change  in  the  new  German  system  is  the  increase 
of  teachers,  as  connected  with  separate  rooms  for  the  various 
classes.  This  ought  to  ensure  competent  instruction  in  every 
branch,  and  give  a  variety  to  the  daily  course  which  is  highly 
desirable.  The  modern  languages  I  hope  to  see  taught  in  every 
respectable  academy,  to  which  I  would  certainly  add  facilities 
for  music  and  drawing.  This  discourse  is  doubtless  edifying, 
and  is  occasioned  partly  by  my  desire  to  fill  the  sheet,  and  partly 
by  the  interest  which  I  happen  to  be  taking  at  this  time  in  the 
subject.  [Pause — during  which  I  have  lectured  upon  John  v. 
17-30.]  There  is  in  Schiller  a  memoir  of  the  Marechal  de  Vielle- 
ville,  who  made  a  great  figure  in  France  during  the  reigns  of 
Francis  I.  and  Henry  II.  It  is  one  of  the  most  stirring  pieces 
of  old  chivalric  history  which  I  have  ever  read.  In  a  different 
line  it  excites  the  same  sort  of  interest  with  the  life  of  Cellini, 
and  is  quite  a  romance  in  itself.  If  there  were  any  way  of  pub- 
lishing it,  I  would  translate  it ;  but  it  is  too  long  for  a  magazine, 
and  too  short  to  be  put  by  itself.  It  is  147  pp.  very  small 
duodecimo. 

Trenton,  Juhj  6,  1829. 
I  preached  a  4th  of  July  sermon  yesterday  from  Dent.  viii. 
10-20  ;  read  the  passage.  The  2d  company  of  State  Fencibles 
[of  Philadelphia]  was  present;  they  came  up  to  celebrate  the 
4th,  which  they  did  by  trudging  about  in  the  mire,  and  ducking 
themselves  thoroughly.  I  went  directly  on  to  Princeton  on  Tues- 
day, and  there  remained  until  Friday.  My  health  is  quite  com- 
fortable, and  I  still  hope  to  get  through  the  summer  without  any 
serious  attack  of  my  annual  complaint.  Cold  work  at  Saratoga, 
I  guess.  It  would  be  delightful  now  to  make  an  excursion  to 
Quebec.  I  am  half  resolved  to  undertake  it.  Our  friends  have 
a  charming  week  before  them,  without  fear  of  being  roasted  or 


1829—1832.  131 

suffocated.  Wordsworth,  among  many  silly  affectations,  has  a 
number  of  splendid  passages.  He  makes  one  love  nature,  and 
directs  the  attention  to  a  thousand  neglected  objects  of  every 
day's  occurrence ;  while  there  is  a  purity  and  a  benevolence  in 
all  his  thoughts  which  are  rare  and  charming. 

My  feeling  of  good-for-nothing-ness  is  such  that  I  would  gladly 
spend  my  whole  time  for  some  weeks  in  riding  about  the  country. 
It  is  an  excuse  for  doing  nothing,  while  it  occupies  the  mind,  and 
dissipates  ennui.  William  delivered,  or  was  to  deliver,  an  ora- 
tion at  Harlingen  (a  Dutch  village  in  the  hills  north  of  Prince- 
ton) on  Saturday  last.  There  was  no  celebration  in  this  place  ; 
indeed,  this  town  is  evidently  in  its  dotage.  The  houses  totter, 
and  even  our  church-steeple  has  a  paralytic  tremour,  whenever 
the  bell  is  rung.  The  very  river  loses  its  animation  as  soon  as 
it  reaches  Trenton,  and  in  some  lanes  the  grass  contends  with 
the  pavement.  Heigh-ho  !  I  sigh  for  the  greenness  and  variety 
of  Princeton.  Perhaps  the  change  is  solely  in  myself,  age  creep- 
ing on,  animal  vigour  decaying.  Some  gray  hairs  variegate  my 
head,  and  I  have  a  monitory  decay  of  the  teeth,  and  trembling  of 
the  hand.  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  you  have  no  business  to  be 
remaining  in  Philadelphia  during  the  summer.  You  ought  to 
strike  out  some  untrodden  path,  where  no  tourists  have  ever 
roamed.  Make  a  classical  tour  through  Maryland.  Go  to  the 
west  end  of  Lake  Erie.  Spend  a  week  at  Cape  Henlopen.  Take 
ship  with  me  for  Newfoundland.  Niagara  is  as  common  as  a 
Navarino  hat,  and  Saratoga  is  no  better  than  a  beer-stall.  I  have 
a  great  desire  to  go  to  Cuba,  not  just  at  this  season  however. 
Have  you  obtained  for  me  the  chaplaincy  at  the  Navy  Yard  % 

Mr.  Randolph  reminds  Mr.  Walsh  (29th  ult.)  of  "  the  beauti- 
ful birds  of  the  Spice  Islands,  they  must  fly  against  the  wind." 
How  aptly  might  Mr.  R.  retort  that  there  are  certain  birds  that 
always  fly  with  the  wind,  "  from  what  quarter  soever  it  may 
blow."  In  Mr.  W.'s  tirades  against  the  enlarged  charities- of 
the  day,  and  his  exclusive  plea  for  our  own  poor,  he  reminds  me 
of  an  occurrence  recorded  in  John  xii.  4, 5,  not  that  I  wrould  insin- 
uate that  the  cases  are  parallel.  It  is  the  glory  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence that  it  is  discursive,  and  makes  itself  felt  beyond  the 
little  circle  of  home.  After  all  I  acknowledge  that  there  may 
be,  and  perhaps  are,  too  many  divergent  channels  of  charity. 

A  clear  day — how  nature  seems  to  rejoice  !  The  humming 
birds  are  already  at  the  creeper  which  runs  over  my  window, 
and  I  hear  songs  on  every  side  ;  quaker  women  walk  about  "  in 
glory  and  in  joy  ;  "  horses  are  taken  to  bathe  in  the  river ;  carts 
of  hay  crowd  into  the  streets  ;  babies  paddle  about  in  the  mud- 
puddles  ;  these  are  the  rural  sights  and  sounds  which  I  now  per- 


132  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

ceive.  O  for  a  breeze  from  the  kennels  of  Water  street,  [Phila 
delphia,]  or  a  glimpse  of  lowly  Willing's  alley,  or  the  proclama- 
tion of  raspberries  ;  or  any  thing  to  make  me  think  I  was  in  the 
midst  of  a  bustling  city.  Among  the  attendant  benefits  of  war, 
it  ought  to  be  mentioned  that  it  burns  up  dismal  old  towns,  and 
makes  room  for  new  ones. 

You  will  consider  this  as  an  answer  to  the  letter  which  you 
have  written  to-day.  It  and  its  precursor  are  so  long,  that  you 
must  confess  yourself  in  debt,  though  they  contain  nothing. 

Trenton,  July  15,  1829. 
You  might  keep  up  an  interesting  series  of  translations  of  the 
notices  of  American  literature  in  the  "  Revue  Encyclopedique." 
Mr.  Walsh  would  furnish  you  the  Revue,  and,  I  suppose,  be  glad 
of  the  articles.  If  I  were  a  cit  I  should  do  it  myself.  In  the  [Ger- 
man] Conversations-lexicon,  I  am  informed  that  Joseph  Bonaparte 
occupies  the  late  seat  of  Gen.  Moreau  in  Pennsylvania,  that  the 
two  great  national  works  of  the  U.  S.  are  Marshall's  Washing- 
ton, and  Wirt's  P.  Henry.  I  have  just  read  Goethe's  Goetz  von 
Berlichingen,  with  vast  delight.  It  has  all  the  excellences  of 
Ivanhoe,  in  dramatic  form.  You  can  get  an  idea  of  the  subject 
from  Scott's  synonymous  abortion.  Goethe  was  an  idolater  of 
Byron,  though  he  justly  charged  the  latter  with  stealing  largely 
from  him.  Among  Americanisms  insert  the  following :  "  Slatted 
over"  Illustration:  At  last  Middlesex  court,  a  woman  giving 
evidence  against  her  husband,  testified  that  he  "  slatted  her  over ;  " 
this  she  repeated  many  times.  The  daughter  also  testified  that 
he  had  several  times  when  angry  "  slatted  her  over  ;  "  and  all 
the  witnesses  concurred  in  declaring  that  he  frequently  "  slatted 
her  over."  Bench  and  bar  were  non-plussed.  No  light  could  be 
thrown  on  the  mystery.  At  last  W.  C.  A.  asked  one  of  the 
grand  jury  whether  this  was  a  provincialism  of  South  Amboy. 
He  said  it  was  partially  so,  being  confined  in  its  use  to  the 
"  Devil's  half-acre,"  where  it  meant  "  push  her."  I  imagine  that 
Webster's  dictionary  will  never  be  current.  The  plan  of  citing 
names,  instead  of  passages,  is  unsatisfactory  and  unfair. 

Cape  Island,  [Cape  May,]  August  4, 1829. 
After  a  beautiful  sunrise,  we  have  now  a  heavy  storm  of 
rain,  brought  up  with  a  S.  b.  W.  wind.  This  gives  me  an  hour 
of  leisure  for  writing,  whereas  I  should  otherwise  have  been  at 
sea  about  this  time.  A  party  of  us  had  made  arrangements  to 
take  a  pilot-boat  for  Cape  Henlopen,  but  were  afraid  of  a  storm. 
We  had  between  forty  and  fifty  passengers  on  our  way  down, 
and  although  we  encountered  a  squall,  all  things  went  off  pleas- 


1829—1832.  133 

antly  enough.  On  landing  I  found  that  we  were  to  be  under 
conduct  of  the  renowned  Aaron  Skellinger,  who  figures  in  the 
various  characters  of  wagon-driver,  boat-builder,  superintendent 
of  sunday  school,  precentor  and  leader  of  fishing  parties.  Wo 
took  lodging  at  the  smallest  and  least  fashionable  house,  and  I 
have  had  no  reason  to  repent  my  choice.  The  company  is  quiet, 
the  attendance  good,  and  the  fare  even  sumptuous.  Mrs.  Ben- 
nett, our  hostess,  is  the  mother  of  Hughes  who  keeps  the  "  Big 
House."  We  have  here  Judge  Hallo  well  of  your  city.  I  have 
never  spent  so  many  pleasant  hours  at  any  place  of  summer  re- 
sort. The  beach  is  delightful,  and  the  company  very  agreeable. 
Mr.  Duncan  of  Baltimore,  Dr.  Collins  of  Washington,  Mr. 
Latimer  of  Philadelphia,  and  several  Baltimore  ladies,  are  those 
with  whom  I  chiefly  consort.  The  usual  walks  and  rides  are 
taken,  the  ordinary  quantity  of  fish,  oysters,  crabs,  terrapins, 
lobsters,  and  game  is  consumed,  and  I  take  the  surf  twice  every 
day,  viz.  :  at  4J  A.  M.,  and  6  P.  M.  Occasionally  I  have  tried 
it  at  noon.  Preached  last  Sunday  at  the  Cold  Spring  Church, 
where  a  good  portion  of  the  strangers  attended. 

A  great  majority  of  the  men  about  here  are  pilots.  Upon 
the  two  capes  they  reckon  eighty.  It  interests  me  very  much 
to  talk  with  them  about  their  adventures.  It  was  but  a  few 
minutes  ago  that  I  saw  two  of  them  pass  through  a  raging  surf 
to  reach  a  boat  which  lay  beyond  the  breakers.  The  face  of  the 
country  gives  me  an  agreeable  surprise,  as  well  as  the  people, 
who  have  that  happy  mediocrity  and  thrift  which  are  so  conspicu- 
ous in  New  England,  whence  the  settlers  of  Cape  May  migrated. 
A  number  of  very  remarkable  cures  have  been  wrought  by  the 
salt  water  this  season,  especially  in  cases  of  rheumatism.  A  gen- 
tleman from  Kentucky  who  came  here  upon  crutches,  gave  them 
to  his  landlord  at  his  departure.  This  place  is  in  my  estimation 
incomparably  above  Long  Branch,  and  I  have  scarcely  expe- 
rienced a  single  moment  of  ennui  or  disappointment  since  my 
arrival.  I  have,  however,  regretted  every  day  that  you  did  not 
accompany  us.  To-morrow,  if  the  day  is  fair,  we  propose  going 
over  to  Cape  Henlopen  and  Lewistown,  and  on  Saturday,  with 
leave  of  Providence,  I  shall  meet  you  in  the  "  gude  town." 

From  the  freshness  of  the  air,  and  the  frequency  of  sea 
breezes,  I  have  been  exempt  from  all  suffering  from  heat ;  during 
the  noon-tide,  however,  I  read  ;  have  made  out  to  finish  Goethe's 
Wilhelm  Meister,  an  untranslatable  and  fascinating  romance.  It 
reminds  me  of  the  characteristic  excellences  of  Tristram  Shandy 
and  Gil  Bias,  and  abounds  in  a  delicate  naivete  and  in  luscious 
descriptions.  I  am  now  groaning  over  the  Sorrows  of  Werter, 
an  unprincipled  book,  but  one  which  has  been  barbarously  cari- 


134:  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

catured  in  the  English  version.     I  have  also  read  a  number  of 
Luther's  Letters,  some  of  which  are  gross  to  a  degree. 

Trenton,  August  24,  1829. 
Quid  rei  ?  that  is  to  say,  What  is  the  matter  %  Are  you 
absent,  or  sick,  or  has  some  calamity  really  befallen  you  1  N. 
B.  I  have  just  read  Capt.  [Basil]  Hall's  Travels,  and  have  had 
many  hearty  laughs  over  it.  I  am  not  disposed  altogether  to 
condemn  the  work,  as  Mr.  Walsh  and  Stone  [Commercial  Ad- 
vertiser] do.  He  gives  us  rough  handling,  it  is  true,  but  then  it 
seems  to  be  the  expression  of  honest  John  Bull  ism.  If  our  eyes 
were  but  open,  we  might  learn  some  important  lessons  from  his 
strictures.  Inter  nos,  I  accede  to  many  of  his  political  doctrines, 
and  join  in  his  abomination  of  absolute  democracy.  He  certainly 
deserves  our  praise  for  his  suppression  of  all  names,  except  when 
he  speaks  in  commendation.  My  Commentary  is  done  up,  that 
is,  supplanted  by  a  work  nearly  complete,  of  the  same  kind,  by 
Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  of  Morristown. 

Trenton,  September  14,  1829. 
I  have  been  rather  dilatory  in  consequence  of  a  press  of  busi- 
ness which  has  entirely  prevented  that  quiet  state  of  mind  in 
which  one  desires  to  write  a  letter.  Our  opinions  of  Capt.  Hall 
just  crossed  one  another,  and  I  am  pleased  to  find  that  we  do  not 
'altogether  differ  about  his  merits.  If  you  abstract  all  that  he  has 
said  concerning  our  government,  what  remains  will  be  rather 
commendatory.  Addison  has  consigned  to  me  his  papers  and 
notes  upon  Sacred  Geography,  and  I  have  been  engaged  in  finish- 
ing the  book,  [for  Am.  Sunday  School  Union,]  so  that  we  shall 
have  it  between  us.  The  labour  has  been  very  irksome.  I  spent 
twelve  hours  last  week  verifying  the  texts  of  Scripture  referred 
to,  by  looking  for  all  of  them.  The  mere  geographical  part  is 
interesting,  although  it  is  discouraging  to  find  how  little  is  really 
known  of  the  site  of  many  ancient  places.  I  was  invited  to  preach 
at  the  Tenth  Church  [Philadelphia,  then  without  a  pastor]  on  the 
12th.  "  Qui  bene  latuit  bene  vixit."  Had  a  very  pleasant  inter-  / 
view  of  three  or  four  hours  with  Skinner  and  Christmas.  The 
death  of  Mr.  [Rev.  Matthias]  Bruen,  is  a  severe  stroke  to  the 
church  and  to  his  aged  father.  He  was  eminently  useful  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  public  religious  associations  of  New  York.  I  am  told 
that  his  library  is  one  of  the  most  splendid  in  America.  There  is 
a  Miss from here,  who  is  one  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent young  ladies  I  know.  Approaching  a  little  to  the  bas-bleu, 
she  has  gayety  and  wit  enough  to  throw  a  little  charm  around  the 
formidableness  of  her  learning      It  is  really  a  treat  to  be  with  her. 


1829—1832.  135 

0  si  sic  omnia  !  (viz.  feminse.)  There  is  a  peculiar  force  in  what 
Dr.  Johnson  said  of  Mrs.  Thrale,  if  I  remember  aright :  "  Thrale 
is  a  good  creature  to  sit  by  ;  she  understands  what  you  say."  I 
have  been  trying  for  some  time  to  pay  a  visit  to  your  city,  but 
have  been  sometimes  unwell,  sometimes  day  and  night  at  Geog- 
raphy, sometimes  necessarily  at  Princeton,  and  at  present  without 
a  decent  pair  of  pantaloons.  I  will  send  you  a  couple  of  pieces  by 
Addison  and  myself  for  Walsh.  [Gazette.]  We  propose  to  con- 
tinue writing  in  Co.  [under  signature  of  Didymus.]  Addison  pre- 
tends that  he  is  completing  his  review.  [J.  A.  A.  reviewed  Mo- 
hammedan History  in  the  American  Quarterly  Review,  March, 
1830,  and  the  Gulistan  of  Sacli,  and  Anthon's  Horace,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1830.] 

Pray  do  you  know  any  thing  of  Vertot's  History  of  the 
Knights  of  Malta  ?  I  have  lately  seen  it  very  highly  extolled, 
especially  in  a  piece  of  Schiller's.  Item.  Does  your  library  eon- 
tain  "  The  Travels  of  Theodore  Ducas,  by  Mills  "  1  Again,  for 
what  price  can  Mitfbrd's  History  of  Greece  be  obtained  %  N.  B. 
Gibbon's  Rome  may  be  imported  from  Germany  in  12mo,  12 
vols.,  good  paper  and  print,  for  6  Rix  dollars,  ($4.20.)  I  have 
seen  a  specimen.  Dr.  Livingston's  Life  was  taken  by  A.  Gunn, 
(as  appears  from  the  advertisement.)  I  want  the  book,  having 
a  great  veneration  for  the  character  of  the  good  old  Dr.  He 
was  to  the  Ref.  Dutch  church  what  Bishop  White  is  to  the 
Episcopal,  except  that  he  had  incomparably  more  learning  and 
eloquence.  I  shall  ever  remember  him  as  the  best  specimen  of 
the  ancient  school  of  clerical  manners. 

Trenton,  September  23,  1829. 
Mr.  Walsh  has  got  an  honourable  advantage  of  the  scurrilous 
writer  in  the  National  Journal.  That  paper  is  taking  too  much 
the  ground  which  the  Telegraph  occupied  while  it  was  in  the 
opposition.  Mr.  W.  certainly  deserves  the  credit  of  being  dig- 
nified and  courteous,  whether  right  or  wrong.  I  am  in  no  re- 
spect, however,  more  pleased  with  the  present  powers.  Read 
the  new  Post-Office  decrees,  as  an  illustration  of  the  grammatical 

rule  touching  the  use  of  "  shall  "  and  "  will."     Mr. has 

been  some  days  in  Trenton.  '  He  spent  several  hours  with  me 
last  evening.  I  should  imagine  from  his  language  that  the  New 
Haven  school  approximates  more  towards  German  liberality,  or 
rather  indifference  to  doctrine,  than  any  community  of  Theolo- 
gians out  of  Massachusetts.  He  said,  for  instance,  that  he  viewed 
the  verbal  coincidences  of  the  first  three  gospels,  as  arising  from 
the  copying  an  original  oral  gospel,  which  long  passed  from  per- 
son to  person ;  that  we  must  admit  that  the  Bible  contains  a 
Mythology,  as  well  as  a  Theology.     You  are  aware  that  the  lat- 


136  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

ter  hypothesis  is  that  by  means  of  which  the  German  Neologists 
explain  away  all  the  miracles.  I  beg  that  you  will  come  on  to 
commencement,  at  least  to  hear  Berrien's  speech.  Our  trustees 
seem  to  have  no  power  to  supply  the  two  vacancies  in  the 
faculty  of  the  college.  I  propose  that  we  apply  for  the  appoint- 
ments :  I  will  teach  language,  and  you  chemistry.  I  have  always 
thought — to  speak  seriously — that  a  situation  as  Editor  would 
suit  your  tastes  and  talents  remarkably  well.  But  how  or 
,  where  1  If  Mr.  Walsh  wanted  a  partner,  and  you  could  turn 
your  coat,  that  would  undoubtedly  be  the  place,  but  of  either  of 
these  contingencies  I  have  no  expectation.  A  weekly  journal, 
purely  literary  and  scientific,  ought  to  find  patronage  in  your 
city  ;  something  which  should  have  the  excellences  of  Museum, 
the  weekly  Reviews  of  England,  and  the  literary  part  of  Walsh. 
Is  there  no  publisher  who  would  enterprise  such  a  thing,  and 
assume  the  pecuniary  responsibility  %  This  might  perhaps  be 
out  of  the  line  in  which  you  wish  to  move ;  if  so,  you  must 
either  become  author,  or  Jackson  man.  By  opening  your  mouth 
foully  for  the  Administration,  you  may  be  made  consul  at  Mar- 
tinique, by  the  time  that  has  been  done  over  by  the 

climate. 

This  is  one  of  those  gloomy  days  which  makes  a  man  willing 
to  keep  close  within  doors.  At  such  times,  I  find  myself  less 
disposed  either  to  converse  or  make  any  special  exertion,  than 
when  the  sun  enlivens  all  nature.  I  have  no  reason  to  complain 
of  low  spirits,  a  malady  of  which  I  scarcely  know  any  thing  at 
present ;  but  there  is  often  a  sort  of  pettishness  and  ill-humour, 
which  is  produced  in  equal  degrees  by  a  long  beard,  a  dirty  shirt, 
or  nasty  weather.  I  have  been  reading  Schiller's  History  of  the 
Thirty  Years'  War  in  Germany,  in  which  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
Oxenstiern,  and  Wallenstein  were  so  much  celebrated.  It  is  a 
masterpiece  of  history,  and  abounds  especially  in  distinct  and 
striking  portraits  of  great  characters.  His  Lectures  on  Univer- 
sal History  are  also  very  fine ;  though  they  abound  in  infidel 
sentiments.  When  I  can  get  a  copy  to  suit  me  I  intend  to  read 
the  Odyssey ;  and  am  about  going  over  Terence,  which  I  have 
already  studied  at  long  intervals.  If  I  had  access  to  a  complete 
library,  I  should  attempt  the  ancient  historians,  in  translations. 
To  toil  through  the  original  would  be  to  me  a  mere  waste  of 
time.  The  article  on  Cromwell  [Christian  Spectator]  by  [W. 
T.]  Dwight  is  very  boldly  and  ably  written,  but  perhaps  goes 
too  far,  as  it  is  intended  to  show  that  he  was  a  genuine  patriot, 
and  a  sincerely  pious  Christian.  Still  I  believe  that  the  general 
opinions  of  Cromwell  are  far  too  dark,  being  drawn  from  the 
suspicious  representations  of  royalists.     As  if  unwilling  to  judge 


1829—1832.  137 

mm  by  his  deeds,  some  of  which  arc  bad  enough,  they  attribute 
even  his  good  actions  to  hypocrisy. 

Trenton,  October  14,  1829. 

You  have  seen  the  appointments  made  by  the  trustees  for 
Princeton  college.  In  Mr.  Vethake  [Natural  Philosophy]  they 
have  a  great  acquisition.  Every  day  or  two  I  have  been  hoping 
to  visit  Philadelphia,  but  obstacles  have  continually  risen  up.  Just 
now,  the  sudden  death  of  one  of  my  people,  and  the  apparently 
mortal  disease  of  another,  must  detain  me.  Mr.  Berrien's  dis- 
course exceeded  all  expectations.  It  was  not  profound,  and  con- 
tained few  indications  of  comprehensive  grasp  of  mind,  or  cre- 
ative genius,  yet  from  its  exquisite  polish  it  will  appear  well  in 
print.  Mr.  B.'s  manner  is  the  most  perfect  specimen  of  artificial 
oratory  I  have  ever  witnessed. 

How  is  it  that  Texas  has  just  been  discovered  to  be  so 
remarkably  fertile  and  valuable  1  In  Darby's  Gazetteer  I  find  it 
represented  as  a  barren  waste,  almost  entirely  destitute  of  spring 
water,  and  destined  forever  to  be  a  wilderness.  This,  I  suppose, 
is  to  be  the  Panama  question  of  the  Jackson  cabinet.  I  under- 
stand that  Gov.  Giles  is  publishing  an  opinion  that  a  separation 
of  the  Northern  from  the  Southern  States  would  be  highly 
advantageous  to  the  latter.  In  such  an  event,  which  is  no  longer 
improbable,  it  is  to  be  wished  that  you  and  I  may  not  have 
migrated  south  of  the  Potomac ;  Faxit  Deus  !  By  way  of  a 
Hindoo  idol,  in  the  last  Philadelphian,  we  had  an  exact  copy  of 
the  Ephesian  Diana ;  see  Calmet's  Dictionary. 

You  ask  me  my  opinion  about  preachers.  I  think  that  of  the 
17th  century,  John  Howe  and  Barrow  are  the  first ;  and  of  the 
19th  Robert  Hall,  whom  I  prefer  to  any  sermonizer  I  have  ever 
read.  His  sermon  entitled  "  Modern  Infidelity  Considered,"  is 
unequalled.  For  deep  pathos,  Samuel  Davies  is  surpassed  by 
none,  but  he  often  sins  against  good  taste.  I  am  reading  Gough's 
History  of  the  Quakers,  and  am  more  and  more  convinced  that 
George  Fox  was  the  true  progenitor  of  the  Hicksites. 

Princeton,  October  24,  1829. 
It  is  probable  that  a  letter  from  you  lies  unopened  in  the 
post-office  at  Trenton,  as  I  have  been  absent  a  week  at  Synod, 
which  met  at  the  delightful  town  of  Newark,  and  from  which  I 
returned  last  night,  much  exhausted  with  late  and  early  sessions. 
On  Monday's  afternoon  boat  I  expect  to  take  passage  for  Phila- 
delphia expecting  to  leave  it  upon  the  succeeding  day  for  Rich- 
mond. I  may  spend  a  few  hours  with  you.  A  partial  engage- 
ment has  been  entered  into  by  the  directing  committee  of  the 


138  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

Biblical  Repertory  and  Theological  Review  [its  additional  title] 
to  make  me  editor,  (I  still  residing  in  Trenton.) 

Trenton,  December  4,  1829. 

Yea  :  it  is  not  to  be  dissembled  that  I  feel  a  very  lively  sat- 
isfaction in  finding  myself  in  my  own  den,  by  my  own  fire,  dip- 
ping into  the  accustomed  inkstand,  and  listening  (as  I  do  this 
moment)  to  the  clock  of  my  own  church.  This  pleasure  is 
enhanced  by  finding  a  welcome,  where  I  expected  a  scolding,1 
and  by  renewed  assurances  of  regard  from  my  people ;  a  regard 
which  I  reciprocate  more  cordially  every  day.  In  hours  of  dis- 
content, I  sometimes  wish  myself  a  thousand  leagues  away,  and 
fancy  that  no  one  has  so  many  perplexities ;  but  the  difficulties 
which  afflict  me  arise,  I  am  sure,  from  my  own  culpable  indispo- 
sition to  be  faithful,  and  whither  could  I  fly,  where  a  slothful  and 
evil  heart  would  not  make  me  unhappy  %  Once  I  have  had  ex- 
perience of  the  wretchedness  of  leaving  an  affectionate  people, 
and  the  experiment  is  one  of  which  I  crave  no  repetition.  Un- 
less, like ,  I  could  depart,  without  notice  to  quit,  or  any 

premonitory  grumblings,  I  should  scarcely  sustain  the  mortifica- 
tion of  declaring  such  an  intention.  At  the  house  of  Chief  Justice 
Ewing,  I  saw  to-day,  in  a  frame,  the  original  letter  of  acknowl- 
edgment sent  by  Gen.  Washington  to  the  ladies  of  Trenton,  after 
his  triumphal  entry.  It  hangs  very  appropriately  under  a  print 
from  Sully's  "  Passage  of  the  Delaware."  The  worshipful  Leg- 
islature of  our  State  have  adjourned  until  January  1st.  A  bare 
probability  that  the  Canal  Bill  will  pass.  About  half  of  this 
town  has  just  changed  hands,  by  the  recent  sale  of  the  real  estate 
of  the  late  Abraham  Hunt.  The  manufactures  of  the  place  are 
in  the  "  sear  and  yellow  leaf."  Sartori's  calico  factory  has  ex- 
pired. Page's  cotton  factory  has  finally  stopped.  The  Wells's, 
proprietors  of  the  only  remaining  and  principal  manufacturing 
establishment,  have  gone  to  Pottsville.  The  prospect  is  lament- 
able. Unless  the  canal  should  be  made,  and  should  be  profita- 
ble, the  place  is  gone  at  once,  and  the  final  blow  will  be  struck 
by  the  removal  of  State  business. 

I  have  turned  over  in  my  mind  many  times,  since  I  saw  you, 
the  case  of  Doddridge,  as  exhibited  in  his  Correspondence,2  and 
have  been  much  puzzled  to  come  to  any  conclusion  as  to  the 
bearing  which  these  new  revelations  have  upon  his  religious  char- 
acter. Perhaps  he  was  not  a  pious  man  at  all,  when  he  wrote 
that  letter,  and  flamed  out  in  such  exorbitant  affection.     Perhaps 

1  He  had  spent  the  month  of  November  in  a  visit  to  Charlotte  Court 
House,  Virginia. 

2  Diary  and  Correspondence,  then  lately  published  by  his  great-grandson. 


1829—1832.  139 

a  grain  of  wheat  might  have  existed  amidst  the  bushel  of  worldly 
chaff,  and  these  may  be  the  worst  specimens  of  his  whole  life. 
Perhaps  he  was  just  such  a  frivolous,  inconsistent,  volatile  cler- 
gyman, as  one  you  wot  of,  who  sometimes  fears  that  his  religion 
is  a  mere  name,  and  whose  conversation  and  life  are  a  daily 
source  of  mortification  and  compunction.  It  gives  me  pain  to  be 
forced  to  look  at  the  nakedness  of  a  Father  in  Jsrael,  as  it  does 

to  read  that  vile  calumny  of  the  infidel ,  upon  the  Father 

of  his  Country.  May  we  not  gather  from  these  and  other  such 
testimonials  the  truth,  that  we  over-rate  the  greatness  of  our  pre- 
decessors, and  that  the  sages  and  Christians  of  former  days  were 
fallible  and  human,  like  ourselves  ?     (See  Ecclesiastes  vii.,  10.) 

Suffer  me  to  give  you  a  French  pun  which  I  had  from  Mr. 
Hargous.  A  celebrated  cafe  of  Paris,  much  frequented  by  the 
provincials  during  the  revolution,  had  the  sign  of  John  the  Bap- 
tist, under  which  was  " Au  grand  Saint  Jean  Baptiste"  The 
authorities  informed  the  publican  that  saints  were  now  abolished, 
and  that  the  sign  must  come  down.  He  replied  that  it  would 
ruin  him,  as  everybody  knew  it  by  that  name ;  -but  after  some 
study  changed  the  face  into  that  of  a  monkey,  and  the  inscription 
so  as  to  have  the  same  sound,  "  An  grand  Singe,  en  Baptiste." 

I  observe  that  Martin,  whose  illustrations  of  Milton  have 
attracted  our  attention,  is  mentioned  as  the  greatest  master  of 
design  in  England :  he  was  brought  into  notice  by  West.  If 
you  should  see  offered  in  the  shops  any  single  engraving  from 
his  paintings,  I  should  like  to  hear  of  it.  Delightful  wintry 
weather,  and  proposals  for  a  snow.  If  the  sleighing  should  be 
good,  you  will  do  well  to  come  up  before  Christmas.  Next 
Thursday  is  Thanksgiving  Day,  by  order  of  the  Governor,  a  sort 
of  movable  feast  which  comes  in  place  of  saints'  days.  I  recom- 
mend the  foregoing  epistle  as  a  specimen  of  connected  and  system- 
atic thought,  natural  arrangement,  and  artful  transition. 

Trenton,  December  25,  1829. 

You  have  expressed  my  sentiments  precisely  with  regard 
to  Summerfield's  Life  [by  Holland.]  Not  one  description  of  his 
manner  of  preaching  !  not  a  word  which  conveys  the  slightest 
idea  of  that  which  we  all  remember  as  the  most  striking  thing 
about  him  ;  if  we  except  a  few  newspaper  squibs.  If  it  were  not 
for  what  the  book  contains  of  his  own,  I  would  not  harbour  it. 
The  two  letters  which  I  have,  are  after  all  as  good  as  any  there. 

There  is  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Winchester,  from  Bal- 
timore, in  the  Princeton  Seminary,  who  is  one  of  the  best  speak- 
ers I  have  heard  there.  In  case  of  a  want  in  your  city,  it 
might  be  advisable  to  give  him  a  trial.     The  Spruce  streeters 


140  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TEENTON. 

will  show  much  ignorance  of  such  matters  if  they  continue  to 
search  after  old  men,  or  antiquated  young  ones.1  Addison  is 
much  pleased  with  his  new  employments,  [with  Prof.  Patton  in 
his  lately  established  school.]  The  school  promises  to  succeed 
beyond  expectation. 

Whatever  the  advantages  of  early  rising  may  be,  there  is  one 
gratification  which  it  affords,  viz.,  the  delight  of  sitting  in  your 
chair,  with  fixed  and  staring  eyes,  perfectly  content  to  indulge  in 
meditation,  as  comatose  as  a  cat,  and  even  at  times  purring  for 
very  pleasure ;  in  a  word,  asleep  with  your  eyes  open. 

Trenton,  December  26,  1829. 
In  your  newspaper  scheme,  as  in  all  that  concerns  your  wel- 
fare, I  feel  sincerely  and  deeply  interested ;  and  let  me  say  in 
the  gross,  all  that  you  have  asked,  I  will  do — so  far  as  my  ability 
reaches.  But  do  not  expect  too  much  :  remember  that  I  am 
pulled  hither  and  thither,  that  1  now  have  much  anxiety  about 
the  Repertory,  and  make  allowances  for  the  moments  of  lassi- 
tude, ennui,  and  good-for-nothing-ness  which  are  occurring  from 
time  to  time.  As  to  the  name  I  concur,  ["  Morning  Journal."] 
It  is  simple  and  significant.  A  hyper-critic  might  perhaps  see 
some  tautology  in  it,  but  it  is  good.  As  to  literature,  you  are 
certainly  right  in  not  making  it  prominent  at  the  first.  I  shall 
keep  a  sheet  always  ready  for  scraps,  and  contributions  to  your 
Balaam-box.  I  have  recently  heard  a  gentleman  of  intelligence 
say  that  during  the  wars  of  Napoleon,  Duane  [of  the  "  Aurora  "] 
was  distinguished  above  all  his  contemporary  editors  for  the 
extent  and  accuracy  of  his  geographical  information,  and  so  ar- 
ranged his  foreign  extracts,  and  his  comments,  as  to  give  his  read- 
ers a  clear  view  of  every  great  movement  of  the  campaigns. 
Generally  speaking,  the  foreign  news  is  so  huddled  together,  that  it 
is  almost  impossible  to  arrange  it  into  a  whole,  even  with  much 
study.  This  evil  is  much  diminished  where  an  editor  will  take 
the  pains  to  give,  in  a  sentence  or  two,  by  way  of  coup  d'ceil, 
the  result  of  his  readings.  Nothing  from  abroad  is  more  inter- 
esting than  views  taken  by  foreigners.of  American  manners,  men, 
and  measures.  I  am  always  pleased,  also,  to  have  in  addition  to 
the  mere  facts,  extracts  from  the  Editorial  treatises  which  so 
much  abound  in  London  papers.  Bow-street  trials  are  not  to  be 
despised,  and  indeed  I  suppose  you  are  already  convinced  that 
you  must  be  very  unfastidious,  so  as  to  please  "  the  many-headed 
monster."  There  are  even  artifices  which  an  editor  may  and 
must  use,  however  undignified  he  might  consider  them  under 

1  The  Rev.  Samuel  G.  Winchester  was  called  to  the  Spruce  Street  con- 
gregation shortly  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  and  was  installed  May  4, 1830. 


1829—1832.  141 

other  circumstances.  He  may  frame  a  paragraph  so  as  to  intro- 
duce a  quotation,  and  he  may  find  Ayscough's  Index  no  despica- 
ble auxiliary. 

There  is  no  literary  labour  which  brings  a  man  so  much  be- 
fore the  heterogeneous  mass  of  human  society  as  the  editing  a 
newspaper.  Other  writings  may  be  said  to  pertain  to  one  class 
of  judges,  but  you  write  for  the  democracy  at  large.  In  this 
your  views  must  be  somewhat  like  those  of  ancient  Greeks,  who 
read  their  productions  to  the  populace.  I  am  far  from  thinking, 
however,  that  there  needs  to  be  any  sacrifice  of  independence  or 
integrity  in  an  editor.  A  sop  may  here  and  there  be  thrown  to 
the  barking  Cerberus,  but  even  this  monster  may  be  appeased 
by  the  "  golden  branch  "  which  Eneas  carried. 

If  you  are  short  of  "  horrid  murders  "  and  "  shocking  acci- 
dents "  and  "  awful  dispensations  !  !  !  "  I  can  furnish  them  by 
the  gross,  as  I  have  been  reading  Schiller  lately,  and  have  my 
imagination  sufficiently  wrought  up. 

I  suppose  you  begin  with  the  new  year ;  and  I  wish  you  a 
happy  year  of  it.  You  may,  if  you  are  going  to  take  party 
ground,  make  a  very  good  article  upon  Branch's  message,  [Sec- 
retary of  Navy,]  showing  that  all  his  recommendations  which  are 
of  any  value  were  made  before  by  his  predecessor.  The  New 
York  Commercial  is  in  my  view  a  very  good  model.  Mr.  Walsh 
is  always  dignified  and  able,  but  always  in  buckram.1 

Trenton,  February  1Y,  1830. 

A  bill  legalizing  horse-racing  has  gone  through  second  read- 
ing in  the  House.  Lobby  members  very  brisk,  some  for  rail- 
roads, some  for  canal,  some  for  oysters,  some  for  race  course,  or 
as  one  of  our  members  endorsed  it  on  his  bill  rase  corss.  Apro- 
pos of  spelling,  I  saw  an  endorsement  on  a  file  of  bills  :  "  An  act 
to  abbollish  prisoners  for  debt,  in  certin  cases.  Posponded."  I 
certainly  approve  of  the  wisdom  of  the  house  in  posponding  any 
bill  so  cruel  in  its  purposes.  If  you  alight  in  any  way  upon  any 
papers  relating  to  Institutions  for  the  Blind  or  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb,  let  me  have  sight  of  them,  as  I  am  engaged  in  collecting 
upon  these  subjects.  I  have  been  applied  to,  to  write  an  article 
upon  "  Prison  Discipline "  for  Dr.  Lieber's  Encyclopaedia 
[Americana.]     An  odd  subject  surely  for  me. 

I  am  in  some  difficulty  about  the  Hebrew  accents,  those  I 
mean  which  are  used  as  musical  notes.  Stuart  refers  to  the  fol- 
lowing books.     Will  you  inform  me  whether  they  are  in  any  of 

1  During  the  six  months  that  the  daily  newspaper  referred  to  in  this 
letter  was  under  the  editorial  direction  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Alexander  was  a 
frequent  contributor  to  its  columns. 


142  WHILE    PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

your  libraries,  and  whether  any  musical  notes  are  given  %  Jab- 
lonskii  Prcef.  ad  Bib.  Heb.  §  24,  and  Bartoloccii  Bibliotheca  Rab- 
binica,  Tom.  iv.,  p.  431. 

I  am  very  much  discouraged  as  to  my  ever  being  of  much 
use  in  the  world,  from  a  mortifying  conviction  of  my  very  great 
fickleness  of  purpose,  or  rather  perhaps  I  ought  in  justice  to  my- 
self to  say,  variableness  of  feeling.  A  subject  or  an  enterprise 
deeply  interests  and  engages  me  for  a  month,  and  then  before  I 
am  able  to  do  any  thing  practically,  I  have  come  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a  new  passion  which  urges  me  in  another  direction.  It 
is  humbling  to  say  so,  but  I  really  believe  myself  to  be  a  vision- 
ary. Just  at  this  moment,  I  am  very  much  impressed  with 
a  sentiment  which  I  cannot  express  otherwise  than  thus  :  "  It  is 
the  duty  of  some  men  to  devote  their  attention  to  the  relief  of 
the  temporal  miseries  of  mankind."  Let  me  explain.  I  do  not 
exclude  spiritual  beneficence  ;  I  do  not  mean  that  a  man  should 
become  a  knight  errant;  but  I  verily  think  that  Christians  are 
not  touched  as  they  should  be  with  human  suffering,  bodily  suf- 
fering, privation,  &c,  &c.  Now,  if  a  few  men  would  concentrate 
their  thoughts  upon  this,  write  upon  it,  paragraph  upon  it,  influ- 
ence the  press,  talk  upon  it,  in  a  word  Clarksonize,  I  believe 
great  things  must  be  done.  In  reading  the  N.  T.  I  have  recently 
been  much  struck  with  the  fact  that  all  the  miracles  of  our  Sa- 
viour were  acts  of  benevolence,  and  usually  in  relief  of  human 
bodily  distresses.  Now,  the  thought  has  powerfully  come  over 
me,  Am  I,  and  are  Christians,  acting  in  any  degree  like  their 
master  %  I  have  recently  preached  upon  the  subject  from  Heb. 
xiii.,  3.  I  have  an  idea  that  the  amount  of  effort  now  put  forth  in 
Christendom  would  produce  a  hundred  times  as  much  real  good, 
if  it  were  systematized  and  properly  directed.  Perhaps  this 
crude  thought  will  not  be  lost  upon  you.  It  may  serve  to  gen- 
der cogitations  of  your  own  and  to  direct  your  scissors. 

Trenton,  June  Y,  1830. 
I  feel,  I  am  sure,  more  tenderly  than  ever,  the  obligations  of 
that  friendship  which  has  so  long  and  so  happily  subsisted  be- 
tween us.  My  regret  is,  that  your  loss  is  such,  that  condolence 
and  counsel  are  the  most  that  the  kindest  friend  can  offer.  Be- 
lieving, as  we  both  do,  that  all  human  affairs  are  under  a  most 
wise  and  holy  ordering,  our  judgment  may  rest  in  firm  assurance 
that  all  is  right ;  we  may  be  convinced  that  it  ought  not  to  be 
otherwise.  To  school  the  heart  is  more  difficult,  but  I  believe  it 
to  be  possible  through  the  application  of  the  same  truths.  Let 
me  earnestly  beg  of  you,  then,  to  seek  by  prayer  and  the  read- 
ing of  the  Scriptures,  that  acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God,  which 


1829—1832.  143 

you  will  find  nowhere  else.  And  let  me  suggest  that  you  strive 
to  obtain,  not  merely  the  mitigation  of  natural  sorrow,  but  that 
instruction  which  God  so  plainly  means  to  convey  by  this  dis- 
pensation. After  all,  "  the  heart  knoweth  its  own  bitterness," 
and  to  every  adviser,  you  may  perhaps  be  forced  to  say  with 
Job,  "miserable  comforters  are  .ye  all."  For  this  reason,  then, 
it  is  the  dictate  of  wisdom  to  cease  from  man,  and  go  directly  to 
the  fountain  of  all  grace  and  consolation.  There  are  many  topics 
of  worldly  condolence  which  will  occur  to  you — as  the  contrast 
with  the  heavier  woes  of  others,  the  deliverance  of  your  beloved 
partner  from  all  sorrow  and  languishment — but  the  aching  void 
will  still  remain,  until  you  apply  to  the  great  origin  of  all  good, 
and  have  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  heart.  O  let 
your  strongest  efforts  be  put  forth,  at  this  seasonable  time,  to 
obtain  the  gift  of  God,  and  eternal  life.  Your  mind  labours 
under  conviction  of  human  inability,  without  a  due  apprehension 
of  the  correlative  truth,  that  the  grace  of  God  is  ready  to  supply 
your  defect  of  power.  In  the  January  number  of  the  Biblical 
Repertory,  p.  113,  you  will  find  an  article  on  the  means  of  repent- 
ance, which  I  think  would  tend  to  remove  some  of  your  difficul- 
ties. When  your  mind  will  bear  such  exertion,  give  it  a  perusal. 
It  is,  I  believe,  usually  found  that  when  any  person  sets  about 
this  work,  with  a  real  desire  to  be  reconciled  to  God,  he  does 
attain  the  object  of  his  endeavours.  This  is  what  you  need  to 
make  you  happy  under  the  adversities  which  you  have  so  early 
begun  to  suffer.  Now  it  is  with  you  (strange  as  the  expression 
may  seem)  a  favoured  time,  and  I  do  think  that  the  door  stands 
open  through  which  you  may  enter  to  eternal  joy.  My  dear 
friend,  give  yourself  to  these  thoughts,  bring  your  mind  to  dwell 
upon  the  presence  of  Jehovah,  the  selfishness  and  evils  of  your 
heart,  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  and  the  mercy  of  God  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Only  seek  this  as  earnestly  as  we  seek  worldly 
satisfaction,  and  you  shall  assuredly  find. 

By  a  coincidence  surely  unsought  by  me,  I  am  just  preparing 
to  go  on  to  Virginia  to  be  married.1 

Trenton,  July  13,  1830. 
You  will  be  disposed  to  excuse  my  delay  in  answering  your 
last,  if  you  will  consider  the  great  burden  of  calls  and  cere- 
monies which  lies  on  me  at  this  time.  My  mind  often  reverts 
to  you  and  your  bereavement.  While  I  do  not  pretend  to  under- 
stand the  bitterness  of  the  cup  which  you  are  called  to  drink,  I 

1  Mr.  Alexander  was  married  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Carrington,  near 
Charlotte  Court  House,  on  the  18th  June,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Cabell, 
daughter  of  George  Cabell,  M.  D. 


144  WHILE   PASTOR   m   TRENTON. 

believe  I  can  much  more  understandingly  than  before,  speak  of 
the  endearments  of  the  marriage  state.  With  a  dear  friend  by 
my  side  who  can  sympathize  with  me  in  all  the  varied  feelings 
which  I  experience,  I  can  form  a  better  conception  than  formerly 
of  what  your  loss  is.  Yet  again  I  say,  "  the  heart  knoweth  its 
own  bitterness."  It  is  not  to  renew  your  grief  that  I  touch  on 
this  topic,  for  I  would  gladly,  if  I  could,  divert  your  mind  from 
the  remembrance  of  those  painful  scenes,  but  there  is  a  profit 
in  affliction,  which  is  to  be  obtained  only  by  consideration  of  the 
cause  of  sorrow.  My  hope  is  that  in  this  valley  of  humiliation, 
you  will  be  instructed  and  led  to  surrender  yourself  to  God.  It 
would  give  my  wife  and  me  very  great  pleasure  to  see  you  in 
Trenton.  We  are  living  in  the  very  humblest  manner ;  some 
of  my  friends  think  too  much  so  for  my  station,  but  it  is  abso- 
lutely necessary. 

Mr.  Southard  has  been  making  a  speech  at  Newark,  which 
was  attended  by  a  vast  audience,  is  greatly  admired,  and  will  be 
printed.  I  should  like  to  introduce  you  to  him.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  agreeable  companions  I  have  ever  found,  and  pays  us 
far  more  attention  than  we  could  ever  demand  of  him.  His  pop- 
ularity in  this  State  is  rapidly  rising  to  its  former  acme. 

The  cause  of  Temperance  has  received  a  great  impulse  in  our 
town :  our  Governor,  Chief-Justice,  Attorney-General,  Senator, 
and  many  leading  members  of  the  bar,  are  decided  advocates  of 
the  new  measures.  Addison  is  about  to  buy  the  whole  1001 
Nights,  in  the  original  Arabic.  He  has  completed  for  Patton 
a  revision  of  Donegan's  Greek  Lexicon,  comparing  every  word 
with  Schneider's  ditto. 

Under  my  present  circumstances,  it  would  be  strange  if  I 
were  unhappy  ;  it  will  still  be  gratifying  to  you  to  know  that  I 
enjoy  a  degree  of  satisfaction  far  above  my  fondest  expectations. 
Let  me  not  forget,  however,  that  all  human  joys  are  fleeting,  and 
that  before  another  year  I  may  mourn  under  a  sad  reverse,  by 
loss  of  health,  or  a  thousand  possible  occurrences.  This  is  a 
truth  which  1  am  sure  is  deeply  impressed  upon  your  mind. 
May  you  not  only  find  out  the  inadequacy  of  the  "  broken  cis- 
terns," but  come  to  "  the  fountain  of  living  water." 

Trenton,  July  27,  1830,  2|  P.  M. 
9*7°  Fahrenheit  in  shade. 

I  went  on  Tuesday  to  New  Brunswick  to  hear  Mr.  Wirt's 
oration.1  The  air  was  ovenish,  the  assembly  large  and  highly 
respectable,  the  speech  two  hours  long,  apparently  extemporary, 

1  At  the  commencement  of  Rutgers  College. 


1829—1832.  145 

and  a  noble  specimen  of  polished,  patriotic,  eloquent  speaking. 
The  subject  might  be  thus  stated  :  "  The  mental  and  moral  dis- 
cipline demanded  of  American  youth  by  the  peculiar  character 
of  the  age  and  country,  with  principal  reference  to  patrotic  man- 
liness, integrity,  and  decision  of  character."  There  was  a  strong 
touch  at  the  times.  I  came  back  quite  sick,  and  spent  one  or 
two  days  in  bed.  Such  a  continuance  of  torrid  weather  I  have; 
never  felt.  Let  me  beg  of  you,  if  you  have  not  already  done  so, 
to  fly  from  the  city  for  a  few  weeks.  I  have  never  felt  so  en- 
tirely good  for  nothing  as  I  do  at  this  time ;  I  am  desiccated  and 
toasted  to  that  degree  that  I  feel  like  a  dried  animal,  and  almost 
look  for  my  skin  to  crack. 

I  am  projecting,  under  my  father's  guidance,  a  large  work, 
say  two  vols,  thick  8vo,  title  undetermined,  but  something  like 
this,  a  "  Biographical  and  Bibliographical  Dictionary  of  Theol- 
ogy," or  "  Theological  Biography  and  Bibliography,"  intended 
to  furnish,  in  alphabetical  order,  a  sketch  (brief)  of  the  life,  and 
a  list  of  the  books,  (with  some  estimate  of  their  value,)  of  all 
writers  on  Theology.  The  thing  is  new,  plainly  a  desideratum. 
What  say  you  to  a  partnership  %  You  may,  by  aid  of  Library, 
&c,  assist  thus  :  Look  through  all  the  Biographical  Dictionaries 
within  reach,  note  names  of  authors,  l>ook  where  their  history 
may  be  found,  and  digest  the  same  into  an  index.  Also  furnish 
the  short  articles,  without  reference  to  order  in  the  first  draught. 
It  may  be  expected  to  occupy  several  years  of  smart  labour.1 

Trenton  is  remarkably  healthy  thus  far.  Should  our  hopes 
in  this  respect  be  realized,  this  may  be  recommended  as  the 
pleasantest  summer  retreat  upon  the  Delaware.  Bristol  and 
Burlington  are  pretty  pictures  from  the  water,  but  the  dullest 
and  most  intolerable  places  on  earth.  Trenton  is  homely,  but 
well  situated,  and  affords  a  greater  variety  of  pleasant  drives  in 
its  vicinity  than  any  place  I  know.  House  rent  is  just  nothing 
here,  and  it  is  almost  as  near  (by  steamboat)  to  the  city,  as  Bris- 
tol or  Burlington.  The  movements  of  the  Jacobin  party  calling 
themselves  (often  lucus  a  non  &c.)  the  "  Working  Men,"  give 
me  unfeigned  alarm,  more  than  any  threats  of  disunion,  or  vio- 
lence of  mere  party  rage.  If  we  love  our  country,  something 
must  be  done.  It  will  not  do  to  despise  so  formidable  an  array. 
They  are  indeed,  with  us,  not  the  dregs,  but  in  the  exercise  of 
their  elective  franchise,  the  jprimum  mobile  of  this  nation.  The 
Godwinism,  Owenism,  sans  culottism,  (aut  quocunque  gaudent 
nomine,)  which  possesses  them,  may  ruin  us.    Could  not  a  series 

1  This  project  was  not  executed.  I  do  not  know  what  progress  was 
made  in  it. 

vol.  i. — 7 


146  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TKENTON. 

of  "  Letters  to  Working  Men  "  be  put  in  some  popular  Journal, 
commending  honest  labour,  asserting  the  rights  of  mechanics, 
&c,  but  unveiling  the  naked  deformity  of  this  levelling  system  % 
Could  not  you  serve  your  country,  by  doing  something  of  the 
sort  %  It  would  be  arduous,  but  by  so  doing,  you  would  deserve 
well  of  posterity.  No  better  work,  I  truly  think,  could  just  now 
engage  any  honest  patriot.  If  I  could,  I  would  try,  but  I  cannot.1 
I  am  well  and  happy,  and  I  desire  to  be  thankful ;  the  only 
source  of  disquietude  at  present  is  my  apparent  want  of  useful- 
ness among  my  people.  Nemo  ab  omni  parte  beatus ;  and 
when  I  compare  my  lot  with  that  of  many  others,  I  am  ashamed 
of  my  ingratitude.  May  we  learn,  my  dear  friend,  to  look  for 
peace  and  comfort  in  something  higher  than  even  the  innocent 
joys  of  life.  This  is  the  lesson  which  it  is  so  easy  to  inculcate, 
but  so  impossible,  I  had  almost  said,  to  practise.  In  suffering 
my  affections  to  cling  to  earthly  objects,  as  I  lament  that  they 
do,  I  feel  that  I  am  laying  up  for  myself  future  miseries.  God 
alone  can  reveal  himself,  so  as  to  "  call  us  away  from  earth  and 
sense." 

Trenton,  August  23,  1830. 
I  consider  the  manifesto  of  the  Cherokees  as  a  very  moving 
paper.  After  all,  iniquitous  as  the  proceedings  have  been  with 
regard  to  this  injured  people,  yet  considering  the  manner  in  which 
their  tribes  always  pine  away  from  contiguity  to  the  whites,  I 
am  strongly  inclined  to  think  that  their  separate  existence  will 
be  prolonged  by  their  translation  beyond  the  Mississippi.  I 
have  been  reading  Voltaire's  correspondence  with  the  King  of 
Prussia,  but  I  shall  read  no  more.  Never  have  I  seen  such 
horrid  blasphemies  in  print ;  chiefly,  however,  in  the  letters  of 
Frederick.  Voltaire  is  more  cunning  and  reserved,  and  says 
just  enough  to  draw  out  the  sentiments  of  that  incarnate  fiend, 

who  glories  in  Atheism,  and  justifies ex  professo.     Three 

young  Spaniards  called  on  me  to-day,  asking  for  alms ;  they  had 
a  statement  drawn  up  in  very  good  Latin,  which  I  found  was  writ- 
ten by  one  of  them,  who  passed  for  a  doctor  of  medicine.  They 
were  modest,  well-looking  fellows.  The  generous  Joseph  Bona- 
parte lately  had  a  poor  fellow  apprehended,  tried,  convicted,  and 
cast  into  prison,  for  having  stolen  from  him  six  silver  spoons ! 

1  This  plan  was  at  length  executed  by  himself  in  a  series  of  articles  fur- 
nished to  the  Newark  Daily  Advertiser,  under  the  signature  of  Charles  Quill. 
The  first  series,  of  forty-six  papers,  was  collected  in  a  volume  entitled 
"  The  American  Mechanic,"  and  published  by  Perkins,  of  Philadelphia,  in 
1838  :  the  second,  of  forty-five  papers,  was  issued  by  the  same  publisher  in 
1839,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Working  Man." 


1899—1832.  147 

he  who  gained  his  wealth  by  abstracting  the  treasures  of  Spain, 
and  rifling  the  churches  which  fell  in  his  way.  He  proposes  to 
remove,  as  the  railroad  will  pass  directly  through  his  estate. 

Trenton,  September  *7,  1830. 
Which  end  of  the  newspapers  must  a  man  begin  at  to  get 
the  order  of  events  in  the  new  revolution  1  I  have  read  so  many 
accounts,  in  such  varied  arrangement,  that  the  jumble  is  inex- 
tricable. Is  such  a  thing  as  a  map  of  Paris  attainable  1  It  is 
like  to  be  interesting  at  this  time.  Is  there  not  a  striking  coinci- 
dence between  the  history  of  French  and  English  liberty  1  thus  : 


Charles  I.  Louis  XVI. 

Civil  wrar.  Revolution. 

Cromwell.  Napoleon. 

Charles  II.  Louis  XVIII. 

James  II.  Charles  X. 

Constitution.  —  1  — 

My  sanguine  hope  is — using  these  lights  of  history,  and  the 
parallel  strikes  mo  even  in  its  details — that  the  French  will  settle 
down  upon  a  limited  monarchy,  with  a  liberal  charter,  annual 
parliaments,  just  representation,  and  universal  liberty  of  con- 
science. France  would  then  be  a  glorious  land.  So  mote  it  be  ! 
I  have  just  been  inditing  a  pompous  piece  of  fustian  upon  the 
new  French  Revolution,  to  be  spoken  by  a  lad  on  the  night  be- 
fore commencement,  bearing  in  mind  the  direction  once  given  to 
my  brother,  by  a  similar  applicant,  on  a  like  occasion.  "  What 
sort  of  a  speech  shall  I  wrrite  you  f  "  Oh  !  a  real  bombastic  one, 
just  like  your  own."  Mr.  Frelinghuysen  is  here  at  this  time, 
full  of  the  subject  of  Temperance.  He  is  a  singular  instance  of 
a  man  zealously  devoted  to  every  good  enterprise,  without  the 
slightest  eccentricity.  I  am  told  that  the  state  of  frenzy  at 
Charleston  between  the  nullifiers  and  their  opponents  is  truly 
alarming ;  so  much  so,  that  Judge  Grimke  has  resigned  his  seat 
on  the  bench,  that  he  may  go  to  the  State  Legislature.  I  hope 
Mr.  Walsh's  word  of  exhortation  appended  to  his  remarks  on 
the  Revolution  in  France  may  not  be  lost  upon  them.  I  wish 
you  could  give  us  another  call,  during  the  pleasant  season  of 
autumn.  I  cannot  (as  we  read  in  story  books)  ask  you  to  come 
into  the  country  for  fruits  of  the  earth,  for  you  have  the  richest 
supply  in  your  city.  Give  me  leave  to  say,  nevertheless,  that 
there  is  some  enjoyment  in  partaking  of  them  nearer  to  the 
place  of  their  production.  I  am  reading  Broussais'  Physiology 
at  this  time.     The  medical  men  make  such  a  noise  about  his 


148  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TKENTON. 

'  revelations,"  that  I  wish  to  find  out  what  he  has  revealed,  and 
whether  any  light  is  thrown  upon  the  "  glorious  uncertainty  "  of 
medicine.  I  came  up  in  the  boat  with  Vethake,  who  is  just  from 
France.  He  says  that  in  all  the  shops  and  cafes  where  only  one 
paper  was  taken,  it  was  anti-ministerial ;  hopes  much  from  the 
improved  notions  of  the  French  respecting  liberty ;  thinks  the 
present  movement  got  up  neither  by  Jacobins  nor  Bonapartists  ; 
that  the  latter  are  very  few;  the  Due  d'Orleans  a  universal 
favourite  (of  V.'s,  perhaps  because  he  was  professor  of  mathematics 
in  Switzerland.) 

Trenton,  October  1,  1830. 

Notwithstanding  the  criminal  apathy  of  my  heart  in  the  con- 
cerns of  immortal  souls,  I  experience  a  lively  pleasure  in  the 
comfortable  assurance  afforded  by  your  last  letter,  that  you  have 
joined  yourself  to  the  Lord  in  an  everlasting  covenant.  It  is  not 
enough,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  "  to  believe  with  the  heart," 
unless  also  we  "  confess  with  the  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus."  May 
the  Lord  ever  be  with  you,  enriching  your  soul  with  the  graces 
and  consolations  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  am  convinced  that  many 
of  us  suffer  exceedingly  from  having  very  low  views  of  the  heights 
of  religious  joy  which  are  attainable  in  this  life.     I  have  been 

this  morning  to  see  my  neighbour ,  who  has  just  been 

raised  up  from  the  jaws  of  death.  I  had  scarcely  supposed  it 
possible  for  one  so  uniformly  pious  and  exemplary  to  receive  so 
great  an  accession  of  spiritual  life  and  peace.  His  views  of  the 
Saviour's  glory,  the  excellence  of  divine  truth,  ministerial  respon- 
sibility and  his  personal  vileness,  seemed  to  be  really  unutter- 
able. As  a  contrast  to  this,  I  called  to  see  a  man  who  cannot 
live,  as  we  think,  more  than  a  day  or  two,  who  is  almost  in  des- 
pair, on  account  of  his  long-neglect  of  religion.  The  changes  in 
the  faculty  [of  College]  are  important,  viz. :  Dr.  Torrey,  of  New 
York,  Professor  of  Chemistry  ;  Dr.  Samuel  B.  Howell,  of  Ana- 
tomy and  Physiology ;  Vethake,  of  Natural  Philosophy ;  Har- 
gous,  of  Modern  Languages;  and  Addison  [Alexander],  Adjunct 
Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  and  Literature,  with  the  duties 
of  tutor.  My  father  sets  out  this  week  for  Boston,  where  he  has 
not  been  since  1799.     Addison  goes  the  same  way  next  week. 

The  commencement  went  off  with  the  usual  hubbub,  the 
valedictory  was  truly  excellent  and  eloquent ;  a  "  defence  of 
pulpit  eloquence,"  spoken  by  a  young  man  of  your  State,  named 
Hart.1     I  have  never  seen  so  many  tears  shed  in  that  house. 

I  spent  four  days  of  last  week  in  New  York.     The  signs  of 

1  John  S  Hart;  afterwards  adjunct  Professor  of  Languages. 


1829—1832.  149 

increasing  infidelity  and  atheism  greatly  alarmed  me.  Just  op- 
posite the  Bible  House,  is  a  "  liberal  book-store,"  the  most  dar- 
ing and  demoniacal  opposer  of  every  thing  good.  At  the  door  I 
saw,  among  many  other  MS.  "  Bulletins,"  as  they  are  called,  a 
ribald  and  blasphemous  travestie  of  the  Litany,  around  which 
was  gathered  a  group  of  men  and  boys. 

Trenton,  October  15,  1830. 
I  scarcely  know  what  to  say  to  you  about  the  extent  of  the 
Atonement,  so  much  has  my  mind  been  tossed  and  perplexed  on 
the  subject.  The  point,  however,  to  which  J  have  to  cling  as  the 
very  foundation  of  all  my  dearest  personal  hopes  is,  that  the 
death  of  Christ  was  a  proper  sacrifice,  vicarious,  implying  substi- 
tution and  the  enduring  a  penalty.  Let  me  beg  of  you  to  read 
Magie  on  the  Atonement.  The  key  to  the  nature  of  the  Atone- 
ment is  to  be  sought,  I  think,  in  the  ancient  sacrifices.  Now  the 
difficulty  is  here,  in  my  mind  :  If  I  admit  that  the  Atonement  is 
general,  I  can  no  longer  hold  that  Christ  atoned  for  j)er8ons->  but 
for  sin  in  general.  It  becomes  a  mere  indication  of  his  displeas- 
ure at  sin  considered  abstractly,  and  I  become  lost  in  the  vague- 
ness of  such  a  scheme.  The  limitation  of  the  Atonement,  arises 
in  my  view,  simply  from  the  purpose  of  Jehovah  in  it.  Now,  it 
does  appear  to  me  that  every  argument  against  this,  lies  against 
the  decree  of  election  itself,  and  is,  therefore,  inconsistent  in 
any  Calvinist.  Suppose  I  say  that  the  Atonement  is  general, 
still  the  great  objection  lies  :  "  How  can  God  sincerely  offer  this 
Atonement  to  those  whom  He  has  decreed  not  to  furnish  with 
the  will  to  accept  of  it  %  "  When  I  view  the  Atonement  as  suffi- 
cient for  all,  I  do  so  only  because  from  the  very  nature  of  it,  as 
rendered  by  a  Divine  Saviour,  it  has  infinite  merit.  As  to  its 
intention,  even  Hopkinsians  hold  a  virtual  limitation.  I  do  not 
profess  to  have  the  clear  view  which  some  have  on  this  point. 
I  offer  Christ  to  all,  because  this  is  plainly  and  undeniably  in  the 
ministerial  commission.  I  maintain  substitution  and  imputation, 
because  I  think  without  them  there  is  no  sacrifice,  no  meaning  in 
ancient  types.  In  the  October  No.  of  the  "  Methodist  Magazine 
and  Quarterly  Review  of  N.  Y.,"  there  is  a  very  able  defence  of 
Arminianism  against  the  Pelagianism  of  New  Haven,  with  which 
last  Mr.  Barnes's  opponents  suppose  him  to  coincide.  If  there  is 
any  thing  in  ecclesiastical  authority,  I  think  it  might  be  amply 
proved  that  the  ancient  fathers,  the  Church  of  Rome,  the  Church 
of  England,  the  Remonstrants  or  Arminians,  the  Lutherans,  and 
the  Methodists  held  the  substitution  of  Christ  in  the  Atonement, 
and  that  it  was  left  for  Socinians  and  the  divines  of  New  Eng- 
land to  deny  it.     At  the  same  time  the  churches  of  Rome,  Eng 


150  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

land,  and  the  Methodists,  and  Lutherans,  do  all  maintain  a  uni- 
versal Atonement.     May  the  Lord  direct  us  into  his  truth  ! 

My  father  is,  or  has  been,  in  Boston,  attending  the  meeting 
of  the  A.  Board  of  C.  for  For.  Miss.  The  Christian  Spectator  is 
exceedingly  bitter  against  Dr.  Woods,  and  all  New  England  is 
likely  to  be  in  a  ferment.  When  such  disputes  get  among  the 
laity,  especially  women,  they  become  dreadful.  I  have  heard  hor- 
rid extremes  of  fatalism,  under  the  notion  of  Calvinistic  doctrine. 

If  you  should  meet  with  Mr.  K-ezeau  Brown,  late  tutor  in 
Nassau  Hall,  in  your  city,  you  will,  I  think,  be  pleased  with  him. 
He  is  a  gentlemanly,  somewhat  accomplished,  and  exemplary 
young  man  ;  and  has  long  been  my  particular  friend.1 

Trextox,  November  8,  1830. 
I  returned  this  morning  from  Allentown,  where  I  preached 
yesterday,  Mr.  Hodge  supplying  my  pulpit  in  the  mean  time. 
It  is  an  uninteresting  inland  town,  out  of  the  way  both  of  com- 
merce and  information.  Yet  I  found  some  worthy  Christian 
people  there,  and  enjoyed  much  satisfaction  in  discoursing  to,  and 
with  them.  I  am  charmed  with  Leighton,  and  recommend  to 
you  immediately  to  read  his  Commentary  on  1st  Peter.  All 
his  writings  are  practical,  and  abound  in  the  most  lively  and 
beautiful  imagery.  Doddridge  appears,  from  his  editorial  pre- 
face, to  rank  him  higher  than  any  of  his  contemporaries.  Owen 
on  the  Spirit,  I  have  read  with  much  pleasure,  and  I  hope  profit. 
The  fourth  book  "  on  the  necessity  of  holiness,"  seems  to  me 
eminently  calculated  to  quicken  the  diligence  of  Christians  ;  the 
third  chapter  is  golden.  No  works  have  ever  given  me  happier 
impulses  in  my  religious  course  than  those  of  the  English  non-con- 
formists of  the  17th  century.  On  the  next  Lord's  day,  I  have  to 
preach  a  sermon  at  the  request  of  the  Temperance  Society.  I  shall 
confine  myself,  not  to  the  cause,  symptoms,  and  remedy,  but  to 
the  defence  of  total  abstinence  and  of  the  association  for  pro- 
moting it.  Joseph  Bonaparte  sent  up,  last  Saturday,  an  invita- 
tion to  both  Houses  of  Legislature,  to  go  and  dine  with  him,  (or 
at  least  visit  his  place.)  Most  of  them  went.  He  is  said  to  be 
much  exasperated  at  the  railroad-men  for  taking  their  route  di- 
rectly through  his  park,  and  it  is  supposed  that  this  "  gineral  in- 

wite,"  as  the  messenger  called  it,  is  a  sort  of  genteel . 

He  says  that  his  improvements  are  this  moment  equal  to  any 
which  Europe  affords,  and  that  he  has  expended  $300,000  on 

1  This  most  estimable  man  died  in  1S33,  at  the  age  of  25.  He  was  son 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  I.  V.  Brown,  and  was  licensed  as  a  probationer  for  the 
ministry  in  1831.  A  memoir  of  him  was  written  by  Mr.  Alexander,  and 
published  in  the  Biblical  Repertory,  October,  1834. 


1829—1832.  151 

them.  Please  drop  into  the  letter-box  of  the  Philaclelphian,  the 
following  note  :  "  A  few  weeks  since  you  honoured  with  an  in- 
sertion, my  humble  attempt  at  a  metrical  version  of  Gerhard's 
hymn  :  '  0  Haupt  voll  Blut  und  Wunden? l  Two  entire  lines  of 
the  second  stanza  are  omitted,  and  the  sense  thereby  destroyed. 
It  should  read  thus,  (as  well  as  I  can  remember — ) 
'  How  art  thou  pale  with  anguish, 

With  bitter  grief  and  scorn  ; 
How  doth  the  visage  languish 

That  once  was  bright  as  morn.' 

"  Respectfully,  Didymus." 

Addison  is  just  entering  upon  a  course  of  life  which  will  be 
very  trying,  but  I  hope  useful.  [Patton's  school.]  He  will  study 
theology  with  my  father. 

In  the  last  sermon  of  the  National  Preacher,  the  following 
text  is  quoted  as  Scripture :  "  He  rolleth  sin  like  a  sweet  morsel 
under  the  tongue."  This  is  the  third  time  I  have  heard  this 
same  false  citation.2 

Trenton,  November  27,  1830. 

The  passage  in  Matt,  i.,  from  Isaiah  vii.,  is  very  difficult,  but 
I  tremble  at  the  thought  of  giving  up  the  prophecy,  not  so  much 
on  account  of  this  particular  text,  as  because  Socinians  and  Ne- 
ologists  have  made  this  very  principle  of  "  accommodation,"  the 
great  engine  against  all  our  arguments  from  the  quotations  in 
the  New  Testament.  I  believe  most  fully  that  it  is  a  strict  pre- 
diction of  Jesus,  in  one  of  the  most  remarkable  designations  of 
his  peculiar  character.  For  1.  It  cannot  refer  to  either  of  the 
sons  of  Isaiah,  (vii.  3,  and  viii.  3),  for  one  was  already  of  some 
age,  the  other  neither  named  Immanuel,  nor  born  of  a  virgin. 
2.  Nor  to  any  other  common  child,  for  the  emphasis  of  the  verse 
points  to  something  extraordinary  —  "a  sign."  3.  Nor  to 
Hezekiah,  for,  by  computation,  he  was  now  a  youth,  and  was 
nine  years  old  when  his  father  was  made  king.  In  the  17th  verse, 
there  is  an  evident  transition  to  the  child  of  Isaiah,  comp.  viii.  4. 
4.  We  read  of  no  child  called  Immanuel.  5.  This  is  a  part  of 
that  connected   prophecy  which  ends  c.  x.  4,  and  includes   the 

1  This  was  one  of  his  earliest  exercises  in  his  favourite  employment  on 
German  hymnology.  His  first  translation  of  Gerhard's  Passion  hymn  was 
incomplete  ;  he  rewrote  it,  besides  making  versions  of  several  other  hymns, 
for  Dr.  Schaff 's  monthly  Kirchenfreund.  A  collection  of  those  translations, 
together  with  two  of  Latin  hymns,  was  published  in  the  Mercersburg  Review 
for  1859.  Mr.  Alexander  contributed  an  article  on  the  general  subject  of 
German  hymns  to  the  Biblical  Repertory  in  1850.  His  version  of  Gerhard 
has  been  greatly  mutilated  by  copyists. "  Professor  Park's  "  Sabbath  Hymn 
Book"  gives  but  four  of  the  ten  stanzas,  (hymn  293,)  "0  sacred  head,  now 
wounded !  " 

2  The  true  text  is  :  "  Though  wickedness  be  sweet  in  his  mouth,  though 
he  hide  it  under  his  tongue." — Job  xx.  12. 


152  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

prediction,  "  Unto  us  a  child  is  born,"  &c,  which  I  suppose  no 
Christian  would  desire  to  set  aside.  Kennicott  says  :  "  The  text 
contains  two  distinct  prophecies  ;  each  literal,  and  each  to  be  un- 
derstood in  one  sense  only,  the  first  relating  to  Christ,  the  second 
to  Isaiah's  son,  the  first  in  verses  13-15,  the  second  in  verse  16." 
He  also  thus  reads  v.  16,  "  But  before  this  child  (pointing  to  his 
own  son)  shall  know  to  refuse  the  evil,"  &c.  See  Lowth's 
Isaiah,  in  loco.  6.  The  ancient  Jews  applied  this  passage  to  the 
Messiah.  7.  It  may  be  made  to  have  a  probable  connexion  with 
the  context.  The  promise  to  Ahaz  is  for  encouragement :  how  % 
In  no  way  that  I  can  see  if  a  "  young  woman  "  (as  some  say) 
should  bear,  &c.  This  is  no  sign  ;  but  thus — the  perpetuity  of 
David's  kingdom  is  thus  promised  anew,  "  God  remembers  his 
promise  to  David,  and  most  miraculously  shall  it  be  accom- 
plished, a  virgin,"  &c.  8.  Because  if  it  is  not  to  be  taken  as 
prophetical,  the  Hebrew  word  is  not  to  be  rendered  virgin,  which 
meaning  even  the  Jewish  LXX.  give,  and  which  is  the  common 
meaning.  9.  But  I  take  my  stand  upon  the  formula  tva  TrXrjpwSr] 
&c.  If  this  does  not  express  that  a  prediction  was  fulfilled,  how 
could  it  have  been  expressed  1  The  "  accommodation  "  system 
is  that  which  leaves  our  minds  in  most  painful  vacillation,  upon 
every  occurrence  of  a  citation.  The  Bible  is  written  for  plain 
men,  and  the  whole  Christian  church  has  rejoiced  in  this  passage 
as  a  prediction  and  a  promise,  until  within  a  few  years.  Many 
other  acknowledged  predictions  are  just  as  much  perplexed  in 
the  original  context,  and  my  mind  finds  no  rest,  if  I  am  left  to 
find  out  for  myself,  when  the  formula  "  it  is  fulfilled  "  means  ful- 
filment, and  when  it  means  something  else.  Why  may  not  that 
God,  who  through  all  ages  was  looking  forward  to  the  Advent, 
interpose  among  irrelative  matters  a  prediction,  which  besides 
its  proximate  application,  referred  forward  to  Christ  %  especially 
when  men  were  to  be  inspired  to  expound  and  apply  the  predic- 
tion. I  fear  that  in  the  end,  all  the  types  in  which  the  church 
has  hitherto  found  so  much  of  the  Saviour,  and  most  of  the 
prophecies  concerning  him  shall  be  discarded.  The  Jews  apply 
Isa.  ix.  6,  to  Hezekiah  ;  and  why  not  ?  if  the  context  is  to  decide. 
So  far  my  comments  upon  this  loms  vexatissimas.  It  is  very 
lately  that  I  learned  that  any  Christian  writer  doubted  about  this 
verse,  though  I  know  how  the  principle,  upon  which  this  evidence 
is  set  aside,  has  been  used  by  all  the  German  neologists. 

The  other  subject  is,  to  my  mind,  far  more  difficult,  and  a 
complete  reconciliation  of  the  genealogies  in  the  Old  Testament, 
in  Matthew  and  in  Luke,  is  scarcely  to  be  expected  at  the  pres- 
ent day.  The  great  object  was  to  satisfy  the  minds  of  Jews  at 
that  day  ;  and  this,  we  know,  was  accomplished.     The  tables  of 


1829—1832.  153 

pedigree  were  probably  copied  from  public  documents  existing 
at  the  time,  and  acknowledged  to  be  the  best.  We  are  very 
much  in  the  dark  with  regard  to  the  laws  (often  arbitrary)  by 
which  genealogical  tables  were  constructed.  We  know,  however, 
of  some  anomalies  ;  as  for  instance,  that,  among  the  Hebrews,  a 
man  was  often  said  to  be  the  son  of  his  grandfather,  or  even  of  a 
more  remote  progenitor  ;  and  again,  that  in  defect  of  male  issue 
when  the  list  ended  in  a  woman,  her  husband  was  named  as  the 
son  of  her  father.  The  omission  of  several  names  in  the  line  of 
succession  cannot  now  be  fully  accounted  for.  It  is  evident, 
however,  that  it  did  not  vitiate  the  pedigree,  for  Matthew  surely 
knew  as  well  as  we  can,  the  exact  line  of  kings,  &c,  and  the 
great  object  was  to  have  a  list  brought  down  from  some  ancient 
progenitor.  It  is  doubtful  why  the  generations  are  divided  into 
three  periods  of  fourteen  each.  It  could  not  be  with  a  view  of 
fixing  the  exact  number  of  the  whole  line,  for  then  none  would 
have  been  omitted  ;  besides,  to  make  out  the  number  fourteen  in 
each  of  these  periods,  the  person  who  ends  the  first  must  begin 
the  next,  and  the  person  who  closes  the  second,  must  stand  at 
the  head  of  the  last,  and  Jesus  must  not  be  included  in  the  last. 
Thus  :  1.  Abraham — David  ;  2.  David — Josias  ;  3.  Josias — 
Joseph,  each  fourteen. 

This  division  into  fourteens,  I  take  to  have  been  a  mnemoni- 
cal  contrivance,  which  may  explain  some  of  the  omissions.  Each 
period  commences  with  some  important  epoch,  and  as  they  were 
nearly  equal,  the  names  were  so  arranged  as  to  make  them  per- 
fectly so.  From  Abraham  to  David,  you  will  observe  that  all 
three  lists  coincide.  It  is  plain  also  that  Matthew  does  not  con- 
fine himself  to  the  natural  descent,  but  gives  the  legal,  as  where 
he  calls  Salathiel  the  son  of  Jechonias ;  while  Luke,  from  Eli 
upwards,  gives  the  natural  line.  Strange  to  say,  I  have  found 
most  satisfaction  on  this  difficult  subject  in  Dr.  Adam  Clarke's 
Commentary,  which  I  beg  you  will  look  at.  He  gives  a  full 
analysis  of  the  learned  Dr.  Barret's  investigations  of  the  whole 
matter.  As  an  instance  of  five  or  six  generations  omitted  in  a 
genealogical  table,  see  Ezra  vii.  his  own  pedigree — [then  follows 
a  citation  from  Lightfoot  on  v.  16.] 

As  you  are  upon  the  subject  of  Natural  History,  let  me  say, 
that  by  far  the  best  account  which  I  have  seen  of  the  Camel  and 
the  Lion,  is  contained  in  the  first  vol.  of  the  Library  of  Enter- 
taining Knowledge.  The  authorities  there  cited,  are  recent  and 
highly  respectable. — I  congratulate  you  upon  the  reappearance  of 
the  sun,  after  so  long  a  succession  of  clouds  and  rains.  I  take  it 
for  granted  that  this  English  weather  has  contributed  greatly  to 
the  emolument  of  Dr.  H.,  the  antidyspeptic  bookseller. — In 
vol.  i. — 7* 


154:  WHILE    PASTOE    IN    TRENTON. 

looking  over  the  late  numbers  of  the  Library  of  Useful  Knowl- 
edge, 1  am  surprised  to  find  a  History  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, and  still  more  to  discover,  upon  perusal,  that  it  is  thorough- 
ly American  in  its  tone.  Even  in  the  matter  of  Major  Andre, 
there  is  not  a  word  of  reproach.  This  sufficiently  indicates  the 
Whiggism  of  the  Society. — My  enthusiasm  about  the  French 
Revolution  has  come  down  to  zero.  We  may  well  fear  a  repeti- 
tion of  former  enormities  in  Paris. — There  is  to  be,  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  next  month,  in  Milford,  Hunterdon  county,  New  Jer- 
sey, a  public  disputation  between  one  Lane,  a  member  and  teach- 
er of  the  Christ-ian  sect,  and  the  Rev.  William  L.  McCalla,  upon 
the  divinity  of  Christ  and  kindred  subjects.  There  has  been  great 
excitement  in  these  parts,  produced  by  the  irruption  of  these 
heretics.  I  should  very  much  like  to  be  present  at  the  conflict, 
but  the  weather  is  so  precarious  at  this  season,  that  I  must  pro- 
bably content  myself  with  a  distant  rumour.  If  W.  L.  Mc.  C 
must  fight,  I  wish  it  might  always  be  with  those  who  are  without 
I  saw  an  Album  the  other  day,  in  which  the  great  Mr.  Web 
ster  had  inserted  the  following  gem ;  I  give  it  verbatim  : 

"  Some  to  this  Album  may  give  fame, 
And  some  may  get  fame  from  it ; 
Among  the  last  my  place  I  claim, 
And  write  my  name  upon  it. 

D.  "Webster." 

Trenton,  December  20,  1830. 
I  can  with  great  sincerity  plead  the  abundance  of  my  indis- 
pensable labours  in  excuse  of  my  delay  in  answering  your  long 
and  acceptable  letter.  Sickness  among  my  people,  absence  from 
home,  and  a  number  of  supernumerary  engagements  have  filled 
up  every  available  niche  of  time.  I  regret  that  in  the  Barnes  con- 
troversy so  much  acrimony  and  personal  rancour  have  prevailed. 
My  mind  has  been  much  harassed  by  the  invitation  of  the  A.  S.  S. 
Union.1  I  gave  their  first  offer  a  refusal,  but  received  soon  after 
a  pressing  letter  from  Mr.  A.  Henry,  and  an  "  ambassage  "  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Porter  and  Vinton,  who  held  a  colloquy  with 
me  of  some  hours.  After  all  my  meditations,  I  have  pretty 
much  determined  to  stay  where  I  am.  Upon  making  the  trial, 
my  feelings  will  not  suffer  me  at  present  to  give  up  the  proper 
work  of  the  ministry.  This,  however,  should  not  be  rumoured, 
until  I  have  formally  notified  the  gentlemen  of  the  Board.  You 
know  that  I  would  rather  live  in  Philadelphia  than  anywhere 
else,  and  that  I  have  peculiar  difficulties  in  parochial  duties,  yet 
after  seeeking  divine  direction,  and  communing  with  my  conscience, 

1  To  enter  its  service  as  a  secretary. 


1829—1832.  155 

I  cannot  see  my  path  clearly  marked  out  in  that  direction,  and  T 
dare  not  follow  an  impulse  of  mere  inclination.  A  year  hence, 
circumstances  might  so  change  in  my  congregation  as  to  alter 
my  views,  but  at  present  I  feel  justified  in  declining  ;  especially 
as  I  am  conscious  of  no  peculiar  fitness  for  this  special  office. 
Dr.  Thomas  Y.  How,  once  so  famous  for  his  pulpit  eloquence, 
and  his  controversy  with  Dr.  Miller,  is  here  delivering  lectures  on 
Political  and  Moral  subjects,  with  a  voluntary  collection  at  the 
close.  I  have  not  heard  him,  as  his  first  lecture  only  has  been 
delivered,  and  that  on  Sunday  evening.  I  have  at  last  fallen  in 
with  Howe's  works,  and  find  myself  possessed  of  a  rich  mine  of 
truth  and  piety.  He  is  profound,  and  (for  the  age)  elegant,  and 
his  spiritual  flights  are  the  most  sublime  and  sustained  I  have 
ever  read.  The  latter  part  of  his  "  Living  Temple,'  is  among  the 
most  original,  striking,  and  impulsive  works  1  have  ever  seen. 
Above  all,  I  wonder  at  his  singularly  Catholic  spirit,  in  an  age 
when  the  "  mint,  anise,  and  cummin  "  were  deemed  so  weighty. 

We  have  had  a  horrid  case  of  death  from  Mania  a  potu  ;  the 
victim  was  one  of  the  most  violent  opponents  of  our  Temperance 
Society,  a  few  weeks  ago.  Another  drunkard  is  now  vomiting 
blood,  and  like  to  die.  Yet  I  suppose  not  one  drunkard  will  take 
warning.  The  man  who  told  me  these  circumstances,  I  saw  in 
liquor  half  an  hour  afterwards.  Every  day  I  am  more  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  being  zealous  in  the  Temperance  Refor- 
mation. I  am  reading  Robert  Hall's  works  with  much  gout ; 
but  am  astonished  at  his  political  venom.  Yet  I  own  some  of 
the  acts  of  our  administration  go  far  to  make  me  likemincled.  I 
have  got  no  credit  from  having  taken  part  with  the  miserable 
Indians  in  a  sermon  on  Thanksgiving  day. 

You  must  pardon  my  unusual  brevity  ;  I  am  absolutely  worn 
out  with  writing  all  day.  You  cannot  write  too  soon,  or  too 
long.     "  Ros  cceli  sit  super  habitaculum  tuum  !  " 

Trenton,  January  8,  1831. 
As  to  the  Barnes  controversy  I  may  say  that  I  should  feel 
very  badly  if  it  should  ever  become  necessary  for  me  to  give  a 
vote  upon  it.  Viewing  it  in  gross,  I  am  clear  that  the  measures 
of  the  Orthodox  party  were  uncalled  for,  and  inconsistent  with 
their  toleration  of  such  men  as  *  *  *  *  *  *,  Their  spirit 
has  been  bitter  and  unfraternal,  yet  that  of  the  Moderate  men 
has  not  been  altogether  dove-like.  With  respect  to  what  I  con- 
sider the  fundamental  principle  of  Mr.  B.'s  friends,  viz. :  that  it 
is  unconstitutional  to  condemn  a  book,  without  arraigning  its 
author,  and  that  Presbytery  is  incompetent  to  examine  into  the 
orthodoxy  or  heterodoxy  of  a  member,  without  a  regular  accusa- 


156  WHILE    PASTOR   IN   TKENTON. 

tion,  I  am  fully  with  the  present  majority.  The  eases  of  Davis, 
Craighead,  &c,  are  precedents  which  establish  the  principle; 
and  I  should  feel  free  at  any  time,  as  a  member  of  any  judica- 
ture, to  call  up  and  censure  any  book,  of  any  sect,  by  which  the 
purity  of  the  church  might  be  endangered.  As  to  the  probable 
result  in  the  General  Assembly,  I  do  not  see  how  any  thing  can 
come  up  before  that  body,  except  the  mere  question  of  order,  as 
to  the  right  of  examining  the  book.  At  the  time  when  the  com- 
plainants appealed  to  the  higher  court,  there  had  been  no  definitive 
sentence  passed  upon  Mr.  Barnes  or  his  sermon.  1  see  no  way, 
therefore,  in  which  their  final  decision  can  be  adduced  in  the 
General  Assembly,  in  any  orderly  manner.  That  body  will, 
therefore,  I  hope,  throw  the  matter  out  of  doors,  after  deciding 
the  point  of  order  ;  as  to  which,  we  may  presume,  there  cannot 
be  much  debate,  unless  it  is  taken  up  as  a  mere  party  question. 
My  impressions  upon  reading  Mr.  Barnes'  defence  are  twofold. 
I  am  gratified  to  perceive  that  he  is  so  much  nearer  the  truth  than 
I  had  supposed.  1  am  pained  at  the  want  of  candour  in  many 
parts  of  that  production.  In  illustration  let  me  refer  you  to  the 
paragraph-  in  which  he  justifies  his  assertion,  that  it  is  easier  for 
an  unregenerate  man  to  love  God,  than  to  hate  him.  His  reply 
does  not  touch  the  objection,  and  involves  a  violent  jierversion 
of  common  language.  Not  one  reader  in  ten  thousand  would 
have  alighted  upon  the  construction  which  he  gives  the  phrases. 
In  common  candour,  he  ought  to  have  taken  back,  or  qualified 
those  unhappy  expressions.  The  defence  of  his  statements  on 
Imputation,  is  plainly  an  after  thought,  and  the  ground  taken 
very  diverse  from  that  of  the  sermon.  His  allegations  concern- 
ing the  old  Calvinists,  are,  I  think,  triumphantly  answered  in  the 
article  on  Imputation  in  the  Repertory. 

Can  you  tell  me  under  whose  auspices  my  father's  Evidences 
have  been  published  in  England,  or  any  thing  about  the  edition  1 
We  shall  have  a  terrible  attack  upon  Hopkinson's  Sunday  Mail 
Review,  in  the  forthcoming  Repertory.  I  suppose  that  Walsh 
will  be  full  of  ire  or  contempt.  You  have,  no  doubt,  read  some 
of  the  speeches  of  Sir  Henry  Parnell,  wrho  seemed  to  have  a 
principal  hand  in  oversetting  the  Wellington  administration. 
Mr.  Hodge  gave  me  some  anecdotes  concerning  his  eldest  son  and 
heir,  which  I  think  will  interest  you.  When  Hodge  was  in 
Paris,  he  lodged  at  the  house  of  Oberlin,  (nephew  of  the  cele- 
brated,) and  had  for  a  chamber-fellow  this  John  Parnell,  whom  he 
describes  as  the  most  eminently  devoted  and.  pious  young  man 
he  ever  knew.  His  father  offered  him  preferment,  with  the  cer- 
tainty of  a  Bishopric  in  the  established  church,  which  he  declined. 
He  then  procured  him  a  commission  in  the  Duke  of  Gloucester's 


1829—1832.  157 

Cold-stream  regiment,  which  he  resigned  while  at  Paris.  He 
lived  in  the  plainest  style,  and  gave  away  every  little  saving  in 
charity.  He  used  to  rise  at  three  every  morning  for  devotion,  and 
was  at  heart  a  Dissenter  and  a  Calvinist.  Mr.  Hodge  read  me 
this  week,  a  letter  which  he  had  just  got  from  him  at  Marseilles. 
He  was  on  his  way  to  Persia  as  a  missionary  at  Bagdad,  and  was 
supporting  (as  H.  supposes)  the  large  company  with  whom  he 
goes.  The  worst  is  that  none  of  them  are  ordained.  They  go 
as  missionaries  of  Irving's  "  true  Apostolical  School."  I  am 
alarmed  at  the  progress  of  the  ultra-temperance  doctrine  ;  I  mean 
that  of  Stuart's  tract,  that  total  abstinence  ought  to  be  made  a 
term  of  church  communion.  It  will  undoubtedly  produce  great 
divisions  in  our  church,  if  it  receive  any  countenance.  Think 
of  it,  and  put  something  in  the  Advocate,  if  you  agree  with  me. 
I  have  just  been  forestalled  in  a  little  work  for  which  I  have 
been  preparing  a  Bible  Gazetteer.  The  A..  S.  S.  U.  have  applied 
to  Rezeau  Brown,  the  author  of  Franke's  life,  to  do  it.  The  aver- 
age majority  of  the  Clay  Congressional  ticket  in  New  Jersey,  is 
1094.  The  whole  ticket  has  gone  in.  It  turned  principally  on 
the  Indian  question.  Pollok's  Course  of  Time  is  even  more 
popular  in  Germany  than  in  England  and  America.  It  is  trans- 
lated by  one  of  the  most  popular  preachers,  William  Hey,  IJof- 
prediger  (court  preacher)  at  Gotha.  Find  out  for  me  some 
Catholic  work,  which  may  do  for  a  Review  in  the  Repertory,  and 
lead  me  to  study  that  controversy  carefully. 

Trenton,  February  8,  1831. 
Do  you  see  the  magnificent  relinquishment  of  $300,000  by 
John  Watts,  of  New  York,  in  favour  of  an  Orphan  House  %  May 
the  blessings  of  heaven  rest  on  him  and  his  seed  !  I  think  I  see 
every  day  new  signs  of  increasing  beneficence  in  the  Christian 
work.  The  late  "  Missionary  Reporter  "  contains  several  cheer- 
ing notices.  I  preached  last  Lord's  day  evening  from  Psalm 
lxxii. ;  a  precious  passage.  Read  it  once  more.  Our  Presbytery 
will  probably  determine  to  support  one  missionary  in  the  foreign 
field,  under  the  A.  B.  C.  P.  M.  How  pleasant  it  would  be  if 
every  Presbytery  would  begin  to  do  its  duty  by  adopting  this 
measure.  Edward  Kirk's  church,  in  Albany,  which  is  composed 
chiefly  of  poor  persons,  sends  regularly,  once  a  month,  $50  to 
the  Board  at  Boston.  If  our  Presbyteries  would  take  this  in 
hand,  several  objects  would  be  attained  :  1.  The  churches  would 
feel  more  interest ;  2.  The  money  would  be  more  easily  collect- 
ed ;  3.  The  fears  of  the  orthodox  lest  unsound  men  should  be 
sent,  might  be  precluded ;  4.  And  piety  at  home  would  un- 
doubtedly revive.     The  kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  will 


158  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

have  learned  from  him.  Truly  he  has  been  "  eyes  "  to  me  all 
the  way,  by  reason  of  his  stupendous  topical  penetration. 

I  spent  some  days  at  Helensburgh  opposite  Greenock  on  the 
Clyde,  at  Mr.  Mitchell's.  On  the  Sabbath  I  preached  once  for 
Mr.  McEwen.  The  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  ministers  spend 
more  time  in  summering  and  in  excursions,  than  those  of  the 
United  States,  while  their  climate  gives  less  reason  for  it.  The 
colleges  and  theological  halls  have  a  vacation  of  at  least  six 
entire  months.     But  the  places  of  worship  are  never  shut  up. 

It  is  altogether  impossible  for  me  to  describe  the  kindness  I 
received  at  Glasgow.  The  M.'s  are  a  generation  even  beyond 
their  own  countrymen. 

Belfast,  September  1*7,  1851. 
I  arrived  here  on  the  12th.  There  are  seventeen  Presby- 
terian churches  in  Belfast.  I  heard  Dr.  Cook  at  his  church,  on 
fellowship  with  God ;  I  regard  him  as  the  nearest  perfection  as 
an  elegant  orator,  of  all  1  have  met  with.  His  hospitalities  were 
Irish  and  Christian.  We  mounted  a  jaunting-car,  and  rode  by 
Carrickfergus,  Ballygelly,  and  Ballycastle  to  the  Giant's  Cause- 
way. All  along  the  incomparable  coast  of  Glenarm  Bay,  people 
were  bathing.  The  world  can  scarcely  offer  a  more  delightful 
place,  and  the  day  was  mildly  warm,  with  a  golden  haze.  Fair 
Head  is  a  lofty  sea-mark,  a  promontory  of  majestic  loveliness. 
Bengore  Head  is  second  only  to  this ;  and  the  intervening  long 
sweep  of  bay,  shut  in  by  the  isle  of  Rathlin,  with  its  blue  pearly 
heights,  almost  sickened  me  with  its  fairy-like  softness.  We 
reached  the  excellent  inn  at  the  Giant's  Causeway  about  the  end 
of  the  long  northern  twilight.  In  all  my  journey ings,  there  is 
no  day  I  would  more  gladly  repeat.  The  people  interest  me 
more  than  any  thing  else.  How  sharp  and  how  merry !  The 
mixture  of  Scots  and  Irish  here,  is  very  obvious.  In  the  oats- 
field  they  show  finely.  Here  only  among  their  own  scenes  can 
Irish  beauty  be  seen.  I  have  seen  many  faces,  which  had  the 
beauty  of  expression,  among  the  poor  women  and  girls.  Tues- 
day was  given  to  the  Causeway  and  accessories.  Description  is 
unnecessary.  From  the  Causeway  in  a  jaunting-car  through  the 
county  Antrim.  There  are  no  barns.  The  grain  is  stacked,  and 
hereabouts  in  beautiful  English-looking  ricks.  The  land  is  very 
fertile,  and  wherever  an  owner  has  it  in  hand  presents  a  noble 
appearance  ;  but  in  the  poor,  little  patches  of  the  cotters,  even 
here  in  Antrim,  it  is  a  chance  agriculture,  like  the  slovenly 
patches  about  a  negro-quarter.  They  live  from  hand  to  mouth. 
You  pass  single  cottages,  and  groups  of  cottages,  all  in  ruins,  as 
after  a  fire.     These  are  of  people  who,  ruined  by  the  rot,  have 


1851.  159 

been  swept  into  the  fine  spacious  poor-houses.  The  cottages  are 
all  of  rough  stone  and  thatched.  Their  general  average  look 
is  thus  :  [Here  is  a  pen  and  ink  sketch  of  a  hovel.]  Out  of 
such  houses  I  have  again  and  again  seen  handsome  and  joyous 
families  pouring,  with  here  and  there  a  pallid,  fever-looking 
creature.  So  open  and  welcoming  a  smile  I  never  saw  prevail 
in  any  human  faces.  Calves  walk  in  and  out  of  many  cottages 
as  freely  as  the  yellow-haired  children.  About  Antrim  and 
especially  the  Moravian  settlement,  Grace  Hill,  we  see  what  care 
and  taste  may  do.  Such  vales,  such  hills,  such  gateways,  bleach- 
ing grounds  like  fields  of  snow,  such  hedges,  and  such  green  and 
gold,  as  even  Devonshire  might  own.  Such  might  all  Ireland 
be,  if  the  priests  had  chosen  to  instruct  their  slaves. 


Dublin,  September  17,  1851. 

From  Belfast  we  crossed  the  county  Armagh  to  Castle 
Blayney  and  Dublin.  Thus  far,  there  is  no  part  of  my  travels 
which  I  would  so  readily  repeat,  as  my  Irish  trip.  The  mode 
of  travelling,  the  roads,  the  access  to  the  people,  the  awakening 
of  human  sympathies,  the  physical  geography,  the  rapid  com- 
parison of  races,  must  make  me  ever  mindful  of  it.  I  have 
seen  grander  scenes,  and  a  few  more  beautiful,  but  none  more 
lovely  than  all  Ulster  and  a  part  of  Leinster.  True  I  see  much 
misery,  but  compassion  is  a  healthful  feeling ;  and  while  I  admire 
some  nations,  I  can  truly  add  I  love  the  Irish.  For  surface  I 
believe  there  is  no  such  country  in  the  world.  I  have  seen  no 
part,  out  of  towns,  where  there  is  any  level.  The  roads  are  as 
smooth  as  this  table.  You  have  no  idea  of  the  demigods  the 
priests  have  become.  They  might  this  day  make  Ireland  happy, 
by  teaching  their  wretched  worshippers  to  read,  to  build,  to  till, 
and  to  keep  clean.  The  Protestant  regions  are  like  Scotland ; 
you  can  instantly  tell  the  difference  by  rags,  stench,  and  merry 
ignorance. 

Dublin  shows  extremes  of  magnificence  and  squalid  woe, 
such  as  seldom  meet.  .  The  better  sort  of  people  strike  me  as 
the  handsomest  I  ever  saw.  There  is  one  type  of  face  which 
predominates  and  is  peculiarly  Irish — black  hair  and  eye-lashes, 
large  clear  blue  eyes,  red  and  white  skin  of  unusual  delicacy,  and 
a  joyous,  arch  expression  playing  through  all.  Happy  Dublin, 
if  it  were  not  the  capital  of  a  ruined  land.1 

1  Leaving  Dublin  the  19th  September,  the  traveller  passed  through  Kil- 
dare,  Thurles,  Inch,  Limerick.  Thence  by  Ennis,  (County  Clare),  Gort, 
(County  Galway,)  to  Galway,  the  fifth  city  of  Ireland,  but  "far,  far  beyond 
all  I  ever  dreamed  of  for  squalor,  filth,  and  poverty."     On  the  22d  left  Gal- 


160  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

most  sturdy,  old-fashioned  Dutch  and  Scotch  Presbyterians  have 
been  conciliated  and  gained  over.  I  know  how  to  understand 
the  suspicious  feelings  of  many  of  your  old  people.  It  is  the 
reigning  sentiment  among  the  more  influential  persons  of  my 
church.  The  foreign  news  by  the  Sully  up  to  the  19th  ult., 
looks  more  and  more  like  war.  I  cannot  help  feeling  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  efforts  of  the  Poles  ;  but  how  is  it  possible  for  them 
to  avoid  the  impending  tempest !  How  unfortunate  it  is  that 
they  have  not  revolutionized  their  language !  Czartoryski, 
Czarnocki,  Astrawsky,  Wladislas-Ostrowsky,  Barzykowsky  :  "  a 
book  was  writ  of  late  called  Tetrachordon  " — see  Milton's  son- 
net. The  first  article  in  the  next  Repertory  [April,  1831]  is 
from  my  father,  containing  the  substance  of  his  lecture  on  pre- 
destination, which  some  of  his  students  esteem  one  of  his  best 
attempts  at  Theologizing. 

Trenton,  March  10,  1831. 
I  am  not  able  to  take  "  the  Presbyterian,"  though  I  am 
pleased  with  the  numbers  which  they  sent  me.  It  is  devoutly 
to  be  wished,  that  in  "  contending  for  the  faith  "  which  is  enjoin- 
ed, they  may  not  "  strive,"  which  is  forbidden.  A  large  number 
of  persons  will  be  suspicious  of  the  paper  from  their  dread  of 
contention.  The  Misadelphia1  Presbytery  has  not  gained  much 
credit  in  the  view  of  those  who  hear  the  bruit,  without  under- 
standing the  matter  in  debate.  I  fear  that  the  Sunday  School 
Journal  will  become  flat  from  the  introduction  of  so  many  jour- 
nals, which  will  give  it  the  intolerable  sameness  of  the  [Mission- 
ary] Reporter.  This  I  should  greatly  regret,  for  I  know  of  no 
religious  paper  more  likely  to  be  extensively  useful.  The  ac- 
counts from  New  York  are  truly  cheering.  In  some  of  the  little 
neighbourhoods  near  Princeton,  in  which  the  Seminary  students 
labour,  there  are  pleasing  signs  of  religious  awakening  ;  as  also 
in  Queeenston,  or  Jugtown,  the  N.  E.  extremity  of  the  village, 
several  conversions.  I  have  spent  some  truly  delightful  hours 
with  Mr.  Nasmith,2  the  City  Mission  man.  Both  my  people  and 
myself  have,  I  trust,  been  refreshed  and  awakened  by  meeting 
with  him.  Seldom  have  I  met  with  so  much  zeal  with  so  little 
roughness.  It  is  true  my  opportunities  of  judging  were  slender, 
yet  I  cannot  but  rank  him  among  the  best  men  of  the  age.  He 
was  the  intimate  friend  of  John  Urquhart,  of  whose  writing  he 

1  Altering  the  prefix  of  the  city's  Greek  name,  to  denote  the  prevailing 
polemics. 

2  David  Nasmith,  from  Scotland,  was  instrumental  in  promoting  various 
organizations  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  benefit  of  the  poor  in  the 
United  States,  as  well  as  in  Great  Britain.     He  died  in  18S9. 


1829—1832.  161 

showed  me  a  specimen ;  also  a  letter  of  Legh  Richmond  to  him- 
self, just  after  the  death  of  his  son  Wilberforce ;  autograph  let- 
ters and  documents  of  Joseph  Wolff,  Mr.  Judson,  Earl  Raw  don, 
Dr.  Greville  Ewing,  Dr.  Patterson  of  Russia,  Wardlaw,  and 
the  author  of  the  (Glasgow)  Protestant,  David  Brown,  and  Dr. 
Morrison  of  China,  and  Marshman  of  Serampore,  &c,  &c.  He 
is  a  remarkable  young  man  for  energy,  and  I  may  add  talents, 
and  I  hope  you  will  find  him  an  agreeable  and  profitable  friend. 
If  he  has  not  letters  to  Mr.  Barnes,  I  wish  you  would  use  means 
to  have  them  brought  into  contact.  Some  good  will  come  of  it. 
I  am  not  sure  that  Mr.  Nasmith's  plan  of  City  Missions  may  not 
require  important  modifications  to  adapt  it  to  America,  but  it  is 
a  noble  enterprise.  If  carried  out,  it  is  a  powerful  organization 
of  our  churches  as  missionary  bodies.  New  York  has  deter 
mined  to  have  forty  of  these  agents  or  missionaries  in  that  city, 
Charleston  eight.  We  are  resolved  to  make  a  trial  here.  In  the 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  the  number  of  young  men  who  have 
devoted  themselves  to  foreign  missions,  is  greater  than  the  whole 
number  of  those  who  have  actually  gone  into  the  field  in  time 
past.  This  is  a  good  indication ;  but  are  there  not  wonderful 
signs  of  the  times,  in  every  direction  to  which  we  can  turn  our 
eyes  1  May  the  Lord  enable  us,  my  dear  friend,  to  live  in  the 
enjoyment  of  a  spirit  consonant  with  these  things  !  I  have 
been  sadly  thinking  this  morning  of  my  own  stupidity  and  in- 
sufficiency. I  am  a  barren  tree,  long  spared,  in  infinite  mercy  ; 
but  when  will  it  be  otherwise  %  If  I  could  live  one  year  as  I 
ought  to  live,  even  as  some  do  live,  how  gladly  would  I  give  up 
all  that  there  is  in  life.  I  speak  my  genuine  sentiments  when  I  say 
I  know  not  what  to  do  ;  I  feel  that  I  am  a  babe.  On  one  hand  is 
dependence  on  myself;  it  has  cast  me  down  a  thousand  times,  so 
that  I  fear  to  make  a  resolution  ;  on  the  other  hand  is  listlessness 
and  inaction  ;  through  the  influence  of  which  I  wait,  and  wait,  and 
wait — and  do  nothing.  Let  us  pray  for  one  another,  as  I  still 
have  a  hope  that  we  know  how  to  pray.  I  have  some  comfort  in 
hat  precious  word,  1  John  ii.  1-3. 

Trenton,  If  arch  29,  1831. 
The  Presbyterian  pleases  me  very  much,  and  is  thus  far  a 
very  instructive  paper.  Pray  who  is  the  author  of  the  "  Expe- 
riences "  %  They  go  to  my  very  heart,  and  seem  to  me  to  give  the 
hint  for  the  right  kind  of  religious  diary.  I  requested  the  print- 
er to  hand  you  such  proofs  of  this  No.  [of  Repertory]  as  contain 
Greek  and  Hebrew.  Remember  that  my  omission  of  the  ac- 
cents is  intentional,  and  a  measure  to  which  I  am  driven  by  des- 
peration of  their  ever  putting  them   right.     I  insert  only  the 


162  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

spiritus  asper.  I  cannot  read  a  number  of  the  names  in  your 
list,  and  many  words  in  your  letters  I  discover  only  by  circum- 
stantial evidence.     Still  you  are  better  than  Mr. .     An 

article  of  his  was  sent  to  the  Committee,  and  after  being  attempt- 
ed by  three,  was  thrown  aside  in  despair  ;  it  was  absolutely  illeg- 
ible. His  other  piece  was  well  copied,  and  is  much  approved. 
You  have  perhaps  heard  of  the  awakening  around  Princeton.  It 
ought  not  to  have  been  mentioned  in  the  papers.  In  Princeton 
proper,  there  is  little  or  no  revival,  except  in  college.  They 
have  had  a  four-days'  meeting  there  ;  with  what  results  I  know 
not.  I  should  have  attended,  had  I  not  been  kept  here  by  a  con- 
currence of  duties.  My  own  people  are  in  a  lamentable  condi- 
tion, yet  I  have  in  my  own  feelings  more  encouragement  than 
ever  since  I  have  been  here,  and  have  been  enabled  for  some 
time  past,  to  give  myself  almost  wholly  to  pastoral  labours  ;  so 
that  my  breast  is  quite  sore  with  the  unintermitted  exertion  of 
lungs  in  singing,  and  prayer,  and  talking.  The  members  of  the 
church  are  evidently  more  awake,  giving  more  attention  to  the 
signs  of  the  times,  and  joining  cordially  in  little  family  circles 
for  conference,  religious  intelligence,  and  prayer ;  but  the  body 
of  the  people  and  many  in  the  church  are  dead.  For  the  last  six 
evenings  I  have  attended  meetings  in  different  precincts,  each  of 
which  was  more  encouraging  than  the  preceding.  Last  Sunday 
afternoon  I  preached  to  the  convicts  in  the  State's  prison.  A 
more  attentive  audience  I  never  had.  Every  eye  was  fixed  ;  no 
averted  look,  no  smiles,  no  shuffling,  and  at  least  a  dozen  were 
in  tears.  I  spoke  from  the  parable  of  the  prodigal,  and  they 
seemed  to  sing  with  peculiar  life — 

"  Take  off  his  clothes  of  sin  and  shame, 
The  father  gives  command,"  &c. 

I  think  1  never  felt  more  the  unspeakable  privilege  of  preach- 
ing the  "  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  Last  week  I  conversed 
with  those  who  are  in  the  cells  ;  one  of  whom  was  once  an  at- 
tendant (four  times  only)  on  our  Sunday  School ;  and  another 
(24  years  old)  a  convicted  robber.  The  latter  is  as  mild  and 
comely  a  youth  as  you  could  well  select ;  yet  he  has  twice 
knocked  down  his  keepers,  and  nearly  killed  a  turnkey.  Both  of 
these  men  heard  me  with  attention  and  tenderness.  Let  me 
recommend  to  you,  if  you  have  not  attempted  it,  to  try  the  de- 
lightful experiment  of  taking  the  gospel  into  the  cells  of  your 
prisons,  and  to  keep  notes  of  cases  and  conversations.  I  have 
made  some  fruitless  attempts  to  have  a  Bible  class  among  the 
blacks ;  they  are  strangely'  averse  to  white  interference.  Since 
I  lived  in  Virginia,  I  feel  a  peculiar   yearning  over   these  poor 


1829—1832.  163 

creatures,  and  sometimes  feel  as  if  I  could  joyfully  devote  myself 
to  labouring  among  them.  The  heavy  rain  keeps  me  from  a  row 
of  visits  which  I  had  intended  to  make  at  this  hour,  and  such  is 
my  guilty  disinclination  to  this  duty,  that  I  am  almost  glad  of 
the  excuse.  This  and  other  kindred  feelings  convince  me  that  I 
lack  that  love  of  souls  which  is  the  only  permanent  spur  to  min- 
isterial faithfulness.  Yet  I  sometimes  feel  a  persuasion  that  the 
Lord  will  accept,  for  Christ's  sake,  a  duty  performed  against  the 
current  of  natural  feelings,  faithfully  and  tremblingly,  even  if  it 
is  not  so  much  a  free-will  offering  as  a  self-denial.  Though  I 
have  not  the  experience  I  desire,  yet  I  think  I  long  for  it  more 
than  for  any  earthly  happiness.  Were  it  not  for  the  Repertory, 
I  should  try  to  spend  a  week  in  New  York. 

By  all  means  put  in  practice  your  project  of  turning  to 
Greek  and  Hebrew.  Let  me,  however,  forewarn  you,  that  if  you 
use  Stuart's  Hebrew  Grammar,  you  will  become  a  Hebraist,  not 
by  it,  but  in  spite  of  it. 

Trenton,  April  14,  1831. 
Since  I  last  wrote,  it  has  pleased  God  to  make  me  the  father 
of  a  boy  ;  for  which,  and  the  comfortable  state  in  which  my  wife 
is,  I  desire  to  be  deeply  thankful.  This  event,  which  is  an  epoch 
in  our  poor  little  lives,  took  place  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  inst. 
The  child  is  called  "  Archibald  George,"  as  simple  Archibald  is  no 
designation  in  our  family.  When  I  consider  how  great  the  suf- 
ferings of  the  female  sex  are,  I  scarcely  know  how  to  explain  the 
matter,  or  assign  the  final  cause,  unless  it  be  that  God  in  great 
mercy  chooses  to  apply  suffering,  as  a  means  of  grace,  to  those 
w7ho  are  intended  to  be  useful  in  forming  the  infant  mind  and 
giving  early  impressions.  Since  last  Sabbath  (our  communion 
then  occurred)  wTe  perceive  something  like  a  more  awakened  state 
of  feeling  amongst  us.  Several,  I  believe,  to  be  deeply  anxious, 
and  several  converted,  and  a  number  more  in  that  peculiar  state 
of  susceptibility  and  attention,  which  is  neither  conviction,  nor 
yet  indifference,  but  a  mean  betwixt  the  two.  Could  I  divide 
myself  into  a  dozen,  I  might  find  ample  employment.  Some 
men  perform  this  operation  by  means  of  their  zealous  members  ; 
but  we  are  not  sufficiently  awake  for  my  congregation  to  aid 
much.  Still  it  is  my  hope  that  the  spirit  of  grace  and  supplica- 
tions which  seems  to  be  poured  out,  is  but  the  beginning  of  a 
more  extensive  and  gracious  effusion.  Fifteen  were  admitted  to 
our  communion  on  last  Lord's  day,  ten  of  whom  were  from  the 
Pennsylvania  side  of  the  Delaware.  I  am  solicitous  to  know 
what  are  the  safest  and  best  methods  of  instituting  and  conduct- 
ing inquiry  meetings.     Let  me  know  even  to  particulars  wThat 


164:  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

are  the  results  of  your  observation  during  the  increased  attention 


*& 


to  religion  in  Philadelphia. 

There  are  dangers  attendant  upon  revivals  of  religion,  which 
escape  the  notice  of  those  who  arc  most  active  in  promoting 
them,  while  they  are  obvious  to  sharp-sighted  men,  who  suspect 
the  whole  affair  of  revivals.  "  Fas  est  a  hoste  doceri."  It  is 
unwise  for  some  of  our  brethren  to  repel,  as  they  do,  all  inquiry 
as  to  the  prudence  of  their  measures.  A  great  and  lamentable 
evil,  into  which  weak  but  sometimes  pious  men  fall,  is  the  indis- 
criminate application  of  special  means  to  all  circumstances  and 
cases,  without  regarding  the  principle  upon  which  such  and  such 
measures  have  been  instituted  with  success.  Thus  the  imitators 
of  Mr.  Nettleton  make  sad  work  by  doing  what  they  have  seen 
him  do,  without  possessing  that  almost  superhuman  sagacity 
which  enables  him  to  avoid  failure,  by  addressing  his  efforts  to 
certain  principles  of  human  nature.  This  is,  no  doubt,  religious 
empiricism  ;  and  I  constantly  feel  myself  hampered  by  its  exist- 
ence among  the  more  zealous  part  of  my  flock.  It  is  like  a  good 
quack-ess  of  my  neighbourhood,  who  is  always  saying  :  "  take 
this,"  and  "  take  that."  It  is  the  same  error  under  a  different 
form  with  that  of  the  old  formal,  respectable,  anti-revival  Pres- 
byterians. These  say  :  "  Our  fathers  did  so  and  so,  and  we  will 
do  so  too."  The  others  say  :  "  Mr.  Finney  does  so  and  so,  and 
you  must  do  so."  I  freely  confess  that  I  have  had  much  doubt 
respecting  "  anxious  meetings,"  as  they  are  commonly  called, 
especially  as  I  have  sometimes  seen  them  conducted.  There  is  a 
certain  stage  of  an  awakening  when  they  are  indispensable  ;  i,  e. 
where  the  number  of  seeking  souls  is  great ;  but  many  of  my 
brethren  use  them  as  a  means  of  aivakening.  How  far  is  this 
correct  1  An  individual  is  tender  and  somewhat  alarmed  ;  comes 
with  a  vague  impression  to  the  inquiry-meeting ;  is  conversed 
with  ;  is  visibly  set  apart  as  an  inquirer  ;  is  thus  self-committed  ; 
must  do  something,  or  seem  to  do  something  ;  is  there  not  room 
for  fear  of  evil  1  of  hypocrisy  %  And  from  the  perfunctory  man- 
ner in  which  discourse  is  conducted,  is  there  not  sometimes  much 
daubing  with  untempered  mortar  1  I  want  the  aid  of  your  eyes 
and  judgment  in  this  matter,  and  I  believe  I  propose  my  doubts  in 
the  spirit  of  candour.  I  may  have  a  meeting  of  the  kind  before 
a  week  is  over  my  head.  If  you  will  accept  of  a  translation  I 
made  a  year  ago  of  Gesenius'  Elementarbuch,  extending  as  far 
as  through  the  vowel  system,  you  shall  have  it. 

Tell  Packard  without  delay  to  print  a  set  of  texts  on  the  verse 
ay  stem,  for  at  least  two  months.  Thousands  would  adopt  it  at 
once.  We  can  do  nothing  till  we  have  this  indispensable  basis 
of  union. 


1829—1832.  165 

My  dear  friend,  is  your  heart  attaining  more  and  more  to  a 
felt  communion  with  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  head,  and 
source  of  all  vital  influence  1  Here,  alas  !  I  err  most.  "  Looking 
unto  Jesus,"  is  a  motto  suited  to  every  hour.  Duties  perform- 
ed, as  I  perform  so  many,  with  a  legal  spirit,  are  heavy  to  the 
soul  and  scarcely  acceptable  to  God.  In  word  or  in  deed  to  do 
all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  giving  thanks,  rejoicing, 
relying  on  Him  ;  this  I  find  in  the  New  Testament,  in  Whitefield, 
in  the  Tennents,  in  Newton,  in  some  living  men  ;  but  not  in  all 
who  are  zealous  and  bustling  around  me.  "  To  know  Him,  and 
the  power  of  his  resurrection,  and  the  fellowship  of  His  suffer- 
ings," &c,  Paul,  the  active  Paul,  seemed  to  think  the  great 
mark  at  which  he  might  ever  aim.  Here  I  am  conscious  of  a 
daily  and  habitual  short-coming.  The  Christian  paradox  is, 
When  most  active,  most  dependent.  The  two  ideas  are  beauti- 
fully comprised  in  the  words :  "  I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ  which  strengthened  me."  When  we  are  most  abundant 
in  labours,  we  feel  most  our  dependence  on  God ;  and  if  we 
would  stimulate  ourselves  to  Christian  activity,  we  can  take  no 
better  way  than  to  dwell  in  meditation  and  prayer  on  the  truth 
that  it  is  "  God  who  worketh  in  us,"  &c,  and  that  "  He  giveth 

more  grace."     By  the  bye,  Mr. preached  us  last  evening 

a  plain,  pungent,  sound,  effective  discourse.  If  Cecil  is  right, 
that  "  eloquence  is  vehement  simplicity,"  then  is  elo- 
quent, with  all  his  hemming  and  grossierete.  I  hope  I  have 
learned  something  from  his  earnest,  humble,  and  solemn  manner 
in  private.  I  am  ashamed  of  being  so  timorous  in  a  cause  which 
might  make  a  coward  bold,  and  have  never  appreciated  the  full 
weight  of  the  command,  "  preach  to  every  creature"  as  some 
appear  to  do.  ,  I  should  think,  (having  only  your  frag- 
mentary extract  to  judge  from,)  is  endeavouring  to  persuade 
himself  that  he  is  converted,  upon  insufficient  grounds.  "  Edwards 
on  the  Affections,"  abridged  by  Ellerby,  would  admirably  apply 
to  his  case.  Ah  !  perhaps,  I  sometimes  have  thought,  this  same 
error  is  my  own.  Natural  conscience  and  intellectual  light  may 
go  very  far  ;  but  to  be  bom  again,  to  have  "  all  things  become 
new,"  to  have  "  crucified  the  flesh  with  the  affections  and  lusts," 
to  have  the  leading  of  the  Spirit,  the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  the  walk 
of  the  Spirit,  the  seal  of  the  Spirit,  the  inhabitation  of  the  Spirit ; 
this  is  that  which  I  long  after,  but  do  not  often  ascertain  to  my 
satisfaction. 

Trenton,  April  23,  1831. 
Our  letters  appear  to  me  to  assume  a  more  useful  character 
s'nce  we  have   entered   more   into   sober   discourse   upon   the 


166  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

realities  of  religion ;  and  they  may  become  means  of  mutual 
instruction  and  correction,  if  we  should  do  no  more  than  occa- 
sionally start  a  question  for  future  elimination.  What  you  say 
of  me  and  mine,  gives  me  that  peculiar  satisfaction  which  the 
sincere  expression  of  amicable  feelings  always  does  ;  "  he  that  is  a 
friend,  must  shew  himself  friendly."  And  now  let  me  say  in 
reply  :  "  The  Lord  hear  thee,"  &c,  Ps.  xx.  1-4. 

Pay  son  deeply  affects  me,  but  not  as  Brainerd  does ;  in  one 
case  you  have  the  man  always  before  your  mind  in  alto-relievo ; 
in  the  other,  you  are  directed  away  from  him  to  the  work  of  the 
Spirit  in  him.  Edwards'  concluding  remarks  to  the  Life  of 
Brainerd,  are  wonderfully  searching  and  appropriate  at  the  pres- 
ent religious  crisis.  There  seems  more  reason  than  ever  to  hope 
that  the  Barnes'  question  in  the  General  Assembly,  will  be  dis- 
cussed and  issued  in  a  holy  manner  ;  and  may  set  at  rest  a  great 
class  of  questions.  "What  you  say  of  extraordinary  and  doubt- 
ful measures  for  exciting  religious  feeling,  tallies  exactly  with 

what  I  hear  from  's   anxious-meetings,  and  from  other 

quarters.  I  dare  not  attempt  such  things,  though  if  I  should,  I 
am  persuaded  I  could  next  week  say  in  the  Evangelist  that  we 
have  forty  inquirers.  I  feel  that  this  is  a  question  of  awful  re- 
sponsibility ;  and  oh  how  strongly  do  I  wish  to  be  led  aright, 
and  to  avoid  cowardice  and  formality ;  but  then,  human  souls 
and  the  cause  of  Christ  are  not  surely  lit  subjects  for  these  peril- 
ous psychological  experiments. 

Have  you  ever  read  "  Francke's  Guide  to  the  Study  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  Philad.,  D.  Hogan,  1823  "  1  If  not,  read  it.  The 
translation  is  horrid,  and  obscure  beyond  any  thing  of  the  kind, 
but  the  book  is  truly  golden.  You  will  profit  by  his  advice  as 
to  Hebrew.  You  know  he  was  an  eminent  Llebraist,  The 
Princeton  scholars,  after  Stuart,  pronounce  the  Kametz  like  aw 
in  awl,  or  a  in  tall,  fall.  This  the  Jews  do  not,  nor  does  Lee, 
nor  Gesenius,  nor  Frey,  nor  any  cognate  dialect  except  Persian, 
as  Addison  has  clearly  shown  me.  The  true  sound  is  the  Ger- 
man, French,  Italian,  Spanish,  Arabic,  Syriac  A,  as  a  in  father. 
Gesenius  and  Lee  say  it  is  a  great  abuse  to  pronounce  n  like  dh, 
(that  is  th  in  that,)  as  some  do.  Beware  of  Portuguese  Jews. 
I  have  heard  several  of  them  read  t\  like  s  in  sing,  this ;  and 
Kametz  like  o  in  pole.  Read  from  the  very  start  with  the  tone 
or  accent  on  the  proper  syllable ;  this  the  former  Princeton 
students  all  neglected ;  e.  g.  they  said  kataltem  for  kataltem. 
When  two  ways  are  equally  easy,  the  right  is  best  and  shortest. 
You  may  in  a  half  hour,  learn  this  without  knowing  any  thing  of 
the  accentual  system  ;  which  is  a  fanfaronade.  Read  Lee's  Gram- 
mar, that  is,  dip  into  it  for  your  amusement.     I  have  found,  after 


1829—1832.  167 

toiling  through  many  grammars,  no  rules  so  practical  and  useful 
as  those  at  the  end  of  By  timer's  "  Lyra  Prophetica."  Following 
a  hint  of  Henry  Martyn,  (v.  Life,)  I  have  arranged  all  the  Hebrew 
verbs  according  to  the  last  radical,  the  last  but  one,  &c.  A  mo- 
ment's thought  will  show  you  the  use  of  this  ;  as  so  many  words 
differ  only  in  the  last  radical,  and  as  irregular  inflections  affect 
chiefly  the  ultimate  and  penultimate.  Addison's  plan  is  to  go 
doggedly  to  work  and  commit  roots.  This  is  the  universal 
method  of  the  Pundits  in  teaching  Sanscrit.  I  fear  I  shall  have 
to  take  a  jaunt  soon.  I  am  very  lean  and  nervous,  and  worn 
down  by  constant  pacing — pacing — pacing.  Yesterday  without 
seeking  it,  I  discovered  three  cases  of  hopeful  conversion ;  all 
isolated  ;  all  young  ;  all  in  silence ;  one  of  them  very  striking  and 
remarkable.  They  attribute  nothing  to  human  means,  yet  I  have 
a  satisfaction  in  knowing  that  I  have  recently  spoken  pointedly 
to  two  of  them  more  than  once.  I  have  just  returned  from  the 
funeral  of  Ebenezer  Rose,  late  an  elder  in  the  Trenton  First 
Church,  [now  Ewing  township,]  he  would  have  been  eighty-seven 
years  old  this  day  ;  his  disease,  cancer  of  the  mouth.  He  was  a 
saint  indeed,  and  to  his  dying  day  enjoyed  those  rapturous  exer- 
cises which  we  are  too  much  accustomed  to  think  belong  to 
young  converts  only.  A  church-full  of  people  were  present,  and 
much  tenderness  of  feeling  prevailed. 

I  find  the  little  "  Help  to  the  Gospels "  [a  Sunday  School 
book]  very  useful  in  my  private  reading  and  meditations.  It 
seems  to  me  better  suited  for  adult  Christians  in  solitude,  than 
for  schools.  Even  the  tautological  questions  serve  to  fix  the 
minutiae  of  the  passage  in  my  mind.  As  far  as  I  am  able  to 
learn,  Mr.  Nettleton  does  none  of  those  objectionable  things 
which  many  less  experienced  labourers  in  revivals  lay  so  much 
stress  on.  In  Virginia  I  had  a  good  opportunity  of  learning  his 
methods,  and  so  far  as  I  am  informed,  every  thing  was  conducted 
with  remarkable  decorum  and  solemnity.  We  need  something 
like  "  Class-meetings  "  to  prevent  the  frequent  collapses  after  re- 
vivals. True  they  are  susceptible  of  abuse,  but  not  more  than 
anxious-meetings ;  I  think  far  less.  The  plan  is,  at  any  rate,  a 
masterpiece  of  religious  policy.  1  have  read  eight  out  of  the 
ten  volumes  of  Wesley's  works,  and  esteem  him  one  of  the 
greatest  and  best  men  that  ever  lived.  My  father  has  just  ar- 
rived, to  preach  for  me  to-morrow. 

Trenton,  May  30,  1831. 
If  you  have  any  intention  of  meeting  me  at  Burlington,  I  do 
you  to  wit  that  by  a  change  of  the  measures  I  am  to  minister  there 
on  Friday,  not  Thursday  evening.     Should  you  get  there  before 


J  68  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

me,  leave  a  card  or  note  in  Bessonett's  tap-room.  I  left  my  wife 
on  Friday,  and  have  heard  nothing  since  from  her  ;  you  will  be 
pleased  to  learn  that  she  was  then  convalescent,  though  still 
very,  very  weak,  and  much  emaciated.  You  know,  my  dear 
friend,  far  better  than  I,  how  severe  are  those  pangs  which  reach 
us  through  a  beloved  one  :  pardon  this  seeming  tearing  open  of  a 
wound.  How  hard  to  the  flesh  is  the  lesson  1  Cor.  vii.  29-31. 
I  lately  preached  on  it ;  but  only  the  Spirit  can  write  it  on  our 
hearts.  Have  you  read  Matthew  Henry's  life  %  (by  Williams, 
Bost.  1830.)  I  have  never  read  a  more  truly  instructive,  or 
cheering  biography.  Eead  it,  for  the  sake  of  bleeding  orthodoxy. 
Apropos  let  me  give  you  some  facts.  My  authority  is  unexcep- 
tionable ;  but  you  may  rebate  for  hyperboles  in  the  transmis- 
sion.    P ,  the  Cambridge  Unitarian  professor,  wras  at  the 

examination  in  Princeton.     He  told  a  judicious  and  veracious 

man,  and  the  latter  told  me,  that  he  considered and  his 

school  as  approximating  very  nearly  to  their  (the  Unitarian) 
views,  in  all  that  is  essentially  distinctive,  and  as  travelling  the 
road  which  the  Boston  liberals  had  pursued  ;  and  added  :  "  they 

will  soon  stand  on  our  ground."      He  said  also,  that 

(late  Editor  Unitarian  Miscellany,  and  a  low  humanitarian  and 

Priestleyite)  brought  him  the  Review  of ,  with  great  glee, 

as  indicating  a  going  over  to  their  sentiments  in  the  main  ques- 
tions. On  dit,  likewise,  that has  advised  the  Boston  Or- 
thodox ministers  to  revert  to  the  old  plan  of  exchanging  with 
the  Unitarians  in  preaching,  as  the  best  method  of  bringing  them 
round.  Do  not  charge  me  with  slandering  ;  if  these  are  true 
statements,  they  ought  to  be  pondered  ;  and  they,  at  least,  excuse 
the  apparent  iliiberality  of  some  ancient  and  tried  friends  of  our 
church,  who  tremble  at  the  introduction  of  a  liberality  so  wide 
as  to  take  in  latitudinarians.  My  own  conviction  is  this  :  that 
the  Newhavenites,  while  they  confess  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and 
the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  do  (in  their  system)  deny  all  that 

makes  these  doctrines  indispensable.     Prof.   ,  who   has 

talked  much  with ,  says. that  the  latter  avows  his  belief 

that  the  only  reason  why  he  adds  the  agency  of  the  Spirit  to  his 
system  is  that  he  finds  it  in  the  Scriptures,  not  that  there  is  any 
place  in  his  scheme,  which  can  be  filled  by  this  doctrine  only. 

Princeton,  June  14,  1831. 
For  some  eight  or  nine  days  I  have  been  here  in  dry  dock, 
enjoying  the  otium  without  the  dignitate,  and  the  several  re- 
fraichissemens  of  milk  diet,  blue  pill,  and  cathartic  extract.  If 
I  had  known  exactly  where  to  find  you,  I  should  probably  before 
this  have  fallen  upon  your  neck  in  quocunque  loco,  for  I  have 


.     1829—1832.  169 

greatly  desiderated  a  compagnon  de  voyage,  and  am  now  serious- 
ly meditating  a  jaunt  to  Saratoga.  Professor  Vethake  may  do 
me  the  kindness  of  sharing  my  ennui,  but  of  this  I  dubitate.  The 
atrabilious  temperament  is  favourable  to  polemics,  and  I  have 
accordingly  made  a  tilt  against  the  wine-sacks  of  Pelagius  Taylor 
et  id  genus  omne,  having  been  delving  very  doggedly  at  the  con- 
troversial divinity  of  the  17th  century.  Truly  I  am  astounded 
at  the  acumen  and  learning  of  the  Reformed  theologians  ;  I  mean 
those  of  whom  a  specimen  appears  at  the  Synod  of  Dort,  A.  D. 
1618-19.  The  scholastic  studies  of  the  age,  while  they  perhaps 
confined  the  mind  to  a  narrow  channel,  increased  the  vigorous  im- 
petuosity of  the  torrent.  I  perceive  no  important  point  in  the 
controversy  actuellement  agitated  in  America,  which  was  not  ap- 
prehended and  brought  out  in  full  proportion  and  relief  by  these 
ancients.  You  will  observe  that  at  this  famous  Synod,  all  the 
articles  of  high-Calvinism  were  signed  by  Carleton,  Bp.  of  Llan- 
daff,  by  Bp.  Hall,  by  Davenant,  and  Ward,  master  of  Sydney 
College,  Cambridge.  I  descend  now  to  the  earth,  to  say  that  it 
is  moistened  with  a  precious  shower,  and  that  the  country  is 
better  than  the  town ;  and  this  I  say,  after  having  received 
another  importunate  though  informal  solicitation  to  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union.  1  am  holding  myself  in  suspense :  of  this, 
not  a  whisper.  Princeton  is  certainly  the  pleasantest  summer 
retreat  in  the  world.  So  judgeth  a  semi-native.  I  have  been 
reading  the  second  book  of  Cicero  de  Oratore,  with  very  much 
delight.  I  then  tried  the  Orations,  but  ennuyated  so  furiously 
that  I  surrendered.  Also  a  file  of  "  Archives  du  Christianisme," 
1831,  in  which  are  noticeable  the  following  :  The  persecution  of 
"  dissidentes "  in  Neufchatel  continues.  Sunday  School  spirit 
rising  in  France,  in  connexion  with  the  noted  "  Methode  Jacotot." 
Adolphe  Monod,  a  young  evangelical,  is  the  greatest  pulpit  orator 
in  France.  The  Protestants  have  great  hopes  of  the  revival  of 
piety.  N.  B.  The  orthodoxy  of  the  reviving  Church  of  France,  is 
that  of  the  Reformers.  Pray  take  a  voyage,  and  write  me  letters 
from  the  other  side.  Seriously  I  recommend  it  to  you,  and  I 
believe  that  you  might  thereby  fit  yourself  for  new  usefulness  in 
this  country.  Great  Britain  at  least  would  fill  up  a  pleasant  and 
profitable  year.  However,  the  great  query  with  all  of  us  should 
be,  where  and  how  can  we  fit  ourselves  best  for  the  Lord's  work. 
The  mere  romance,  even  of  religious  effort,  which  tinges  our 
views,  is  doubtless  to  be  rejected.  When  I  left  you  in  Philadel- 
phia, I  intended  to  return  before  the  mob  [General  Assembly] 
dispersed,  but  being  indisposed  and  nervous,  I  took  better  counsel 
and  remained  procul  a  negotiis.  And  furthermore,  lest  I  should 
be  like  the  Irishman  in  "  modern  Chivalry,"  who  cast  himself 
vol.  i. — 8 


170  WJIILE    PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

from  his  coach  into  a  row,  crying  "  heaven  direct  me  to  the  right 
side,"  I  determined  to  study  the  matters  in  debate  a  little  more 
impartially  and  deliberately.  Perhaps  I  could  point  to  clergy- 
men who  have  committed  themselves  as  partisans,  much  in  ad- 
vance of  their  own  convictions.  Such  things  may  do  in  paltry 
politics  where  the  dispute  is  "  de  lana  caprina,"  but  in  matters 
affecting  the  plan  of  salvation,  they  are  perilous.  I  am  hourly 
admonished  of  my  danger  of  judging  before  having  evidence. 

The  great  danger  as  to  the  upshot  of  the  Barnes'  controversy, 
seems  to  be  this  :  The  case  which  is  held  up  to  public  view,  and 
which  excites  to  a  kind  of  phrenzy  men  and  even  babes  and 
women  is:  Must  Mr.  B.  be  sustained?  Now,  though  this  in- 
volves the  doctrinal  question,  yet  independently  of  the  latter,  it 
is  decided,  pro  or  con.,  upon  general  and  worldly  principles,  often 
those  of  mere  feeling;  and  this  decision  once  made  in  either 
direction,  there  is  a  prepossession  formed  which  militates  for  a 
lifetime  with  candid  search  after  the  truth.  I  suspect  that  scores 
of  spinsters  in  your  city  have  become  far  more  "  liberal "  theolo- 
gians than  ever  Mr.  B.  will  be.  Our  Princeton  men  are  consid- 
ered by  certain  soi-disant  standards  as  "  sneaking,"  "  on  the  fence," 
&c.  There  certainly  is  such  a  thing  as  righteous  moderation, 
and  those  who  have  practised  it  have,  as  far  as  I  know,  in  every 
age  stood  between  two  fires,  incurring  the  wrath  of  both  sides. 
It  requires  perhaps  more  solidity  than  some  of  these  juvenile 
seignors  have  imagined,  to  keep  this  position  where  two  seas 
meet.  A  crowd  is  a  very  convenient  support  to  men  of  weak 
spines.  But  lest  I  degenerate  into  personalities  and  nosmetip- 
sisms, — you  will  remember  that  I  desire  your  company  upon  a 
jaunt.     I  don't  pledge  myself  to  go,  but  write  instanter. 

Princeton,  June  17,  1831. 
I  write  somewhat  hastily  to  advise  you  that  I  expect,  with 
Divine  permission,  to  go  to-morrow  to  New  York,  on  my  way 
to  Saratoga.  So  much  are  our  ailments  antipodal  to  one  an- 
other, that  from  your  letter  I  perceive  that  we  cannot  at  present 
pursue  health  in  partnership.  Mine  is  the  yellow,  bilious,  liver- 
ish, dyspeptical,  summer  complaint — the  beginning  of  those 
diseases  which  have  already  so  often  brought  me  down.  And  if 
you  have  (as  I  hope  you  will  find  not  to  be  the  case)  any  pul- 
monary lesion,  or  tendency  to  phthisic,  I  suppose  you  are  right 
in  avoiding  both  Saratoga  and  the  seashore.  There  are  some  of 
the  Virginia  springs  which  I  have  more  confidence  in  than  any 
thing  I  "know  of  on  earth,  (I  speak  of  the  disorder  you  fear,)  ex- 
cept a  prompt  exile  to  low  southern  latitudes.  I  have  in  recol- 
lection, several  cases  of  entire  cure  from  the  latter.     Most,  how- 


1829—1832.  171 

ever,  wait  until  the  lungs  have  become  actually  affected  with  tu 
bercles,  which  come  to  abscesses  when  it  is  too  late  to  travel ; 
and  many  content  themselves  with  a  resting-place  too  far  north. 
St.  Augustine  is  the  spot  I  should  aim  at  in  such  a  case.  I  think 
you  will  have  the  offer  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  secretaryship, 
which  I  have  just  told  Mr.  Baird  I  could  not  accept.  I  have  no  be- 
lief that  my  health  could  endure  the  labour  which,  to  an  indefinite 
extent,  would  be  heaped  upon  a  secretary  whose  work  is  so  little 
circumscribed  by  determinate  limits.  I  propose  to  remain  a  few 
days  at  Saratoga,  or  Ballston ;  perhaps  as  long  as  the  waters 
may  suit  me.  I  go  purely  for  health,  and  expect  to  suffer  a  good 
deal  from  intercourse  with  frivolous  and  uncongenial  people.  I 
shall  be  pleased  to  fall  in  with  some  who  may  instruct  me  in 
methods  of  usefulness,  or  in  any  truth  of  which  I  am  ignorant, 
and  shall  aim  at  interviews  with  ministers  and  pious  laymen. 
My  child  has  never  been  well,  having  had  strong  symptoms  of 
hydrocephalus  since  his  birth.  He  is  small  and  always  sick,  and 
cannot  use  milk  in  any  form  or  measure.  The  Lord  do  with  him 
what  shall  be  for  His  glory  !  thus  we  try  to  feel,  yet  my  heart 
cries  aloud  :  "  O  that  Ishmael  might  live  before  thee."  Never 
have  I  much  cheerful  hope  except  when  I  study  to  resign  myself 
and  mine,  totally  and  unreservedly,  to  a  merciful  Saviour  and  King. 
I  am  myself  a  bruised  reed,  always  crushed  when  set  to  sustain 
the  right  kind  of  work,  yet  through  infinite  grace  not  yet  broken. 

Trenton,  July  16,  1831. 
I  am  pleased  to  hear  that  you  are  so  agreeably  situated  at 
Germantown,  [near  Philadelphia,]  and  have  no  doubt  that  if  you 
can  avoid  ennui,  your  health  will  be  speedily  re-established.  The 
scenes  you  daily  survey  are  faintly"  present  to  my  recol- 
lections, from  having  been  visited  by  our  family  for  several  suc- 
cessive summers.  As  it  regards  air  and  rural  peculiarities,  I  con- 
sider Trenton  as  altogether  a  country-place.  In  three  minutes  I 
can,  from  our  door,  bury  myself  in  thick  forests,  or  "  babble 
of  green  fields  "  in  as  pleasant  meadows  as  I  know,  or  hearken 
to  the  murmur  of  the  Delaware  rapids ;  and  since  I  have  lived 
here,  we  have  had  no  epidemic.  I  was  absent  six  weeks,  and 
during  that  period  my  services  were  needed  at  only  one  funeral. 
I  visited  New  York,  Albany,  (where  I  endured  the  4th,)  Troy, 
Lansingburgh,  Waterford,  Ballston,  Saratoga,  and  Hudson.  The 
rains  rendered  my  sojourn  at  the  springs  uncomfortable,  but  at 
the  same  time  refreshed  nature  so  as  to  make  the  North  Eiver 
scenery  indescribably  charming.  I  found  great  benefit  from  the 
Congress  water ;  the  other  springs  were,  to  me,  mere  poison. 
In  hepatic  affections  of  every  kind,  I  look    upon  the  Congress 


172  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

spring  us  approaching  the  nature  of  a  specific.  I  was  driven 
away  too  soon,  by  the  insufferable  plague  of  listlessness,  attached 
to  all  watering-places,  and  by  a  raging  tooth-ache.  "  Causa  sub- 
lata,  tollitur  effectus."  I  have  the  stubborn  root  in  my  pocket. 
I  have  just  negatived  an  invitation  to  preach  Sunday  after  next 
at  Baltimore,  second  church,  with  a  view  to  my  being  called  to 
supply  Mr.  Breckinridge's  place.  And,  in  truth,  having  in  my  jaunt 
seen  a  number  of  congregations,  and  many  ministers,  (all  lamenting 
hinderances  and  grievances,)  I  should  be  unwilling  to  exchange  Tren- 
ton for  any  pastoral  charge  which  I  have  ever  seen,  excepting  only 
Charlotte  C.  H.  Va.,  which  it  would  be  sheer  madness  for  me  to 
undertake  with  my  atrabilious  temperament.  Last  Lord's  day  we 
were  favoured  with  the  addition  of  eleven  persons  to  our  church, 
four  of  whom  are  active  men.  This  is  a  good  addition  in  a  place 
where  we  have  to  draw  upon  the  same  congregation  at  all  times, 
for  we  have  no  floating  population  or  rival  churches  to  select 
from.  There  are,  I  suppose,  fifteen  or  twenty  inquiring  souls 
among  us,  and  for  four  months  the  standard  of  piety  has  been 
quietly  and  steadily  rising.  Could  this  continue,  it  is  just  what 
I  desire.  I  say  so  after  having  been  in  the  furnace  of  new  meas- 
ures in  the  Troy  Presbytery.  I  hope,  however,  that  I  am  learn- 
ing to  be  forbearing.  I  am  perhaps  as  thin  and  feeble  as  you 
ever  saw  me,  though  relieved  within  a  few  weeks  from  my  vio- 
lent head-aches  and  bilious  symptoms.  Every  hour  I  am  made 
to  think  of  death,  and  feel  how  slight  is  my  tenure  upon  all  that 
unduly  engages  my  attention.  May  we  so  enter  into  the  great 
realities  of  another  world,  as  to  be  prepared  to  depart  joyfully 
whenever  the  summons  may  come. 

Princeton,  August  6,  1831. 
It  was  but  a  few  minutes  ago  that  I  had  the  first  hint  of  your 
having  been  seriously  indisposed,  and  I  cannot  forbear  writing 
without  delay.  Your  silence  was  indeed  long,  but  as  your  letters 
for  some  time  past  have  made  no  mention  of  any  thing  further 
than  the  debility  of  the  summer,  I  had  no  suspicion  that  your 
health  was  impaired.  And  even  now,  I  hear  only  vaguely  that 
your  constitution  seems  to  fee  threatened.  While  I  endeavour 
to  cherish  every  hope,  I  am  very  anxious  to  know  how  you  are, 
and  wherein  I  can  contribute  to  your  comfort.  I  should  not  thus 
coldly  maintain  a  distant  conversation,  if  it  were  practicable  for 
me  to  pay  you  a  visit ;  but  this  is  providentially  precluded  by 
a  lameness  from  a  sprain,  which,  with  my  other  ailments  has 
kept  me  to  my  chamber  for  nearly  three  weeks.  I  have  been 
very  weak  and  thin  for  months  past ;  and  though  the  symptoms 
of  disease  have  nearly  vanished,  1  am  so  much  unnerved  as  to  be 


1829—1832.  173 

next  to  useless.  I  know  of  nothing  so  well  adapted  to  satisfy 
the  mind  under  trials  of  this  kind,  as  the  simple  truth,  that  we 
and  all  our  concerns  are  ruled  and  disposed  of  by  a  Sovereign 
Mediator,  whose,  I  humbly  trust,  we  are,  and  whom  we  serve, 
for  "  they  also  serve  who  only  stand  and  wait,"  as  Milton  beau- 
tifully and  consolingly  expresses  it.  1  wish  I  were  able  to  speak 
of  deeper  and  richer  experience  of  the  truth  that  it  is  good  to  be 
afllicted.  So  often  have  I  been  chastised  with  personal  suffering, 
that  I  am  at  times  alarmed  to  think  that  this  trying  visitation 
has  so  little  purified  and  elevated  my  soul.  Yet  there  have  been 
seasons  of  affliction,  especially  of  sickness,  in  which  I  have  known 
more  of  the  power  and  of  the  joy  of  religion,  than  ever  in  my 
life,  and  in  which  I  have  understood  how  glorious  is  that  grace 
of  the  gospel  which  can  "  give  songs  in  the  night "  of  pain  and 
weariness.  An  ordinary  concomitant  of  bodily  weakness  is  de- 
pression of  spirits,  and  morbid  susceptibility  of  impressions  which 
alarm  or  grieve  the  mind.  Under  these,  the  most  resolute  and 
the  best  men  have  sometimes  bowed,  and  it  becomes  important 
to  learn  how  we  may  be  relieved  from  an  influence  so  deleterious 
to  the  spiritual  exercises  of  the  heart.  And  here,  I  really  be- 
lieve, we  too  often  undervalue  the  treasures  of  the  Word  of  God, 
and  especially  the  unspeakable  gift — the  crowning  mercy — our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  In  times  of  peril  and  sickness,  I  have  re- 
markably felt  that  I  had  made  too  little  of  access  to  the  Saviour 
himself.  Joy  is  more  certainly  diffused  through  our  souls,  by  a 
simple,  filial  approach  to  the  cross,  than  by  any  means  which  I 
have  any  idea  of.  This  is  remarkably  characteristic  of  the  ajoos- 
tolic  and  primitive  experience.  The  triumphant  hope  and  glory- 
ing of  the  apostle  Paul,  exhibited  in  the  first  part  of  the  2d  Epis- 
tle to  the  Corinthians,  seems  to  have  flowed  from  such  child- 
like faith  :  "  We  had  the  sentence  of  death  in  ourselves,  that  we 
should  not  trust  in  ourselves,  but  in  God  which  raiseth  the  dead  : 
who  delivered  us  from  so  great  a  death,  and  doth  deliver  :  in 
whom  we  trust  that  he  will  yet  deliver  us  :  ye  also  helping  to- 
gether by  prayer,"  &c. ;  "  As  the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound  in 
us,  so  our  consolation  aboundeth  by  Christ"  The  4th  and  5th 
chapters  have  revived  my  soul  in  some  degree,  within  a  few 
weeks  past,  wrhen  I  have  had  very  melancholy  prospects  as  to 
my  future  health  and  usefulness. 

Do  we  not  restrict  our  faith  in  prayer  too  much  to  spiritual 
blessings  1  I  know  these  are  infinitely  the  more  important,  and 
that  our  petitions  for  earthly  good  are  to  be  under  submission  to 
the  Divine  will ;  but  then  how  plain  it  is,  that  wThen  Christ  was 
on  earth,  he  listened  to  the  requests  of  the  sick  and  mourning, 
that  he  never  eluded  any  one  who  asked  healing  and  deliverance, 


174  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

as  asking  amis?:,  and  that  he  invariably  heard  the  prayer  of  all 
such.  How  plain,  but  how  much  forgotten,  that  he  is  the  same 
Saviour  now,  with  just  the  same  views  of  poor,  suffering,  and 
sinning  men.  How  explicit  the  promise,  James  v.  14.  But 
however  tried,  it  is  still  undeniable,  that  if  we  believe,  all  things 
shall  work  together  for  our  good,  and  with  this  assurance  we  may 
pray  with  absolute  certainty  that  our  prayers  shall  be  answered 
in  kind,  or  in  a  higher  and  nobler  measure  and  way  than  we  intend. 
Let  me  assure  you  that  I  shall  endeavour  to  offer  my  feeble 
petitions  for  your  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare.  My  belief  of 
the  prevalence  of  the  prayers  which  we  make  in  behalf  of  indi- 
viduals is  strong.  Dr.  Rice  remarked,  in  a  letter  of  his  which  I 
lately  read,  that  he  had  often,  he  thought,  been  prayed  back  to 
life  from  the  jaws  of  death.  He  is  now  slowly  rising  from  a  long 
illness,  which  baffled  all  the  means  used,  and  all  the  hopes  of  his 
friends.  After  all,  however,  our  prospect  would  be  dark  indeed, 
if  we  had  only  this  world  to  which  we  might  cling.  Blessed  be 
God,  our  anchor  is  within  the  vail,  and  our  hope  is  of  an  inherit- 
ance incorruptible.  To  see  Jesus,  and  with  him  to  see  all  saints 
who  have  gone  before,  is  a  glory  which  we  may  expect ;  and  the 
belief  of  this,  independent  of  all  other  things,  is  support  under 
the  greatest  trials.  All  these  things  occur  to  you  daily  ;  yet 
they  may  not  be  without  some  force  when  coming  from  the  pen 
of  a  sincere  friend. 

Princeton,  August  17,  1831. 

In  strictness  of  epistolary  exchange,  I  ought  to  wait  for  a 
letter  from  you,  but  as  I  suppose  you  are  more  of  an  invalid  just 
now  than  myself,  I  shall  wave  the  rule  and  give  you  such  things  as 
I  have.  Since  I  have  been  unwell,  I  have  read  a  book  by  J.  G. 
Pike,  containing  some  eighty  or  a  hundred  death-bed  accounts  of 
pious  men.  Although  clumsily  compiled,  it  is  rich  in  refresh- 
ing matter.  Apropos  of  Marty n's  life ;  the  London  Christian 
Observer  (somewhere  about  1814-17)  has  many  private  letters 
of  his,  which  are  better  than  any  thing  in  his  published  "  Life." 
I  was  struck  with  the  remarks  on  the  truth  "  that  we  must  die 
alone"  especially  as  so  singularly  and  beyond  his  meaning  veri- 
fied in  the  circumstances  of  his  own  decease.  Middleton's  Evan- 
gelical Biography,  4  vols.,  Lond.,  is  a  fine  work.  I  am  particu- 
larly pleased  with  the  dying  triumphs,  under  poignant  sufferings, 
of  the  celebrated  Andrew  Rivet.  Very  deeply  do  I  sympathize 
with  some  of  your  feelings,  respecting  the  lowness  of  piety  in 
many  professors — above  all  in  myself — the  want  of  irXiqpo^opia, 
and  the  idolatry  of  this  world.  Still  I  find  it  more  to  my  comfort, 
certainly  more  to  my  profit,  to  acknowledge  the  grace  of  God  in 
those   manifestations   of  piety    which   do  exist — manifestations 


1829—1832.  175 

which  none  but  God  can  produce,  and  which  arc  intended  to  show 
forth  his  glory,  and  therefore  to  be  recognised  by  us.  All  the 
religion  of  Bible  examples,  so  far  as  they  are  given  in  detail,  is 
mixed  and  alloyed,  saving  only  that  of  our  blessed  Saviour ; 
and  "  weak  faith  "  is  a  necessary  term  of  relation  and  comparison, 
unless  all  faith  is  the  same  in  degree,  which  would  preclude  the 
growth  of  our  graces,  and  render  the  comparison  of  the  "  grain 
of  mustard  "  nugatory.  No  doubt  hypocrites  will  pervert  this 
to  their  own  destruction,  and  our  reason  might  tempt  us  to 
elevate  a  standard  which  should  make  no  allowance  for  defect, 
but  such  is  not  the  scriptural  account.  The  fear  of  death  is  a 
natural  sentiment,  which  often  exists  by  association  in  hearts 
which  have  more  unquestionable  marks  of  piety  than  the  most 
ardent  desire  of  death  could  be.  Whatever  explanation  we  may 
give  of  it,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  men,  of  whose  piety  we  are 
assured  by  inspiration,  have  prayed  to  be  delivered  from  death — 
Psalm  vi. ;  especially  Hezekiah — Isaiah  chap,  xxxvii. — and  God 
was  pleased  to  grant  this  as  a  blessing,  and  holy  men  have  ren- 
dered thanksgiving  for  the  deliverance  as  a  mercy — Psalm  cxvi. 
Epaphroditus  "  was  sick,  nigh  unto  death,  but  God  had  mercy  on 
him."  The  soul  ought  unconditionally  to  submit  to  God,  will- 
ing to  live  or  die ;  but  I  am  ready  to  think  that  more  has  been 
made  of  willingness  to  die,  as  an  evidence  of  piety,  than  the 
Scriptures  make  of  it.  Long  life  is  even  promised  as  a  blessing  ; 
I  suppose  for  two  principal  reasons — 1st,  that  we  may  do  more 
for  saving  souls,  (a  work  confined,  for  all  that  we  know,  to  this 
life ;)  and  2dly,  that  we  may  attain  greater  piety,  and  thus  have 
a  greater  capacity  for  heaven,  and  greater  reward  there.  This  is 
perfectly  consistent  with  Paul's  estimate  of  heaven  as  "  far  bet- 
ter," for  the  rest  is  at  any  moment  better  than  the  labour  ;  still, 
the  latter  may  be  lawfully  desired,  in  order  to  an  increased  en- 
joyment of  the  former.  It  is  right  to  wish  to  see  in  all  the  faith 
of  Abraham ;  but  we  see  only  one  Abraham  in  the  Bible,  and 
many  imperfect  Davids,  Jobs,  and  Peters.  Moreover,  I  doubt 
not  the  same  kind  of  faith  is  in  exercise  as  often  now.  Under- 
stand me  now,  not  as  suggesting  that  we  should  be  content  with 
lower  measures  ;  by  no  means ;  but  as  dissenting  from  the  doubt 
which  you  say  you  have  of  the  reality  of  your  own  faith  and 
that  of  the  Christian  community  generally.  This  doubt  is  not,  I 
think,  encouraged  by  the  tenor  of  Scripture,  and  tends,  not  to 
piety,  but  to  the  rejection  of  it.  For  surely  the  heart-rending 
conclusion  that  all  are  wrong,  saps  the  foundation  of  Christianity 
itself.  So,  also,  there  is  a  sinful  complaint  under  affliction,  so 
sinful  as  to  vitiate  all  a  man's  title ;  and  a  complaint  (such  as 
the  hundreds  of  David)  which  is  compatible   with  the  actual 


176  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

vigour  of  entire  submission.  "  If  it  be  possible  let  this  cup 
pass."  We  may  say  this  in  faith,  and  to  say  this  is  not  to  rebel. 
Chastisement  would  be  nothing,  were  it  not  felt  to  be  afflictive  ; 
and  no  affliction  is  joyous ;  aftenvard  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable 
fruits  of  righteousness.  The  feelings  you  express  have  given  me 
pain,  for  1  have  had  them  all,  and  I  would  pray  all  who  value 
the  sweetness,  and  serenity,  and  joy  of  piety,  to  war  against 
them  as  morbid.  On  this  subject  I  have  recently  read  some  of 
Newton's  letters  with  profit.  This  is  a  day  of  solemnity  in  the 
Seminary.  Six  young  men  are  just  about  to  depart  on  foreign 
missions,  and  the  professors  and  students  are  observing  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  with  them.  They  are  beloved  youth — all  of 
them  manifesting  a  primitive  zeal  and  love.  The  Lord  go  with 
them  and  bless  them.  We  have  great,  glorious  tidings  of  won- 
derful awakenings  in  Virginia — in  my  old  region,  and  also  at 
Lexington,  where  many  of  my  relations  are  hopefully  converted. 
My  heart  sinks  at  the  thought  that  now,  when  I  am  laid  aside,  I 
can  look  back  on  so  little  good  done.  I  hope  the  Lord  has  ser- 
vice for  you  in  his  church,  and  will  speedily  restore  you.  My 
friends  Christmas,  Aikman,  and  Wilson  are  gone  !  May  God 
have  mercy  not  on  you  only  but  on  me  also,  lest  I  should  have 
sorrow  upon  sorrow  ;  yet  let  us,  as  frail  and  dying  creatures,  live 
in  view  of  death. 

"  0  for  an  overcoming  faith 
To  cheer  my  dying  hours." 

My  health  is  in  statu  quo  ;  my  lameness  better,  my  child 
convalescent,  and  my  wife  well.  The  Lord  be  praised  for  his 
mercies.  My  mind  reposes  with  rather  more  than  usual  peace 
on  the  divine  promise  ov  /xrj  ae  avw,  ov(?  ov  /xr]  ac  eyKaTaXtTrw.1 

Trenton,  October  11,  1831. 
Without  descending  to  the  use  of  superlatives,  I  am  pleased 
to  know  that  you  have  returned  so  much  better,  and  that  our 
correspondence  has  recommenced.  For  your  two  letters  I  am 
thankful,  though  at  this  time  I  have  not  wherewithal  to  pay  you 
in  kind.  At  this  moment  I  am  jaded  by  writing  almost  all  day 
for  the  Itej^ertory,  for  which  I  generally  have  to  provide  thirty  or 
forty  pages  of  balaam.  I  am  pretty  much  determined  to  dissolve 
my  connexion  with  it  [as  editor]  after  this  number.  To  come  at 
once  to  the  most  important  matter  now  pending  between  us,  viz., 
your  intentions  with  regard  to  the  ministry ;  you  know  already 
that  I  rejoice  at  your  views,  and  desire  that  your  wishes  may  be 

1  The  five  negatives  of  this  text  (Heb.  xiii.  5)  are  thus  rendered  in 
Doddridge's  Expositor :  "  I  will  not,  I  will  not  leave  thee,  I  will  never, 
uever,  never  forsake  thee." 


1829—1832.  m 

realized.  The  commonplaces  (however  momentous)  on  the  re- 
sponsibility, &c,  I  shall  omit,  as  being  as  open  to  your  view  as 
to  mine.  I  seriously  wish  you  could  come  to  Princeton ;  and 
this,  I  think,  apart  from  any  personal  predilections.  Every  day 
I  regret  that  I  did  not  take  the  full  course  there,  (having  been 
tutor,  as  you  remember.)  Now,  as  a  private  student,  you  would 
have  about  the  same  advantages  that  I  have  now,  and  I  assure 
you  that  they  can  in  no  degree  supply  the  want  of  the  facilities 
of  the  Seminary.  I  am  far  from  considering  the  mere  lectures 
of  the  Professors  as  the  most  important  part.  I  hold  the  bene- 
fits,_arising  from  the  relation  which  the  students  have  to  one 
another,  as  incalculably  great,  and  that  particular  kind  of  life  as 
affording  an  admirable  discipline. 

I  wrote  thus  far  on  the  11th,  and  now,  after  having  been  ab- 
sent at  Synod,  and  some  other  things,  proceed  upon  the  23d 
October.  The  meeting  of  our  Synod  was  interesting  ;  no  judi- 
cial or  party  business,  no  heat — not  enough  even  to  warm  the 
debate.  Revivals  have  visited  about  half  our  churches,  and  what 
is  strange,  principally  those  of  the  ultra  [old  school]  of  Newton 
Presbytery.  In  one  church  (Mansfield)  a  great  revival  is  in 
progress  without  any  new  measures,  not  even  an  inquiry  meeting. 
I  lay  no  stress  upon  this,  but  mention  it  as  repelling  the  invid- 
ious charge  of  our  opposing  brethren  that  revivals  are  the  seals 
of  new  doctrine  and  new  measures  only.  For  my  own  part,  I 
believe  that  revivals  depend  not  so  much,  as  is  thought,  upon 
phases  of  doctrine,  or  petty  arrangements,  as  upon  the  ardent 
piety  and  zealous  labours  of  humble  Christianity,  apart  from  all 
these  things.  You  are  aware  that  the  Princeton  men  are  in  very 
ill  odour  with  the  extreme  droite  of  the  Philadelphia  Presbytery. 
The  Repertory  is  considered  as  a  craven  publication,  because  it 
did  not  take  sides  at  once  on  the  Barnes  controversy.  Now  all 
this  is  exceedingly  impolitic  in  the  Philadelphia  gentlemen.  By 
excluding  as  "  fence-men  "  all  who  have  not  fully  participated  in 
their  panic,  they  run  the  risk  of  reducing  their  party  to  a  mere 
handful.  The  truth  is,  the  Princetonians  are  as  thoroughly  old- 
school  in  their  theology  as  Dr.  Green  himself,  but  they  are  un- 
able to  see  that  it  is  the  path  of  duty  to  denounce  every  dissen- 
tient individual,  more  particularly  as  it  requires  no  sagacity  to 
observe  that  the  policy  of  Wm.  L.  McCalla,  &c,  can  never  result 
in  the  adoption  of  their  measures  by  the  church  at  large. 

Among  my  people  there  is  nothing  very  encouraging.  The 
absence  of  a  pastor  has  always  a  disorganizing  effect  upon  a  con- 
gregation. Some  among  us  profess  to  desire  a  revival,  but  I 
plainly  discern  the  prevalence  of  a  common  error  among  our 
professors ;  they  wish  to  shift  from  themselves  the  responsibility 
vol.  i. — 8* 


178  WHILE    PASTOE   IN   TRENTON. 

of  a  great  and  united  effort  towards  a  revival,  and  to  put  all  their 
hopes  in  a  four  days'  meeting.  I  preached  last  Sunday  in  de- 
fence of  revivals  and  against  this  error. 

Trenton,  November  21,  1831. 
I  thought,  and  still  think,  that  my  last  contained  every  thing 
with  reference  to  your  proposed  course  of  study  which  I  am  able 
to  communicate,  except  in  the  matter  of  books,  which  I  now  take 
up  as  being  the  most  important  item  of  your  inquiries.  And 
first,  I  must  altogether  decline  attempting  a  precise,  exact  enu- 
meration of  the  works  which  must  be  read.  Nemo  dat  quod 
non  habet.  If  I  had  such  a  list,  three-fourths  of  my  daily  read- 
ing might  be  spared.  Such  a  list  must  vary  with  the  peculiar 
character  of  every  individual's  studies,  and  the  rather  in  your 
case,  as  you  propose  a  course  not  altogether  regular.  I  could 
not  venture  to  name  such  books  on  my  own  responsibility. 
When  at  Princeton,  the  Professors  used  to  name,  at  the  end  of 
each  lecture,  the  best  authors  for  consultation  on  those  topics  ; 
and  a  list  digested  in  this  manner,  might  be  made  without  diffi- 
culty, though  it  would  fill  a  quire  of  paper.  To  do  as  well  as  I 
can,  however,  as  you  have  laid  out  of  the  inquiry  works  on  the 
"  Evidences,"  and  as  I  suppose  you  to  know  as  well  as  myself 
what  books  are  standard  in  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Herme- 
neutics,  I  shall  confine  myself  to  Theology. 

1.  Works  Introductory \  or  showing  how  to  study.  Taylor's 
Scheme  of  SS.  Div.,  (in  Watson's  Tracts,  vol.  1  ;)  Leighton's 
Lectures  ;  Franke's  Guide. 

2.  Systems.  Turretine  or  Pictet,  (French,)  for  the  Reform- 
ed  ;  Stackhouse  for  the  Arminians  of  England  ;  Richard  Watson 
for  the  Wesleyans  ;  Ridgely  ;  Dwight. 

3.  Character  of  God.  Clarke's  Sermons ;  Witherspoon, 
vol.  4  ;  Saurin,  vol.  1  ;  Paley  ;  Charnock  on  Div.  Att. ;  Tillotson, 
vol.  1 ;  Hopkins,  vol.  1 ;  Edwards  on  God's  Last  End ;  Emmons. 

4.  Trinity.  Horsley ;  J.  Pye  Smith ;  Woods ;  Stuart ; 
Ware ;  Norton ;  Channing ;  Morus  Epit.  Theol.  Christ. ;  Sher- 
lock's Vind.  of  Trin. ;  Priestley  ;  Belsham's  Essays  ;  Jamieson's 
Vindication  ;  Bates' Works  ;  Abaddie  on  Div.  of  Christ ;  Nares' 
Remarks  on  the  Improved  Version  ;  Bulli  Defens.  Fid.  Nicen  ; 
Pearson  on  the  Creed  ;  a  chapter  of  Hooker's  Ecc.  Polity ;  Owen 
on  the  Person  of  Christ ;  Wardlaw  ;  Wynpersee  ;  Clarke  on  the 
Trinity  ;  Allix's  Judgment  of  Ancient  Jewish  Church ;  Morde- 
cai's  Analogy  ;  Socinus  ;  Select  parts  of  Barrow ;  Calvin  ;  Do- 
derlein  and  Flatt. 

5.  Decrees,  cbc.  Calvin  ;  5  Edwards,  351-500  ;  1  Turretine  ; 
I  Hopkins,  c.  4 ;  Arminii  Op.  pp.  98,  458,  634 ;  Twissc  (supra- 


1829—1832.  179 

lapsarian)  de  Scientia  Med. ;  Zanchii  de  Predest.  ;  4  Wither- 
spoon, 75  ;  Fuller's  Gos.  Worthy,  &c  ;  Baxter's  Cath.  Theol., 
part  1  ;  Witsii  Econ.  Feed.  B.  iij.  c.  4 ;  Dickinson  on  the  5 
points ;  Whitby  on  the  same ;  Cole  on  Sovereignty  of  God  ; 
Scott  and  Tomline ;  Oeuvres  de  Claude,  vol.  4 ;  Edwards  on 
Will ;  West's  Moral  Agency  ;  Priestley,  Lib.  and  Necessity  ; 
Leibnitz  cont.  with  Clarke,  (usually  bound  together,  in  Lat.  and 
French;)  Collins  on  Necessity;  Warburton's  Div.  Leg.,  p.  1, 
p.  46  ;  1  Hopkins  ;  King's  Origin  Evil ;  Williams'  Vindication. 

6.  Original  Sin  and  Depravity.  Taylor  on  Or.  Sin ;  Ed- 
wards do. ;  1  Smalley's  Sermons  ;  1  Turretine ;  Whitby  on  O. 
S. ;  1  Emmons  ;  Stapfer,  (who  treats  the  whole  range  of  po- 
lemics ;)  Witsii  Ec.  Feed.,  vol.  1  ;  Boston's  Fourfold  State ;  4 
Witherspoon  ;  Scott  and  Tomline  ;  Wesley's  Sermons ;  Strong's 
Sermons  ;  1  Bellamy  ;  Burgess  on  O.  S. ;  Spring's  Disquisition  ; 
Fletcher's  Appeal. 

7.  Atonement.  Daubeny  on  Atone. ;  Magie ;  Griffin ;  Be- 
man ;  Owen's  Vind.  Evang. ;  Outram  de  Sacrifices  ;  Calvin, 
Turretine,  &c ;  Selections  on  the  At. ;  West  on  At.  ;  Taylor 
and  Hampton ;  Wardlaw  on  Extended  At. ;  Bates  ;  Murdock's, 
Stuart's,  and  Dana's  Sermons  ;  Fuller's  and  Scott's  Essays  ;  Ed- 
wards, (select ;)  1  Bellamy,  390  ;  Burge  on  At.  ;  Barrow's  Ser- 
mons on  Univ.  Redemp. ;  Grotii  de  Satisfac,  (a  noble  work  on 
the  "  forensic  "  question  ;)  Owen's  Salus  Electorum  ;  Van  Maes- 
tricht,  De  Moor,  and  Marckius  on  all  Calvinistic  points  ;  Veysie's 
Bampton  Lectures. 

8.  Regeneration.  Besides  above  :  Owen  on  Spirit,  (large  ;) 
Bellamy,  Scott,  Witherspoon,  Doddridge ;  Witsius ;  2  Char- 
nock  ;  Noesselti  de  interno  test.  Spir.  Sanct. ;  Backus  on  Reg .; 
Edwards  ;  Park  St.  Lectures  ;  D wight ;  Hopkins  on  Holiness  ; 
Fiddes'  Treat,  on  Morals  ;  Edwards'  Affections. 

9.  Justification.  Oeuvres  de  Claude;  Owen  on  Just. ;  With- 
erspoon ;  Taylor's  Key  to  Romans  ;  Edwards  on  Just.  ;  2  Bar- 
row, 41  ;  2  Tillotson,  346  ;  Bulli  Opera,  Harmon.  Apost. ;  Tuck- 
ney's  Praslect.  I.  p.  26. 

10.  Perseverance.  Dickinson  ;  Whitby  ;  1  Wesley's  Serm. ; 
Zanchii  Miscell.  de  Persev.  Sanct. ;  De  Moor ;  5  Toplady  ;  2 
Gill,  313 ;  1  Newton,  162 ;  2  Hornbeck's  Compend.  B.  1,  c.  4. 

11.  Future  State — Heaven  and  Hell — Universalism,  d*c.  1 
Belsham's  Essays  ;  1  Priestley  on  Matthew  and  Sp. ;  2  Hop- 
kins, 213  ;  Warburton ;  Tillotson,  Ser.  X. ;  2  Barrow,  343 ; 
Bates  and  Howe  in  loco.  Edwards  agt.  Chauncey ;  Ballou ; 
Huntington's  Calv.  Improved ;  Strong's  Benevolence  and 
Misery  ;  Purves'  Humble  Attempt ;  2  Doderlein,  173 ;  Burge 
on  Atone.  Appx. ;  Spaulding's  Univ.  destroys  itself;  1  Ham- 


180  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

mond's  W.  709  ;  Foster's  Nat.  Religion,  c.  9  ;  Simpson's  Essays, 
p.  1  ;  Godwin  on  Punishment  of  Sin. 

12.  Sacraments.  Clinton  on  Bap. ;  Worcester,  do.  ;  P.  Ed- 
wards ;  Baldwin,  do.  ;  Wall  on  do.  ;  Waterland ;  Gale  agjt. 
Wall ;  Addington's  Reasons  ;  Jndson  and  Pond  ;  Gill ;  Tenney's 
Summ.  View ;  2  Tillotson,  Serm.  25 ;  Grove  on  L.  Supp. ; 
Doolittle,  do. ;  Hall  and  Mason  on  Com. 

I  must  here  pause ;  I  have  drawn  the  above  from  lists  which 
I  have,  and  from  general  recollection,  and  am  after  all  persuaded 
that  it  will  be  of  no  manner  of  use  to  you  ;  yet  your  request  laid 
me  under  an  obligation  to  try,  and  I  have  really  done  what  I 
could.  Your  wants,  as  they  rise,  will  direct  to  inquiries  which 
can  be  better  answered  in  detail.  Your  course  of  study  cannot 
but  be  profitable.  I  suggest  one  objection  to  your  "  paraphrase  " — 
perhaps  it  has  no  weight ;  will  not  the  method  of  paraphrasing 
every  passage  tempt  you  to  run  ahead  of  your  light,  to  define 
what  is  undefined,  and  supply  what  is  unsupplied  in  your  own 
mind,  and  thus  to  commit  yourself  prematurely  %  Many  a 
hiatus  will  occur ;  for  some  passages  can  only  be  understood 
after  a  survey  of  the  whole  ground.  However,  judge  of  this 
yourself.  I  wish  I  could  tell  you  of  any  thing  specially  encour- 
aging in  my  congregation ;  there  is  nothing,  and  as  usual  I  can 
trace  the  great  fault  and  deficiency  to  my  own  door.  Nothing 
of  moment  in  church  or  state  has  reached  my  ears.  I  am  sick 
of  imbecile  revolutions  in  Europe,  and  unchristian  squabbles  at 
home.     O  for  a  corner  where  Theological  warfare  is  unknown  ! 

Trenton,  December  28,  1831. 
Have  you  ever  read  any  of  Abp.  Leighton  '?  If  not,  I  con- 
jure you  to  take  the  book  up  in  some  calm  moment,  and  read 
some  ten  pages  by  way  of  specimen.  It  is  nearest  to  the  be- 
loved disciple  John  of  any  thing  human  I  have  ever  read.  I 
recommend  this  author,  from  sweet  experience  of  his  precious- 
ness  ;  particularly  his  commentary  on  1  Peter,  which  I  am  now 
concluding  for  the  second  time.  He  was  a  hater  of  polemics, 
and  shared  the  usual  fate  of  all  moderate  men.  I  have  filial  weak- 
ness enough  to  think  my  father  has  some  traits  in  common  with 
him.  I  think  you  are  pursuing  the  best  possible  method  in 
learning  Hebrew.  It  would  give  me  unspeakable  satisfaction  to 
have  Mr.  Leeser's1  instructions.     Make  the  most  of  them.     If  I 

1  The  learned  Isaac  Leeser,  now  minister  of  the  Franklin  Street  Syna- 
gogue in  Philadelphia.     I  cannot  forbear  quoting  the  following  sentence  of 
a  note  received  from  Mr.  Leeser  when  this  page  was  in  the  printer's  hands ;  „ 
"  If  I  had  known  that  the  funeral  would  have  taken  place  on  the  day  it  did, 
I  should  have  made  it  my  duty  to  be  at  the  grave  which  now  encloses  him  ; 


1829—1832.  181 

had  him  here,  I  would  give  a  large  piece  of  my  salary  to  spend 
an  hour  with  him  every  day.  I  read  Hebrew  several  hours  per 
diem,  going  though  the  Psalms  once  a  month,  and  reading  from 
f(*ur  to  ten  chapters  besides,  in  regular  course,  analysing  a  cer- 
tain number  of  verses.  The  most  I  can  say  is,  that  my  eyes  are 
opened  to  the  exuberant  treasures  of  a  boundless  mine,  while  my 
instruments  are  still  too  awkwardly  handled  to  make  much  of  them 
my  own.  Let  me  recommend  to  you  to  spend  as  much  time  as 
you  can  conscientiously  upon  this  study,  as  you  know  that  in 
language,  more  than  in  any  thing  else,  long  intervals  occasion 
the  loss  of  much  that  is  learned.  The  exegetical  method  of  study- 
ing theology  is  certainly  the  right  one.  The  simple  view  in 
which  systems  seem  to  me  valuable,  are  as  indexes  to  the  sub- 
jects of  Scripture.  Turretine  is  in  theology  instar  omnium; 
that  is,  so  far  forth  as  Blackstone  is  in  law.  I  would  not  have 
you  concur  in  all  his  scholastic  distinctions ;  but  the  whole  ground 
is  traversed,  every  question  mooted,  and  even  where  hairs  are 
split,  the  mental  energy  and  logical  adroitness  with  which  the 
feat  is  achieved  present  one  with  an  exercise  of  reasoning  equal 
to  any  thing  in  Chillingworth.  I  conscientiously  believe  I  should 
say  all  this  of  him,  if  he  were  a  Socinian.  That  he  is  not,  but 
rather  an  ultra-Calvinist,  I  am  pleased,  for  I  find  in  him,  among 
many  that  are  untenable,  triumphant  arguments  for  all  our  doc- 
trines. Making  due  allowance  for  the  difference  of  age,  Watson 
the  Methodist  is  the  only  systematizer  within  my  knowledge,  who 
approaches  the  same  eminence ;  of  whom  I  may  use  Addison's 
words  :  "  He  reasons  like  Paley,  and  descants  like  Hall."  How 
painful  to  think  of  Edward  Irving's  hallucinations !  [the  gift  of 
tongues,  &c]  Devoutly  would  I  say  :  "  Lord,  what  is  man  !  " 
These  are  among  Satan's  most  cunning  devices — and  oh,  how 
deep-rooted  is  that  structure  of  truth,  which  has  lived  through 
a  thousand  such  concussions,  from  without  and  from  within  !  I 
have  been  reading  the  huge  folio  Journal  of  George  Pox,  the 
proto-quaker.  I  find  in  him  more  of  unadulterated  enthusiasm 
than  I  remember  to  have  ever  found  exemplified ;  intolerable 
vanity,  and  spiritual  pride ;  no  acknowledgment  of  sin  all  his  life 
long;  no  trace  of  penitence;  great  bitterness  of  spirit,  exceeding- 
ly little  talent,  ludicrous  ignorance  of  the  doctrines  he  opposes, 
perhaps  evidence  of  piety.     A  vast  difference  between  him  and 

and  if  it  had  not  appeared  strange,  I  would  have  spoken  parting  words  after 
the  beloved.  In  Germany  and  France,  at  the  interment  of  a  man  like 
Alexander,  Jews  and  Christians  mingle  their  regret  by  free  speech  and 
loud  sympathy."  Mr.  Alexander's  high  personal  respect  for  his  Jewish 
friend  and  correspondent,  did  not  prevent  him  from  expressing  his  opinion 
of  "  Modern  Judaism  "  in  his  review  of  Leeser's  translation  of  Johlson  ; 
Repertory,  January,  1831. 


182  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

the  editor  of  the  book,  William  Perm.  How  I  should  like  to 
join  you  in  Hebrew  with  Mr.  Leeser  !  We  have  not  a  Jew  in 
Trenton,  nor  any  Hebrew  scholar,  and  it  is  hard  to  pursue  a 
study  altogether  uncountenanced  and  alone.  My  health,  though 
improved,  is  far  from  good,  and  I  suffer  considerably  from  bilious 
or  dyspeptic  symptoms.  I  am  truly  sorry  to  hear  of  Mr.  Wirt's 
illness ;  even  though  he  should  never  be  high  in  office,  he  may 
exert  a  happy  influence  on  many  who  are.  Do  you  not  think  in 
looking  around  the  country,  that,  within  a  few  years,  many  more 
of  our  "  great  men  "  have  pledged  themselves  in  favour  of  true 
Christianity,  than  at  any  former  period  %    This  is  encouraging. 

Trenton,  January  17,  1832. 
I  have  been  a  good  deal  interested  in  the  great  Quaker  trial, 
which  has  been  before  our  Chancery  Court.  As  you  are  not  like- 
ly to  have  any  published  report  of  the  argument,  I  shall  give  you 
some  of  the  positions  taken.  Wood  and  Williamson  (our  late 
Governor)  for  the  Orthodox ;  Wall  and  Southard  for  the  Hicks- 
ites.  The  decision  is  likely  to  affect  all  the  property  in  New  Jer- 
sey. The  evidence  is  printed,  and  fills  two  large  volumes.  The 
Orthodox  take  this  ground  :  the  property  belongs  to  the  Society 
of  Friends.  There  are  two  ways  of  determining  who  are  the 
real  Simon  Pures :  1.  By  their  adhesion  to  the  genuine  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Philadelphia ;  2.  By  their  adherence  to  the  true 
Quaker  faith.  The  Hicksites  are  separatists — voluntary  seceders 
from  the  Yearly  Meeting,  for  in  1827  they  formed  another,  not  a 
■ reorganization  of  the  old,  but  a  new  one,  on  new  principles,  of 
their  own  party.  The  true  Yearly  Meeting  still  remains,  has 
done  nothing  to  destroy  itself,  and  is  the  lineal  descendant  of  all 
precedent  Yearly  Meetings.  3.  The  Hicksites  are  seceders  from 
the  Quaker  faith  ;  their  Yearly  Meetings  recognised  E.  Hieks  as 
a  preacher  of  the  truth  ;  and  their  leading  preachers  and  writers 
are  Unitarian.  The  society,  though  it  has  no  creeds,  qua  tales, 
has  received,  established,  characteristic  principles,  easily  learned 
from  the  current  of  their  writings.  Friends  have  often  "  dealt 
with  "  ministers  for  preaching  unsound  doctrine,  thus  establish- 
ing that  there  is  some  doctrinal  test.  They  are,  as  a  body,  Trini- 
tarian, and  they  have  "  disowned  "  the  Hicksites,  who  are  there- 
by, as  by  their  voluntary  secession,  ipso  facto  disinherited  as 
Quakers.  The  Hicksites  rejoin :  1.  Friends  are  not  called  by  men's 
names ;  they  are  not  Hicksites ;  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  1827 
ceased  to  be  the  Yearly  Meeting  when,,  in  opposition  to  a  vast 
majority,  they  elected  Samuel  Settle  their  clerk,  and  did  other 
things  which  they  were  not  competent  to  do.  The  majority  then 
reorganized  the  true  Yearly  Meeting,  which  they  have  continued. 


1829—1832.  183 

They  have  never  separated  from  the  Society  of  Friends ;  they 
are  the  majority,  and  the  society  is  a  pure  democracy,  in  which 
majorities  govern.  The  division  is  not  on  doctrinal,  but  on  dis- 
ciplinary grounds.  Their  Yearly  Meeting  is  independent  of  all 
others,  though  not  recognised  by  those  of  England,  New  Eng- 
land, and  the  Southern  States. 

2.  Quakers  have  no  creeds ;  this  is  characteristic  of  them. 
The  Spirit  is  their  bond ;  they  have  always  repudiated  doctrinal 
tests.  The  Scriptures  are  their  creed.  They  may  believe  what 
they  choose,  and  they,  as  a  republican  majority,  are  at  liberty  to 
say  what  is  sound  Quakerism.  They  believe  the  doctrines  of 
ancient  Friends ;  further  than  this  no  court  has  a  right  to  exact 
a  profession  :  they  stand  upon  their  rights  of  conscience,  and  will 
assert  or  deny  no  doctrines.  This  is  no  question  of  doctrine. 
Elias  Hicks  was  a  good,  great,  and  holy  man  ;  slandered  and 
persecuted.  He  did  not  deny  Christ's  divinity,  atonement,  in- 
spiration, a  future  state.  He  believed  with  ancient  Friends. 
But,  granting  that  he  was  in  error,  they  are  not  affected  by  it. 
They  refuse  the  name  of  Hicksites,  are  not  identified  with  him, 
have  not  taken  his  writings  as  their  creed,  will  not  stand  or  fall 
with  him,  will  not  say  what  they  believe,  except  that  they  believe 
the  Scriptures,  and  are  in  unity  with  ancient  Friends.  The  argu- 
ment began  on  the  3d  inst.,  and  lasted  more  than  a  week.  Wood 
and  Williamson  are  equal  to  any  men,  in  argument,  I  have  ever 
heard,  and  they  have  displayed  a  wonderful  research.  Southard 
is  the  main  dependence  of  the  other  party,  and  he  dealt  too  much 
in  declamation.  It  is  hard  to  say  how  it  will  go.1  We  have 
had  a  number  of  Philadelphia  Orthodox  Quakers  here,  the  most 
distinguished  of  whom  is  Thomas  Evans,  whom  the  Orthodox 
hold  up  as  their  great  Theologian  and  champion.  His  pam- 
phlets, testimony,  and  conversation,  evince  him  to  be  an  extra- 
ordinary— I  think,  a  pious  man. 

Many  look  for  a  general  split  of  the  two  sides  [Presbyterian 
church]  next  spring.  Let  us  pray  for  something  better.  I 
mean,  that  the  pious,  humble,  moderate,  and  (moderately)  or- 
thodox should  come  out  from  the  ultras  of  both  sides,  and  cohere 
as  the  Presbyterian  church.  Dr.  Dickey's  paper  is  good,  and 
many  men,  I  think,  are  beginning  to  feel  that  we  are  tempting  the 
Spirit  of  God  to  leave  us  by  our  biting  and  devouring  one  an- 
other. O  how  could  we  breathe  out  our  souls  in  death,  after  the 
rancour  exhibited  in  several  of  last  week's  publications  !  The 
greatest  heresy  is  want  of  love.  Dr.  Rice  used  to  urge  on  his 
students  the  motto  Love  is  power.  On  this  text  I  think  I  could 
preach  a  good  sermon  ;  I  would  that  I  better  knew  how  to  act 

1  The  judgment  was  for  the  Orthodox  side. 


184  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

upon  it.  A  few  days  more,  and  we  shall  see  these  things  in  a 
different  light.  Some  truths  I  hold  to  be  fundamental.  These  I 
would  enforce,  on  our  own,  by  discipline ;  in  others,  let  us  be 
forbearing.  As  to  the  devotional  aid  for  your  friend,  I  can  think 
of  no  book  exactly  the  thing.  If  she  is  a  young  Christian,  Dod- 
dridge's Rise  and  Progress  is  the  best  I  know  of,  especially  on 
the  subject  of  daily  self-examination.  Yet  I  have  derived  more 
benefit  from  Bickersteth  on  Prayer,  than  from  any  similar  work. 
Sacra  Privata,  by  Wilson,  Bp.  of  "  Sodor  and  Man,"  is  a  book 
of  heavenly  devotion,  arranged  according  to  the  days  of  the 
week  ;  but  it  savours  a  little  of  Arminianism,  on  the  subject  of 
human  merit.  Jay's  Exercises  for  the  Closet  is  a  capital  book  ; 
on  the  whole,  however,  I  should  be  inclined  to  recommend  Bick- 
ersteth. Among  your  plans  for  doing  good,  invent  some  one  by 
which  pastors  may  gain  pastoral  access  to  servants,  apprentices, 
&c.  These  one  cannot  see  in  pastoral  visitation,  and  they  shun 
the  respectable  bible  classes  ;  yet  they  often  are  the  most  hope- 
ful members  of  a  congregation. 

Trenton,  March  5,  1832. 

I  have  kept  yours,  of  the  9th  ult.,  two  days  longer  than  you 
kept  my  last,  but  not  from  any  exactitude  in  calculation ;  the 
press  of  Repertory  and  other  writing  kept  me  busy  last  week ; 
and  I  have,  besides,  been  a  good  deal  indisposed.  Little  trials 
sometimes  come  upon  me,  which,  though  not  important  enough 
to  call  for  human  condolence,  drive  me  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
with  an  earnestness  which  I  do  not  experience  in  times  of  sun- 
shine. How  it  is  with  others,  I  cannot  tell ;  but  it  seems  to  me, 
that  I  need  a  constant  series  of  inward  or  outward  conflicts,  to 
make  me  value  divine  comforts.  Never  can  I  so  truly  appro- 
priate the  divine  promises,  as  when  dark  clouds  overhang  my 
worldly  prospects.  The  benefit  of  afflictions  is  one  of  those 
things,  concerning  which  I  cannot  entertain  a  momentary  doubt. 

We  have  here  two  aged  Indians,  one  61,  the  other  71  years 
of  age,  Delawares  from  Green  Bay,  both  pious.  The  elder, 
Bartholomew  Calvin,  was  born  in  this  vicinity,  at  Crossweek- 
sung,  and  was  sent  to  Princeton  College  while  a  boy,  by  John 
Brainerd.  The  outbreaking  of  the  revolution  arrested  his  studies. 
I  have  had  some  pleasant  hours  with  them.  They  have  claims  on 
government  for  their  old  lands.  Do  not  suffer  yourself  to  fall  into 
extremes  as  to  ardour  in  pulpit  delivery.  Dr.  Wilson  is  the 
single  instance  among  ten  thousand  failures  in  the  a-pathetic 
school ;  a  noble  instance,  I  grant,  but  rather  an  exception  than  a 
precedent.  Perhaps  the  best  rule  is  to  abominate  the  expression 
of  a  feeling  which  one  does  not  experience,  but  not  to  repress 
feeling  where  the  subject  is  adapted  to  excite  it.     I  do  not  call 


1829—1832.  185 

to  mind  any  English  sentence,  in  which  the  phrase  "  protracted  " 
is  used  in  a  good  sense ;  yet  wc  say  "  protracted  meeting  " — why 
not  "  continued  meeting  "  1 

Among  my  pastoral  trials,  is  the  conviction  (as  a  thief  of  the 
worst  and  most  inveterate  stamp)  of  a  man,  who  has  been  20 
years  an  apparently  devout  member  of  my  church.  I  never 
missed  him  from  his  pew,  nor  ever  observed  him  inattentive. 
It  gave  occasion  to  one  or  two  sermons  on  "  offences,"  "  hypo- 
crisy," and  "  self-deception,"  which  I  trust  may  be  useful ;  but 
it  affords  great  glorying  to  the  aliens.  I  took  occasion  to  press 
this  idea,  which  I  think  valuable,  that,  granting  that  there  is  such 
a-  thing  in  the  world  as  a  hypocrite,  the  very  place  where  we 
must  reasonably  expect  to  find  him,  is  in  the  Church  of  Christ : 
hence  no  reproach  ought  to  be  cast  on  the  latter.  You  may  have 
been  told  that  I  was  invited  (with  the  prospect  of  a  call)  to 
preach  in  Baltimore  ;  I  have  declined  it.  If  I  am  to  be  a  pastor, 
and  nothing  but  necessity  could  make  me  willing  to  be  any  thing 
else,  I  believe  I  have  more  openings  to  serve  Christ  here,  than  in 
any  more  laborious  charge.  I  have  counted  up  about  fifty 
persons,  with  whom  I  have  had  religious  conversation,  and  who 
are  more  or  less  tender.  A  great  excitement  would  bring  these 
to  the  anxious  seat,  and  probably  into  the  church ;  but  without 
this,  /  have  an  access  to  them  which  no  other  person  could  have, 
for  a  long  time ;  and  which  I  should  not  have  to  the  same  number 
elsewhere.  The  same  kind  of  argument  applies  to  a  number  of 
other  topics.  Still,  I  feel  my  constitution  to  be  inadequate  to 
the  labours.  I  usually  carry  an  aching  head  to  a  pillow  of  rest- 
lessness every  Sunday,  Wednesday,  and  Thursday  night ;  and 
am  truly  incompetent  for  pastoral  visitation.  Yet,  the  life  of  a 
minister  has  great  satisfactions  and  rewards,  which  I  trust  you 
may  experience  in  a  far  higher  degree  than  your  unfaithful  friend. 
Some  of  my  most  delightful  hours  have  been  spent  in  sick-rooms, 
by  dying-beds,  or  among  poor,  unlettered  believers,  or  especially 
in  rejoicing  with  them  that  do  rejoice  for  the  first  time  in  Christ. 
•A  singular  case  of  hallucination  has  just  come  to  my  knowledge; 
sweet,  pious,  and  otherwise  intelligent  young  girl,  of  my  flock, 
thinks  she  has  had  a  supernatural  monition  from  a  dying  friend 
that  she  is  soon  to  die  also.  I  shall  not  be  surprised  if  the  im- 
pression on  her  mind  should  verify  the  prediction.  We  are  in  a 
fair  way  to  have  Trenton  made  an  island,  by  the  canal,  feeder, 
water-power-race,  (now  "  being  "  digged,)  creek,  and  river,  which 
surround  us  on  every  hand.  Thousands  of  Irish  Catholics  are  here. 
Bishop  Kenrick  preached,  confirmed,  anointed,  spat,  curtseyed, 
besprinkled,  and  mumbled,  in  our  chapel  yesterday.  Read 
Cramp's  Text-book  of  Popery  ;  it  is  highly  instructive,  and  gives 
'"nod  authority. 


186  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

Trenton,  March  27,  1832. 
The  family  [Mrs.  Rice]  which  has  entertained  me  for  more 
than  three  years  has  just  moved,  and  me  with  them,  so  that  I  am 
in  a  great  bustle,  and  scarcely  self-possessed  enough  to  write  a 
letter:  you  must  be  content  with  something  brief.  The  past 
winter  has  been  one  of  more  ailments  to  me  than  common,  and  I 
am  coming  out  of  it  almost  as  much  debilitated  as  after  a  sum- 
mer's sweat.  Yet  I  have  to  be  thankful  that  since  October  I 
have  not  lost  a  Sabbath  by  indisposition.  Perhaps  you  knew 
Rev.  Robert  Roy,  who  has  recently  died  in  Monmouth  county, 
New  Jersey.  He  was  a  man  of  as  much  Christian  faith,  and 
uninterrupted  joy,  as  I  have  ever  known.  He  preached  until  his 
voice  was  absolutely  inaudible,  from  pulmonary  decay.  Some 
acquaintances  of  mine  use  a  curious  argument  in  favour  of  Mr. 
Finney,  namely,  that  as  soon  as  Mr.  Nettleton  opposed  him,  the 
latter  ceased  to  have  revivals.  The  argument  goes  upon  a  false 
fact,  to  my  knowledge.  We  have  an  eccentric  Methodist  in 
Trenton,  who  declares  that  certain  of  their  ministers  have  com- 
mitted the  unpardonable  sin,  by  refusing  to  countenance  all  his 
measures.  This  is  quite  an  improvement  upon  some  of  our 
denunciatory  proceedings.  I  wish  all  parties  would  read  what 
Edwards  says  hereupon,  in  his  work  on  Revivals.  I  dare  not 
condemn  a  multitude  of  things,  which  I  would  as  little  dare  to 
do.  There  is,  it  seems  to  me,  an  inordinate  stress  laid  by  both 
parties  upon  mere  measures,  as  unreasonable  as  argument  about 
mere  ceremonies.  On  one  hand  a  truly  superstitious  reliance  is 
placed  on  certain  methods  of  conducting  meetings,  &c. ;  on  the 
other,  certain  measures  are  denounced  as  if  they  were  absolutely 
anti-christian.  One  man  has  anxious  meetings,  another  anxious 
seats,  a  third  calls  them  out  in  the  aisle,  a  fourth  invites  them  to 
his  study,  a  fifth  visits  them  at  home.  Here  are  diversities  of 
methods,  but  no  ground,  I  think,  for  violent  controversy.  Vari- 
ous methods  have  been  blessed,  to  my  knowledge,  in  various 
revivals,  and  new  ones  are  yet  to  be  invented.  On  this  subject, 
I  think  our  old  men  are  too  tenacious.  Nothing  is  worse  in  my 
estimation,  because  it  is  new,  unless  indeed  it  be  doctrine.  It  is 
hard  to  determine  in  all  cases  what  measures  are  the  best,  but 
almost  any  are  better  than  total  listlessness. 

Trenton,  May  23,  1832. 
Your  sentiments  about  "systems"  are,  as  far  as  I  can  see, 
just  my  own,  although  you  seem  to  think  otherwise.1     Please 

1  The  allusions  here  are  to  an  article  by  Alexander  in  the  Repertory  for 
April,  "  On  the  use  and  abuse  of  Systematic  Theology." 


1829—1832.  187 

observe  I  compared,  not  the  system,  but  exegesis  to  the  telescope  ; 
also  that  I  have  reiterated  your  sentiment  three  or  four  times 
about  "  not  asking  a  man  to  believe,  &c,  on  the  authority  of 
Copernicus  ;  "  also  that  I  have  not  insinuated  that  there  was  any 
bona  fide  opposition  to  systems  in  new-school  men,  inasmuch  as 
they  are  systematizing  as  fast  as  they  can ;  e.  g.  Duflield  on  Re- 
generation ;  also  that  I  have  denounced  the  setting  systems  on  a 
parity  with  the  Bible.  What  then,  you  will  say,  is  left  ?  Only 
the  practical  question,  "  Is  this  system,  as  such,  so  un-useful  or 
injurious,  as  to  deserve  utter  banishment'?"  It  is  difficult  to 
speak  of  one's  own  practice  without  egotism,  but  I  find  it  the 
shortest  way  here  of  expressing  my  sincere  convictions,  and  you 
must  bear  with  the  fault.  I  have  never  read  through  any  system 
of  theology ;  *  I  read  as  much  in  Wesley  and  Watson  as  in  Tur- 
retine.  My  days  are  almost  entirely  spent  in  studies  purely 
exegetical,  in  which  it  has  been  my  principle  for  a  long  time,  not 
to  approach  a  commentary  until,  if  possible,  I  had  arrived  at 
some  rational  exposition  of  the  passage.  Yet  I  wrote  the  article 
in  question  sincerely,  and  in  opposition  to  the  cant  of  multitudes, 
especially  in  our  seminaries,  who  are  far  from  going  to  hcrme- 
neutics  in  their  flight  from  dogmatics,  but  pick  up  their  objections, 
and  their  doctrines  too,  from  the  last  influential  patron  with 
whom  they  have  studied.  And  I  have  not  fabricated  one  objec- 
tion, but  have  had  them  all  urged  upon  me  in  repeated  conver- 
sations ;  some  of  them  having  been  noted  down  in  Princeton, 
long  ago.  I  shall  not  say  another  word,  however,  upon  this 
question,  for  I  hate  even  the  appearance  of  controversy,  in  letters 
as  in  conversation,  and  rejoice  that,  with  many  more  real  differ- 
ences of  opinion,  we  have  scarcely  ever  had  one  wordy  war  in 
the  course  of  some  dozen  years.  What  a  noble  book  "  Saturday 
Evening  "  [by  Isaac  Taylor]  is.  I  have  to  lay  it  down,  at  every 
few  pages,  and  muse.  It  has  made  me  hope  more  for  the  church, 
and  desire  more  to  be  in  heaven.  Before  such  a  genius — let 
critics  say  what  they  will — I  stand  in  awe ;  and  whether  he  is  a 
New-Schoolite,  a  Methodist,  or  (as  I  conclude)  a  Churchman,  I 
give  him  the  homage  due  from  a  little  and  cold  to  a  great  and 
flaming  spirit. 

Just  at  this  time  I  am  floundering  in  that  perilous  channel, 
the  vii.  c.  Romans.  I  am  at  the  Greek  and  the  versions,  without 
commentaries,  and  am  hoping  to  steer  clear  of  radical  error. 
The  noblest  help  in  New  Testament  study  is  the  Greek  Concord- 
ance, which  is  better  than  any  dictionary.  Some  of  our  lexi- 
cons are  nothing  short  of  Commentaries ;  though  you  have  no 

*  I  since  remember  Calvin's  Institutes. 


188  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

doubt  observed  this,  just  read  Schleusner  or  Wahl  upon  such  a 
word  as  TrvevixariKos  .  The  concordance,  on  the  contrary,  makes 
the  Spirit  of  God  the  commentator.  Addison  has  just  com- 
mitted to  memory  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  in  Greek  and  Eng- 
lish, and  about  twenty  of  the  Psalms  in  Hebrew.  At  his  instance 
I  have  attempted  a  little  in  this  way,  and  find  it  a  great  advantage; 
for  I  can  speculate  upon  the  meaning  of  a  passage  while  I  lie  awake 
in  bed,  as  I  very  often  do  of  late. 

As  to  the  Assembly,  I  really  know  not  what  to  think  or  to 
say,  or  even  to  wish.  What  would  I  have  1  Certainly  peace ; 
if  possible  unity  of  doctrine ;  then  unity  of  organization  ;  if  we 
cannot  be  to  duro  cf>povovvT€<;,  we  may  at  least  be  r-qv  avrrjv  aya-rr-qv 
eYovres,  (Philip,  ii.;)  and  the  way  to  attain  this  seems  to  be 
aAA.77A.0-us  r)yovjj.€voL  uVepeYovTas  iavrwv.  Alas  !  who  does  this  1 
certainly  not  I ;  for  which  I  desire  to  humble  myself,  and  to 
seek  greater  measures  of  self-renunciation  and  self-neglect.  My 
sentiments  are  changed  since  last  Assembly  ;  not  so  much  as  to 

men  or  measures,  as  spirit.     I  do  not  recognize  in  Mr. 's 

denunciations  the  spirit  of  Jesus  ;  nay,  nor  even  of  the  ardent 

Paul.     Mr. and  Mr. ,  I  try  to  bless  God  for  it, 

do  not  preach  "  another  gospel,1'  and  I  hope  to  meet  them  in 
heaven,  where  we  shall  wonder  and  smile  (with  new  light)  when 
we  look  back  to  see  the  time  we  have  lost  from  a  glorious  work 
in  comparing  the  trowels,  and  quarrelling  over  the  hods  and 
mortar  of  the  spiritual  temple.  "  Christ  is  preached,  and  I 
therein  rejoice,  yea  and  will  rejoice,"  even  though,  as  to  the 
manner,  some  may  preach  him  of  "  envv,"  "  strife,"  or  "  ill- 
will." 

By  adopting  the  practice  of  going  out  very  early  in  the 
morning,  often  before  sunrise,  I  think  I  have  become  a  little 
more  vigorous.  External  nature,  especially  at  this  season,  pro- 
duces a  remarkable  and  happy  modification  of  my  religious 
feelings ;  and  after  a  glorious  sunrise,  I  feel  better  all  day. 
David  no  doubt  felt  the  force  of  such  influences  :  witness  in  par- 
ticular the  104th  Psalm,  which  I  have  often  read  wrhile  looking 
upon  the  very  pictures  delineated  in  the  latter  part  of  it. 
From  my  little  study  window,  I  catch  a  glimpse  of  green 
fields  (about  three  panes  full)  and  eastern  clouds,  and  this  helps 
me  in  the  morning.  I  always  esteemed  it  a  great  blessing,  at 
my  father's  house,  to  be  able  to  look  out  eastward  upon  a 
thousand  acres  of  meadow  land,  and  a  hundred  and  sixty  degrees 
of  hill  and  mountain  on  the  horizon.  I  hold  this  to  be  not  ro- 
mance but  reason.  My  health  is  very  poor  ;  far  more  so  than 
I  usually  express ;  my  breast  has  been  in  a  peculiarly  weak 
condition  for  some  weeks. 


1829—1832.  189 

Trenton,  June  6,  1832. 

I  cannot  undertake  Newton's  Life,  [for  Sunday  School  Union ;] 
my  hands  are  more  than  full  of  writing.  I  am  "  gleaning  "  in 
Biblical  Antiquities  for  the  Sunday  School  Journal,  which  fdls 
up  my  "  horse  subcesivai ;  "  have  from  a  third  to  a  half  of  every 
Repertory  to  write ;  am  in  the  trying  season  of  the  year,  and  also 
(I  think)  a  little  alive  to  the  importance  of  renewed  exertion  for 
the  revival  of  religion  among  my  people. 

I  am  apprehensive  that  most  readers  pass  over  my  Gleanings 
as  a  mere  compilation  from  the  little  abridged  Jahn,  which  is- 
sued from  the  Andover  press.  On  the  contrary,  they  are  care- 
fully compiled  from  his  Biblische  Archaologie  in  5  vols.  8vo, 
which  has  never  been  translated.  Most  of  them  were  delivered 
as  Lectures  to  my  S.  S.  Teachers,  which  accounts  for  the  style. 
When  I  get  through  the  "  old  store  "  I  shall  be  able  to  simplify 
more.  The  "  Drunkard's  Progress  "  is  admirable :  pray,  im- 
prove on  that  hint — for  the  cuts  may  be  cut  out  and  pasted  in 
cottages,  to  great  benefit  of  many.  Let  us  have  the  "  Bad  boy's 
progress,"  &c. 

I  rejoice  in  the  comparative  harmony  of  our  Assembly,  as  re- 
ported by  my  father.  Surely  wre  have  enemies  enough  without. 
You  and  I  cannot  expect  to  live  long  here;  let  us  stir  one 
another  up  to  new  and  redoubled  efforts. 

Excuse  haste,  for  I  have  now  to  write  a  Sunday  School  Ser- 
mon, to  revive,  if  I  can,  our  drooping  schools.1 

Trenton,  June  19,  1832. 
In  self-vindication,  I  deny  your  calumnious  charge  about  my 
writing  so  many  sermons.  No  sir,  I  do  not  write  three  sermons 
in  five  months.  What  if  I  write  Life  of  Elijah  ?  Am  I  fore- 
stalled ?  Give  me  a  list  of  eminent  men  whose  lives  you  have 
not.  Gardiner  1  Spencer  %  Urquhart  1  Bunyan  1  You  may  count 
on  me  for  any  thing  small.  In.  plain  sincerity  I  should  be  sorry 
to  see  my  hitherto  published  "  Gleanings  "  [in  the  Sunday  School 
Journal]  collected  into  a  stack.  The  sheaves  are  bound  up  too 
loosely.  If  my  life  is  spared,  and  our  heavenly  Father  smile  on 
the  enterprise,  I  will  some  day  produce  a  Gazetteer  for  the  Bible 
which  shall  deserve  in  some  degree  the  character  of  complete- 
ness. Scripture  Geography  is  (among  English  scholars)  "the 
earth  without  form,  and  void,  and  darkness  upon  the  face  of  the 
deep."  I  have  many  plates  in  Jahn  which  might  be  copied.  Help 
me  to  find  cuts  for .  my  Gleanings.  Hereafter  I  shall  treat  the 
subject  so  as  by  no  possibility  to  tread  on  Nevin's  toes,  ["  Bib- 

1  This  sermon  was  printed  in  four  numbers  of  the  Sunday  School  Journal, 
(July  and  August,  1832,)  under  the  head  of  "Plain  Suggestions." 


190  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

lical  Antiquities,"  published  by  S.  S.  Union,]  unless  where  he  is 
wrong.     In  spiritual  tendency  his  is  the  best  extant. 

The  embarrassments  which  make  me  cry  "  no  time,"  you  ap- 
pear not  yet  to  understand.  This  instant  I  am  called  down  by 
a  man,  wrho  probably  will  sit  an  hour  and  leave  me  to  guess 
why  he  called. — Better  than  I  thought,  for  he  gave  me  five  dol- 
lars, missionary  money,  but  kept  me  an  hour,  which  I  could  not 
refuse,  for  I  believe  he  received  benefit,  and  was  quickened  by 
my  suggestions.  Yet  I  scarcely  have  two  hours  solid,  except 
before  breakfast,  for  spiritual  nourishment.  In  a  sickly  season, 
I  have  not  two  waking  hours  in  which  I  can  sit  down  to  read, 
much  less  to  write.  Once  a  fortnight  I  am  knocked  up  by  head- 
ache.    Yet  I  love  my  w^ork.     O  that  I  were  more  faithful ! 

Trenton,  June  20,  1832. 

I  am  unable  to  speak  from  knowledge  of  Townsend's 
arrangement  of  the  Old  Testament  ;  the  New  Testament 
I  have  pretty  carefully  examined,  and  am  disposed  to  recom- 
mend it ;  though  the  merit  of  such  a  work  is  suspended  al- 
most wholly  on  the  accuracy  of  the  chronological  theory  adopted 
by  its  author ;  and  this,  you  know,  is  a  knotty,  and,  perhaps,  in- 
explicable subject.  You  have  read  "  Bickersteth's  Scripture 
Help"?  also  his  own  abridgment  of  it?  Both  these  works,  if 
they  have  not  been,  should  without  delay  be  published  by  the 
Union.  For  my  own  use,  I  know  no  better  work  so  far  forth  as 
the  writer  means  it  to  extend.  Introductions  to  the  Scripture 
of  a  plain  kind  are  very  needful,  and  one  to  the  New  Testament, 
I  think,  1  will  endeavour  to  provide.1  I  have  a  work  by  Eosen- 
muller,  called  "  Viewrs  in  Palestine,"  containing  25  views  of  land- 
scapes, localities,  cities,  ruins,  'paysages,'  &c,  in  Palestine,  writh 
letterpress  descriptive.  They  are  well  done ;  size  somewhere 
about  12  X  18  inches.  Could  not  a  miniature  of  this,  with  more 
letterpress  (original)  be  made  a  -very  fine  book  for  the  Union  ? 2 

I  perceive  plainly  that  the  report  of  Cholera  from  Quebec, 
Montreal,  and  White  Hall,  has  alarmed  our  population.  God 
grant  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  use  the  opportunity  for  inculcat- 
ing truth.  Surely  we  are  all  called  upon  to  do  something  extra- 
ordinary, earnest,  and  without  the  delay  of  a  moment.  On  con- 
sultation with  my  session,  I  have  determined  to  have  a  day  of 
special  fasting,  without  waiting  for  proclamation.  Gen.  Jackson, 
perhaps  you  are  aware,  has  refused  to  accede  to  the  proposal  of 

1  This  he  accomplished  for  both  Testaments  in  "  The  Scripture  Guide  ; 
a  familiar  introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Bible,"  published  by  the  Union 
in  1838.     Pp.  263. 

2  He  assisted  in  realizing  this. 


1829—1832.  191 

the  New  York  Clergy,  to  have  a  national  fast,  though  Madison 
proclaimed  one  about  the  time  of  the  War.  C.  Mcllvaine  [now 
Bishop]  said,  that  he  and  his  Church  would  prostrate  themselves 
before  God,  if  no  other  one  in  America  did  so.  You  will  of 
course,  by  this  time,  be  up  and  doing  in  Philadelphia,  Pray  put 
this  thought  into  shape,  and  publish  it  in  daily  papers,  viz. :  "  the 
affectation  of  courage  or  indifference,  or  fool-hardiness,  on  the 
approach  of  such  a  pestilence,  is  a  contempt  of  God  ;  a  Pharaoh- 
like hardening  of  the  heart :  like  Nineveh,  we  should  all  bo  in 
sackcloth.  The  question  is  not  between  evangelical  and  rational 
Christians,  nor  even  between  Christians  and  infidels,  but  between 
Theists  and  Atheists ;  for  if  there  is  a  God  and  a  controlling 
power,  then  it  is  wise  to  humble  ourselves  before  him."  The 
alarming  probability  is,  that  Rev.  xvi.  9  will  be  in  many  ful- 
filled :  on  the  outpouring  of  the  vial,  "  men  were  scorched  with 
great  heat,  and  blasphemed  the  name  of  God,  which  hath  power 
over  these  plagues  :  and  they  repented  not  to  give  him  glory :  " 
and  again,  under  the  5th  vial,  "  they  gnawed  their  tongues  for 
pain,  and  blasphemed  the  God  of  heaven."  I  confess  that  1  am 
very  deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  we  ought  to  be 
awake  as  we  have  never  been  before,  in  calling  aloud  upon  sin- 
ners to  save  themselves  from  this  untoward  generation  of  practi- 
cal atheism.  To  neglect  the  call  is  emphatically  to  harden  the 
heart.  ,  "  To-day  (let  us  say)  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not 
your  heart."  Such  are  our  sinners,  and  such  the  exigency  of  the 
time,  that  we  should  "  save  them  with  fear,  pulling  them  out  of 
the  fire."  Whether  Ave  have  Cholera  or  not,  we  have  no  time 
to  lose :  should  the  panic  produce  only  a  conviction  of  this  in 
ministers  and  believers,  it  will  be  a  messenger  of  judgment  and 
also  of  mercy.  The  public  press  may  take  happy  advantage  of 
the  fears  of  men,  to  lead  them  to  conviction  :  though  I  am  per- 
suaded that  the  natural  tendency  of  the  bruit  made  about  the 
subject,  and  the  incessant  conversations  on  it  in  familiar  style, 
is  baneful  to  the  soul.  When  the  Lord's  judgments  are  abroad, 
O  that  the  inhabitants  might  learn  righteousness.  Now  is  the 
time,  I  think,  for  a  tract  to  be  written  called  Blood  on  the  Door 
Post,  (with  reference  to  the  sprinkled  paschal  blood  in  Egypt,) 
and  left  at  every  door.1  Now  is  the  time  for  us  to  forget  our 
petty  squabbles  about  which  leg  we  shall  put  foremost  in  our 
measures  to  convert  men  to  God,  and  for  earnest  effort  in  the 
cause  of  the  Redeemer.  Just  look  at  New  York,  hoAV  the  city 
authorities  and  people  are  on  the  alert  in  endeavouring  to  bar 

1  In  a  few  weeks  after  this  he  prepared  a  tract  under  this  title,  which 
was  published  by  the  Sunday  School  Union.  It  was  also  inserted  in  the 
Sunday  School  Journal,  August  29,  1832. 


192  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

out  the  plague.  And  what  are  Christians  doing,  in  any  kind  of 
proportion  to  the  emergency  1  It  does  seem  to  me  to  be  a  piti- 
ful and  vile  desertion  of  the  cause  of  human  souls,  for  us  to  be 
engaged  deeply  in  any  thing  else,  especially  just  now,  than  efforts 
to  save  them — to  save  them  from  spiritual  plagues — to  save 
them  now  !  Suggest  to  me,  if  you  can,  any  and  every  hint  which 
may  be  useful  in  availing  myself  of  the  general ' sensation'  for  the 
advantage  of  souls  :  any  methods  happily  struck  out  among 
your  clergymen  and  active  Christians.  I  find  my  own  soul 
somewhat  sweetened  by  the  precious,  precious  thought  of  a  pre- 
siding, guiding,  governing,  almighty  Saviour,  Lord,  and  elder 
brother.  I  am  sorry  (Dr.  or)  Mr.  Cox  brings  undue  zeal  to 
bear  upon  the  Papists  ;  I  would  not  have  "  railing  accusation  " 
brought  against  them  any  more  than  against  "  the  devil ;  "  yet 
I  am  not  disposed  to  make  concessions  to  a  church,  of  which  the 
very  assumption  of  infallibility  precludes  any  apology  for  an- 
cient tenets.  These  tenets  I  will  take  from  their  Councils  (espe- 
cially Trent)  and  nowhere  else.    I  have  one ,  a  Romish  priest 

near  me,  running  about  to  every  corner  of  my  church,  and  tak- 
ing no  repulse  even  from  people  that  have  no  toleration  for  his 
presence.  Such  a  specimen  of  vexatious  and  pragmatical  zeal 
I  never  saw.  Until  I  see  in  him  or  some  other  papist  of  the 
thousand  whom  we  have  here,  some  stray  symptom  of  grace,  I 
shall  not  be  disposed  to  come  down  to  any  more  liberal  or  chari- 
table ground  than  that  of  the  universal  Protestant  Church  ;  viz., 
that  Popery  is  a  delusion  greatly  destructive  to  souls.  The 
evidence  of  this  I  see  almost  every  hour  passing  my  window. 
If  these  thousand  Papists  were  to  die  next  week  with  Cholera,  I 
have  every  reason  to  think  that  not  one  of  them  would  have  a  con- 
ception of  any  preparation  beyond  the  opus  operatum  of  ceremo- 
nies. This  is  my  conclusion  from  personal  conversation,  and 
various  reports  of  credible  members  of  my  church.  O  that  the 
Bible  and  the  accompanying  Spirit  of  God  might  rid  the  world 
of  blindness  and  impenitence  ! 

Princeton,1  July  18,  1832. 

The  Jacotot  method  of  instruction  has  made,  and  is  making 

great  noise  in  France  and  Belgium.     It  is  not  a  theory,  but  a 

practice  ;  admits  of  a  singular  adaptation  to  our  system.     I  will 

(D.  V.)  give  you  a  little  series  on  it  for  the  S.  S.  Journal.2    The 

1  Mr.  Alexander  was  for  some  weeks  with  his  family  at  Princeton,  on  ac- 
count of  the  illness  of  his  eldest  child,  but  continued  to  perform  his  pastoral 
duties  in  Trenton. 

2  His  correspondent  had  lately  become  the  editor  of  the  large  weekly 
"  Journal "  published  by  the  Sunday  School  Union.      To  this  paper  Mr. 


1829—1832.  193 

"  Library  of  Useful  Knowledge  "  is  too  abstruse  [for  use  of 
Journal].  "  The  Library  of  Entertaining  Knowledge"  is  just  the 
thing  for  your  purpose.  The  "  Plain  why  and  because  "  is  a 
mere  salmagundi ;  an  aggregation,  not  a  selection,  still  less 
a  digest,  and  therefore  a  catch-  penny.  "  Wonders  of  Nature 
and  Art,"  by  J.  Taylor,  London,  12mo,  many  plates  ;  very 
good. 

My  notion  is  that  the  whole  field  of  Juvenile  Education  comes 
within  your  scope.  You  may  make  the  S.  S.  Journal  easily 
the  best  journal  of  Education  extant.  For  this  purpose — 1,  you 
ought  to  have  correspondents  in  Europe,  and  the  Missions,  such 
as  Ceylon  and  Llawaii,  &c. ;  2,  you  ought  to  take  a  French  and 
a  German  Journal  on  Education,  and  have  a  man  to  read  and 
extract  from  each.  You  ought,  3,  to  have  always  before  you 
this  great  idea,  that  the  Bible  is  the  central  instrument  in  uni- 
versal Education ;  that  beginning  with  this,  the  whole  Encyclo- 
pedia may  be  traversed  ;  that  to  this  hive  every  thing  should  be 
carried.  You  ought,  (need  I  say  it  1)  4,  to  endeavour  to  make 
every  number  save  souls.  May  God  help  you  in  this  respon- 
sible undertaking  ! 

Princeton,  Aug.  4,  1S32. 
By  this  time  perhaps  you  have  seen  in  the  New  York  papers, 
that  Cholera  rages  in  Princeton.  Through  Divine  Mercy  this 
is  not  true.  There  have  indeed  been  three  deaths  of  Irishmen 
in  the  town,  and  nearly  twenty  on  the  neighbouring  canal. 
Great  uproar  has  been  occasioned  by  some  cits  who  are  rusti- 
cated here,  and  who  condemned  the  little  Health-Board  for  having 
a  hospital  within  the  borough.  William  has  been  with  a  large 
proportion  of  those  who  have  died ;  some  he  has  watched  and 
rubbed  all  night ;  some  he  has  picked  up  and  carried  in  his  arms 
to  their  dying  beds.  He  almost  got  out  of  bed  himself  to  do 
this,  and  has  turned  night  into  day.  Some  of  the  theological 
students  have  deserved  nobly  of  our  neighbourhood,  by  their 
devotion  in  nursing,  &c.  This  morning,  I  learn  that  a  highly 
respectable  contractor  on  the  canal — 7  miles  hence — Mr.  Spencer, 
died  last  night.  The  disease  is  at  Scudder's  mills,  3  miles  ;  and 
Kingston,  3  miles  ;  all  cases  Irish  Catholics.  Princeton  is 
nevertheless  uncommonly  healthy.  The  Institutions  have  not 
been  formally  dismissed,  but  whoever  will,  goes.     I  am  much 

Alexander  had  already  been  a  large  contributor;  but  from  June,  1832,  to 
June,  1841,  there  are  few  numbers  that  did  not  contain  something  from  his 
pen.  His  articles  were  not  confined  to  the  subject  of  education,  but  em- 
braced a  large  miscellany,  in  verse  as  well  as  prose,  translations,  compilations, 
extracts,  as  well  as  original. 
VOL.  I. — 0 


194:  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TKENTON. 

flattered  by  your  consideration  of  my  garden  dialogue,  and 
pleased,  of  course,  with  your  arrangements.  [One  of  his  works 
for  children — "  the  Flower  Book."] 

In  estimating  this  letter,  please  remember  that  I  write  within 
full  hearing  of  my  little  boy's  cries.  Oh  !  I  have  new  under- 
standing, since  I  became  a  father,  of  that  expression  "  As  a  father 
pitieth  his  children,"  &c.  I  will  send  you  a  number  of  the 
Princeton  "  Courier  ;  "  the  article  "  to  the  Fearful,"  was  written 
for  you,  but  the  state  of  things  here  made  me  print  it  without 
delay. 

N.  B.  I  am  filling  a  small  4to  blank  book  with  scraps  for 
you.  Among  others  one  book  called  the  Monkey,  which  perhaps 
you  may  think  too  quizzical ;  n'importe,  do  as  you  please  with 
all  I  send.  It  contains  also  some  Luther-ana,  written  long 
ago  without  reference  to  Sunday  Schools,  but  a  few  of  them 
may  suit  you :  also  a  translation  of  Jacoiofs  method  of 
teaching. 

Take  a  copy  book,  lay  it  by  you,  and  write  down  in  it,  at 
the  time  the  idea  sprouts,  what  you  have  to  say  to  me ;  send 
this,  when  full,  with  dates  noted,  by  a  private  hand  :  I  will  at- 
tempt the  same.  I  propose  to  write  a  "  book  of  the  Stars  ;  " 
will  Jacob  Green  account  it  piracy  for  me  to  borrow  from  his 
Astronomical  Kecreations  %  Prayer  is  not  made  often  enough, 
explicitly  enough,  or  fervently  enough  for  physicians,  nurses,  and 
persons  exposed  to  the  plague ;  nor  for  the  souls  of  those  who 
arc  just  dying. 

Princeton,  Aug.  G,  1832. 
I  returned  to  Princeton  last  night  from  the  funeral  of  my 
principal  supporter  and  friend  in  Trenton,  Chief  Justice  Ewing. 
lie  gave  a  decided  testimony  to  the  power  of  faith.  He  died 
at  3|-  A.  M.  on  Sunday  morning,  after  an  illness  of  23  hours  ; 
decidedly  Cholera.  Pie  was  not  only  one  of  the  most  temperate, 
and  equable,  and  regular,  but  one  of  the  halest  men  in  America. 
You  may  imagine  the  consternation.  May  our  covenant  God 
protect  us  and  all  we  love.    0  for  grace  to  use  up  all  our  talent ! 

Princeton,  Aug.  28,  1832. 
Family  trials  and  personal  indisposition  have  prevented  my 
remittances  to  the  Journal,  as  regularly  as  could  be  desired. 
You  must  not  rely  on  me  in  any  such  way,  for  any  thing,  as  to 
make  a  disappointment  injurious.  My  little  boy  still  lives,  but 
m  great  weakness  and  great  suffering.  I  shall  not  undertake  to 
describe  our  anxieties.     It  is  better  for  me  to  say — what  I  be- 


1829—1832.  195 

lieve  we  can  both  say  truly — we  do  in  a  sense  "  take  pleasure 
in  infirmities,  in  distresses,"  &c. 

As  I  have  a  very  strong  desire  that  you  should  be  useful  in 
your  present  sphere,  and  that  you  should  continue  in  it,  I  will  be 
frank  enough  to  say  a  few  words  upon  the  subject.  I  perceive 
a  change  within  no  long  period,  from  comparative  transparency 
of  style,  to  what  may  be  called  constrained,  stilted,  and,  in  some 
cases,  even  affected.  Whether  this  arises  from  the  influence  of 
any  author  you  have  lately  read,  or  a  diffidence  as  to  the  value 
of  your  thoughts  when  simply  expressed,  or  (as  I  have  detected 
this  in  my  own  case)  from  mere  haste — I  pray  you  have  an  eye 
to  it.  Above  every  thing  else  let  us  be  plain  and  clear.  I  have 
very  seldom  exercised  the  censorial  function — you  will  bear  me 
witness — but  I  am  sincerely  of  opinion  that  you  are  on  a  track 
which  may  lead  you  out  of  the  simple  path  of  greatest  usefulness. 
And  I  am  daily  trying  to  contend  against  a  temptation  of  the 
same  kind,  to  write  in  German  text  (so  to  speak)  what  is  better 
written  in  plain  Script.  I  would  not  for  a  thousand  guineas  write 
in  the  style  of  "  Saturday  Evening,"  though  I  admire  it  above 
most  people.  I  make  no  doubt  that  you  will  understand  my 
object,  without  my  throwing  in  any  apologies.  Be  assured  you 
are  in  no  danger,  if  you  can  only  resist  the  alluring  spoil  of  a 
classic  word,  a  Latin  termination,  or  a  recondite  turn,  and 
then  pursue  the  rule,  "  think  with  the  wise  and  speak  with  the 
vulgar." 

I  have  a  little  book  ready  for  you,  which  will  make  from  50 
— 75  pp.  of  a  child's  book.  Has  any  one  written  Spencer's  life  ? 
If  my  life  is  spared,  and  my  pieces  succeed,  I  will  (D.  V.)  de- 
vote much  of  my  time  to  babes'  books.  My  health  scarcely  ad- 
mits more.     No  Cholera  here,  blessed  be  God  :  none  in  Trenton. 


Princeton,  September  6,  1832. 

If  I  can,  I  will  herewith  send  a  piece  called  Harvest.  Do 
what  you  choose  with  it.  Give  it,  and  any  thing  else  from  me, 
what  title  you  please.  Tell  me  what  you  think  of  the  plan  of 
the  said  Harvest,  and  criticize  my  child's  books  unmercifully,  for 
I  have  a  great  desire  to  do  my  best  in  that  line.  The  Cholera 
Hospital  of  the  Canal  is  in  the  lot  behind  our  garden  here.  Two 
persons  have  just  been  "carried  to  it ;  one  hopeless.  We  had 
thought  the  disease  gone. 

I  am  unable  to  say  much  about  my  little  boy.  We  feel  it 
to  be  a  great  trial :  yet  sometimes  I  taste  some  sweetness  in  the 
cup.  O  there  is  nothing  but  Christianity  that  enables  one  to 
face  an  affliction. 


196  WHILE   PASTOR   IN"   TRENTON. 

Princeton,  Sept.  14,  1832. 

The  circulation  of  the  S.  S.  Journal  is  less  than  I  thought, 
This  seems  to  he  an  evil  incident  to  all  papers  which  profess  to 
advocate  a  single  cause.     As  a  general  religious  newspaper,  it  is 

the  best  I  know.     The becomes  more  secular  every  week. 

His  English  correspondent  should  be  made  usher  in  some  of 
your  girls'  boarding-schools.  He  gets  into  raptures  at  all  the 
dear,  sweet,  pretty,  charming  things  he  sees.     Faugh!     These 

sentimental  literary make  one  retch.     I  do  not  feel  any 

particular  competency  to  write  brief  tracts  of  the  kind  you  men- 
tion :  it  is  a  gift  by  itself.  Put  a  few  evangelical  hymns  on 
some  of  your  supernumerary  fragments.  Or,  say  a  moral  ballad 
out  of  the  cheap  repository.  Coming  to  Philadelphia  often 
crosses  my  mind :  and  I  am  in  a  very  desponding  condition  as 
to  this  affair.  If  I  could  leave  my  people  in  any  good  hands  I 
might  do  so,  for  I  am  afraid  I  do  little  good  among  them.  The 
mere  correspondence  of  any  society,  however,  would  not  satisfy 
my  conscience.  I  must  preach,  or  lecture,  or  teach.  If  I  had  300 
or  400  persons  whom  I  might  instruct,  in  a  colloquial  popular  way 
in  the  Bible,  its  Geography,  Antiquities,  &c,  &c,  it  would 
seem  to  suit  my  poor  wandering  mind.  My  aim  is  to  do  some- 
thing before  I  die  to  reach  the  millions  of  youth  in  our  land.  I 
have  made  up  my  mind  to  go  for  the  nursery  practice.  Let 
others  take  the  fathers  and  grandfathers,  if  I  can  only  make  an 
impression  on  the  children.  This  I  wish  to  do  by  writing  ;  and 
I  am  not  sure  (though  you  may  think  it  paradoxical)  that  I  will 
not  do  more  in  this  way,  as  a  pastor,  than  if  I  were  to  set  about 
it  ex  professo. 

As  to  the  "  chapters  and  verses  ; "  all  I  meant  to  correct  was 
the  statement  that  the  Bible  was  not  divided  into  verses  until 
Stephens'  time.  This  is  true  only  of  the  New  Testament.  The 
numbering  of  the  verses  was  introduced  by  Athias,  (see  2 
Home  155;)  but  the  division  itself,  the  Soph-Passuh  (:),  was  co- 
eval with  the  accentuation,  which  indeed  is  governed  by  it,  e.  g. 
Silluh. 

Our  little  boy  varies  so  little,  except  from  one  painful  symp- 
tom to  another,  that  I  do  not  say  much  of  him.  We  find  the 
trial  severe ;  more  so  by  far  than  the  ordinary  death  of  a  child. 
But  we  are  wonderfully  helped.  Even  now  we  find  that  "  He 
who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb,"  makes  our  way 
smoother  than  one  could  suppose.  We  need  the  prayers  of  our 
friends. 

Need  I  warn  you  not  to  think  of  the  Ministry  as  free  from 
temptations  ?  The  very  habrt  of  constantly  dealing  with  Divine 
frufh  for  the  use  of  others  is  a  great  cause  of  dreadful  formality ; 


1829—1832.  197 

it  obtunds  the  moral  sensibility,  impairs  the  tenderness  of  con- 
science, and  dissociates  the  actions  of  the  head  and  heart,  to  an 
alarming' degree.  In  preparation  and  preaching  I  have  often 
found  that  subjects  which  warmed  and  melted  me  in  the  closet, 
have  flowed  from  my  lips  in  the  desk  with  some  animation  of 
manner,  but  with  almost  no  emotion.  Then  the  trials  of  the 
ministry  to  a  man  who  has  a  conscience,  are  unspeakable.  -  Who 
can  ever  say  "  I  have  done  all  I  ought  for  these  souls  1  "  1 

1  Soon  after  the  date  of  this  letter  Mr.  Alexander  received  two  invita- 
tions to  engage  in  other  employments — one  from  the  American  Sunday- 
School  Union,  the  other  from  the  proprietors  of  "  The  Presbyterian" — both 
in  Philadelphia.  The  state  of  his  health  made  him  willing  to  entertain  a 
proposal  to  intermit  his  labours  as  a  pastor,  but  he  was  greatly  perplexed 
by  the  choice  presented  to  him.  In  a  letter  of  October  1  he  wrote  :  "  I 
have  made  up  my  mind  (Deo  volente)  to  leave  Trenton.  I  am  no  longer 
able  to  impose  myself  on  a  kind  people  as  their  pastor.  I  believe,  under 
God,  I  might  do  something  for  truth,  order,  and  moderation,  by  editing  the 
Presbyterian."  On  the  loth  he  inquires  for  details  of  the  services  expected 
by  the  Union.  "  Should  the  labour  require  any  thing  like  the  assiduous 
sitting  of  an  ordinary  club,  I  could  not  endure  it.  If  matters  are  to  depend 
very  much  upon  my  head,  as  to  planning,  ordering,  allotting,  &c.,  you  know 
as  well  as  I  can  tell  you,  that  I  have  no  ability  that  way.  I  have  always 
said  and  felt  that  I  can  make  a  good  second  or  associate,  but  a  most 
wretched  principal.  The  main  objections  urged  against  my  accepting  your 
offer,  among  my  acquaintances,  are  such  as  these  :  that  all  the  employments 
which  I  should  have,  as  your  Secretary,  would  not  be  of  a  kind  to  improve 
my  mind,  or  carry  forward  those  pursuits  in  which  I  have  hitherto  been 
employed  ;  whereas  the  editorial  duties  would  be  the  reverse.  That  all  the 
influence  which  I  might  exert  specially  in  harmonizing  our  distracted  church, 
would  be  thrown  into  a  different  channel.  That  however  high  the  objects 
of  the  Sunday  School,  the  details  of  the  proposed  office  would  be  essentially 
secular.  That  I  am,  more  than  most  persons,  ill  adapted  for  a  station  re- 
quiring scheming,  management,   practical  judgment,   knowledge  of  men, 

enlarged  views,  &c.     This  is  especially  urged  by ,  and  I  am  the  less 

able  to  resolve  this  scruple,  inasmuch  as  no  man  can  safely  judge  of  his  own 
character  and  talents." 

Again,  on  the  first  of  November  (from  Trenton):  "I  cannot  describe 
to  you  the  painful  uncertainty  in  which  my  mind  is  placed  respecting  the 
two  situations  offered  to  me.  This  uncertainty  is  by  no  means  relieved  by 
the  visit  I  made  to  the  city ;  for  while  I  feel  more  deeply  the  claims  of  both, 
the  labours  of  both  are  more  fully  before  my  eyes.  Such  is  my  state  of 
doubt,  that  were  I  instanter  to  decide  for  either,  I  believe  no  subsequent 
light  or  disappointment  could  make  me  feel  as  if  I  had  done  morally  wrong. 
I  feel  a  total  want  of  that  sort  of  business  tact  which  this  great  enterprise 
demands.  I  am  indebted  to  the  Board  for  being  willing  to  make  so  hazard- 
ous an  experiment ;  but  I  am  not  the  less  fearful  lest  it  should  result  in  an 
entire  failure.  I  never  could  do  any  thing  in  the  way  of  begging  money  ; 
and  the  kind  of  service  which  Mr.  Baird  has  rendered,  is  as  foreign  to  my 
whole  taste,  education,  talents,  and  habits,  as  banking  would  be.  On  the 
other  hand,  feeling  all  the  unpleasantnesses  of  the  editorial  office,  there  ia 
certainly  a  definiteness  about  the  service  to  be  rendered  which  permits  me 
at  least  to  say,  this  is  a  thing  which  I  could  do." 


198  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TEENTON. 

He  finally  chose  the  editorial  position,  and  entered  upon  its  duties  in 
January,  1833.  His  connection  with  the  Trenton  congregation  terminated 
formally  on  the  last  day  of  October,  1832  ;.  but  his  family  still  pontinuing 
there,  he  supplied  the  pulpit  many  of  the  Sabbaths  of  that  winter.  In  the 
year  1859  the  editor  of  these  letters  published  a  "History  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Trenton,"  and  at  my  request,  my  friend  and  predecessor 
had  given  me  some  recollections  of  his  pastorate,  in  the  form  of  a  letter, 
which  appears  in  that  volume.  It  is  so  characteristic,  and  makes  such  a 
suitable  close  to  this  chapter  of  the  correspondence,  that  I  do  not  hesitate 
to  reproduce  it  here  : 

"  New  York,  February  10, 1S59. 

"  My  Dear  Friend  : — The  retrospect  of  my  ministerial  life  brings  to 
view  so  many  defects,  and  such  unfruitfulness,  that  I  have  never  been  able 
to  take  pleasure  in  numbering  up  sermons  preached,  visits  made,  and  mem- 
bers added  ;  nor  have  I  any  anniversary  or  autobiographical  discourses  to 
which  I  could  refer.  At  your  request,  however,  I  cannot  refuse  to  give  you 
a  few  reminiscences  of  my  connexion  with  the  church  of  which  you  are 
the  pastor. 

"  A  great  intimacy  subsisted  between  my  father  and  our  predecessor,  the 
Rev.  James  F.  Armstrong,  and  the  friendship  between  their  respective  de- 
scendants continues  to  this  day.  "Mr.  Armstrong  had  been  the  friend  of 
Witherspoon,  Smith,  and  Kollock.  He  was  laid  aside  from  preaching,  by  a 
disabling  and  distressing  rheumatism,  before  I  ever  entered  his  delightful 
and  hospitable  house — rich  in  good  books,  good  talk,  and  good  cheer — 
where  old  and  young  were  alike  made  welcome  and  happy.  But  this 
brought  me  acquainted  with  Trenton,  with  that  family,  and  especially  with 
Chief  Justice  Ewing,  by  whose  means  and  influence,  more  than  any  other, 
I  was  afterwards  led  to  settlement  among  them.  The  family  of  Mr.,  after- 
wards Judge,  Ewing,  was  the  home  of  my  childhood  and  youth ;  which  led 
that  distinguished  and  excellent  man  to  look  upon  my  early  performances 
in  the  pulpit  with  undue  partiality.  By  him,  and  by  the  late  General  Sam- 
uel R.  Hamilton,  who  was  a  Princeton  man,  my  name  was  brought  before 
the  congregation,  and  I  was  installed  as  their  pastor,  by  a  committee  of 
Presbytery,  on  the  eleventh  day  of  February,  1829.  I  had,  however,  begun 
my  labours  with  them  on  the  tenth  of  January,  when  I  preached  from  1 
Cor.  xi.  28.  My  strictly  pastoral  labours  ended  on  the  last  day  of  October, 
1832,  when  I  preached  from  Ezekiel  xvi.  61,  62  ;  though  I  continued  to 
supply  the  pulpit  until  the  end  of  the  year.  My  term  of  settlement  may 
therefore  be  called  four  years.  The  records  of  the  Church-session  will  show 
the  number  of  accessions  to  the  communion  of  the  church  ;  these  were  few. 
There  was  nothing  like  a  revival  of  religion  during  my  continuance  with 
them,  and  it  was  qause  of  painful  thought  to  me  that  my  labours  were  so 
little  owned  to  the  awakening  of  sinners.  Neither  am  I  aware  that  there 
was  any  remarkable  addition  to  the  number  of  hearers.  But  the  people 
were  forbearing  and  affectionate  towards  their  young  and  inexperienced 
minister,  who  for  most  of  the  time  was  feeble  in  health,  and  was  subjected, 
as  you  know,  to  some  unusual  afflictions  in  regard  to  his  early  children. 

In  those  days  we  worshipped  in  the  old  church,  which  was  sufficiently 
capacious,  with  one  of  the  old-time  high  pulpits.  The  congregation  had  been 
trained  to  habits  of  remarkable  punctuality  and  attention.  Notwithstanding 
some  inroads  of  new  measures  during  the  previous  period,  under  the  labours 
of  a  so-called  Evangelist,  the  church  was  as  sound  and  staid  a  Presby- 
terian body  as  I  have  ever  seen.  It  comprised  some  excellent  and  experi- 
enced Christians,  and  among  these  the  valued  elders  whose  names  you  have 


1829—1832.  199 

recorded.  Good  Mr.  McNcely  was  slow  but  sure ;  an  upright  man,  of  more 
kindness  than  appeared  at  first  ;  of  little  vivacity,  and  no  leaning  towards 
risks  or  innovation.  Mr.  Voorhees  and  Mr.  Samuel  Brearley  came  later  into 
the  session  ;  both,  in  my  judgment,  judicious  and  godly  men.  Mrs.  Armstrong, 
the  venerable  relict  of  the  pastor  first  named,  does  not  belong  particularly  to 
my  part  o  the  narrative,  except  that  she  chose  to  treat  me  with  the  regard 
of  a  mother  for  a  son.  She  was  then  in  health  and  strength,  and  lived  to  ex- 
hibit a  dignified,  serene,  and  beautiful  old  age.  Having  come  of  a  distin- 
guished family,  the  Livingstons  of  New  York,  she  never  ceased  to  gather 
around  her  fireside  some  of  the  most  elegant  and  cultivated  society.  Her  con- 
versation, though  quiet,  was  instructive,  turning  often  upon  the  heroes  of  the 
Revolution.  She  was,  I  think,  at  Princeton  during  the  battle ;  indeed,  she 
was  a  native  of  that  town.  From  that  excellent  family  I  received  support 
and  encouragement  of  the  most  useful  and  delicate  kind,  during  a  time  of 
manifold  trials.  My  term  of  service  was  marked  by  no  striking  external 
events,  no  great  enlargement,  excitement,  or  disaster.  The  long-suffering  of  God 
was  great  towards  a  timid  and  often  disheartened  servant,  who  remembers  the 
period  with  mingled  thankfulness  and  humiliation. 

"  At  this  time  the  Trenton  church  contained  some  excellent  specimens  of 
solid,  instructed,  old  school  Fresbyterianisni.  I  shall  never  forget  the  lessons 
which  it  was  my  privilege  to  receive  from  aged  and  experienced  Christians, 
who  must  often  have  looked  with  wonder  and  pity  on  the  young  minister  who 
undertook  the  responsible  task  of  guiding  them.  The  dying  scenes  which  a 
pastor  beholds  in  his  early  years  make  a  deep  impression  ;  and  I  recall  some 
which  were  very  edifying,  and  which  attested  the  power  of  the  doctrines  which 
had  been  inculcated.  Among  my  most  valued  parishioners  was  a  man  in  hum- 
ble life,  who  has  lately  gone  to  his  rest,  I  mean  James  Pollock.  At  a  later 
day  he  was  most  wisely  made  an  elder.  At  that  time  he  lived  in  a  small  house 
on  Mill  Hill,  and  worked  as  a  dyer  in  one  of  the  woollen  factories  on  the 
Assanpink.  His  figure  was  somewhat  bent,  and  his  hands  were  always  blue, 
from  the  colours  used  in  his  trade.  But  his  eye  was  piercing  and  eloquent ; 
his  countenance  would  shine  like  a  lantern  from  the  light  within ;  and  the 
flame  of  his  strong  and  impassioned  thought  made  his  discourse  as  interest- 
ing as  I  ever  heard  from  any  man.  He  had  the  texts  of  Scripture,  as  many 
Scotchmen  have,  at  his  finger-ends,  and  could  adduce  and  apply  passages  in  a 
most  unexpected  manner.  The  great  Scottish  writers  were  familiar  to  him.  I 
think  his  favorite  uninspired  volume  was  Rutherford's  "  Christ's  Dying  and 
Drawing  Sinners  to  Himself."  I  lent  him  Calvin's  Institutes,  which  he  re- 
turned with  expressions  of  high  admiration  for  Mr.  Caulvin.  His  acquaint- 
ance with  the  reformation  history  of  his  native  land,  in  both  its  great  periods, 
was  remarkable,  being  such  as  would  have  done  credit  to  any  learned  clergy- 
man. Unlike  many  who  resemble  him  in  attainment,  Mr.  Pollock  was  in- 
wardly and  deeply  affected  by  the  truths  which  he  knew.  His  speech  was 
always  seasoned  with  salt,  and  I  deemed  it  a  means  to  grace  to  listen  to  his 
ardent  and  continuous  discourse.  He  was  certainly  a  great  talker,  but  without 
assumption  or  any  wearying  of  competent  hearers.  His  dialect  was  broad, 
west-country  Scotch,  for  he  was  from  Beith,  in  Ayrshire  ;  and  while  I  was  res- 
ident his  sense  of  the  peculiarity  kept  him  from  praying  in  the  meetings, 
though  none  could  otherwise  have  been  more  acceptable.  Having  from 
my  childhood  been  used  to  Scotch  Presbyterians,  and  knowing  how  some  of  the 
narrower  among  them  will  stickle  for  every  pin  of  the  covenanted  tabernacle, 
and  every  shred  and  token,  as  if  ordained  in  the  decalogue,  I  was  both  sur- 
prised and  delighted  to  observe  how  large-minded  Mr.  Pollock  was,  in  respect 
to  every  improvement,  however  different  from  the  ways  of  his  youth.  I  have 
witnessed  his  faith  during  grievous  illnesses,  and  I  rejoice  to  know  that  he  was 


200  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TRENTON. 

enabled  to  give  a  clear  dying  testimony  for  the  Redeemer  whom  he  loved. 
Such  are  the  men  who  are  the  glory -of  our  Presbyterian  churches. 

"  During  the  term  of  my  incumbency  it  is  remarkable  that  the  two  persons 
who  had  most  influence  in  congregational  affairs  were  not  communicants, 
though  they  were  closely  connected  with  all  that  occurred  in  the  church ; 
these  were  Chief  Justice  Ewing  and  Mr.  Southard,  afterwards  Secretary  of 
the  Navy.  It  deserves  to  be  noted,  among  the  traits  of  a  Presbyterianism 
which  is  passing  away,  that  Judge  Ewing,  as  a  baptized  member  of  the  church, 
always  pleaded  his  rights,  and  once  in  a  public  meeting  declared  himself 
amenable  to  the  discipline  of  church  courts.  (Discipline,  chap.  i.  §  6,  page, 
456.)  There  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  he  was  a  subject  of  renewing 
grace  long  before  his  last  illness  in  1832.  During  this  brief  period  of  suffer- 
ing he  made  a  distinct  and  touching  avowal  of  his  faith  in  Christ. 

"  Judge  Ewing  is  justly  reckoned  among  the  greatest  ornaments  of  the 
New  Jersey  bar.  His  acquaintance  with  his  own  department  of  knowledge 
was  both  extensive  and  profound,  closely  resembling  that  of  the  English  black- 
letter  lawyers,  who  at  this  moment  have  as  many  imitators  at  the  New  Jersey 
bar  as  anywhere  in  America.  He  was  eminently  conservative  in  Church  and 
State ;  punctual  in  adherence  to  rule  and  precedent,  incapable  of  being  led 
into  any  vagaries,  sound  in  judgment,  tenacious  of  opinion,  indefatigable  in 
labour,  and  incorruptibly  honest  and  honourable,  so  as  to  be  proverbially  cited 
all  over  the  State.  In  a  very  remarkable  degree  he  kept  himself  abreast  of 
the  general  literature  of  the  day,  and  was  even  lavish  in  regard  to  the  purchase 
of  books.  He  was  a  truly  elegant  gentleman,  of  the  old  school ;  an  instruc- 
tive and  agreeable  companion,  and  a  hospitable  entertainer.  He  deserves  to 
be  named  in  any  record  of  the  church,  for  I  am  persuaded  that  there  was  no 
human  being  to  whom  its  interests  were  more  dear.  As  the  warm  and  con- 
descending friend  of  my  boyhood  in  youth,  he  has  a  grateful  tribute  from  my 
revering  affection. 

"  In  one  particular  the  people  of  Trenton  were  more  observant  of  our 
Form  of  Government  (see  chap,  xxi.)  than  is  common.  When  from  any 
cause  there  was  no  one  to  preach,  the  service  was  nevertheless  carried  on  by 
the  elders,  according  to  the  book,  and  a  sermon  was  read.  The  reader  on 
these  occasions  was  always  Mr.  Ewing,  and  the  discourse  which  he  selected 
was  always  one  of  Witherspoon's  ;  the  choice  in  both  cases  being  significant. 
I  have  often  been  led  to  consider  how  much  better  this  is,  for  instance  in 
country  congregations,  than  the  rambling  away  to  hear  some  ignorant  har- 
anguer,  perhaps  of  an  erroneous  sect,  or  the  listening  to  a  frothy  exhor- 
tation from  some  zealous  and  forward  brother,  without  gifts  and  without 
authority. 

"  The  name  of  Dr.  Francis  A.  Ewing,  son  of  the  Chief  Justice,  naturally 
occurs  to  our  thoughts  here.  Space  is  not  allowed  for  that  extended  notice 
which  might  elsewhere  be  proper,  for  the  Doctor's  was  a  character  well  deserv- 
ing close  study.  Though  a  professional  man  by  title,  he  was  in  fact  and  of 
choice  much  more  a  man  of  letters  and  a  recluse  student  of  science.  His 
attainments  were  large  and  accurate,  though  made  in  an  irregular  way,  and 
though  he  never  seemed  to  others  ito  be  studying  at  all.  In  the  classical  lan- 
guages, in  French,  in  the  natural  sciences,  and  in  all  that  concerns  elegant 
literature  and  the  fine  arts,  he  was  singularly  full  and  accurate.  In  matters 
of  taste  he  was  cultivated,  correct,  and  almost  fastidious.  Music  was  his  de- 
light, and  he  was  equally  versed  in  the  science  and  the  art.  It  was  after  the 
term  of  my  pastorship  that  he  developed  his  skill  as  an  organist,  but  at  a  much 
earlier  day  he  devoted  himself  for  years  to  the  gratuitous  instruction  of  the 
choir ;  and  though  I  have  heard  many  noted  precentors,  I  can  remember  none 
who  had  greater  power  of  adaptation  and  expression.     Though  his  own  voice 


1829—1832.  201 

was  slender  and  uninviting,  he  long  made  his  influence  felt  in  rendering  all 
that  was  musical  subservient  to  the  spirit  of  worship. 

"  Dr.  Ewing  professed  his  faith  in  Christ  during  my  years  of  ministry. 
His  early  religious  exercises  were  very  deep  and  searching,  and  the  change 
of  his  affections  and  purposes  was  marked.  He  had  peculiarities  of  temper 
and  habit  which  kept  him  much  aloof  from  general  society,  and  thus 
abridged  his  influence.  His  likes  and  dislikes  were  strong,  and  if  he  had 
more  readily  believed  the  good  will  of  others  towards  himself,  he  would 
have  been  more  useful  and  more  happy.  I  should  sin  against  truth  if  I  did 
not  say  that  towards  me  he  was  for  forty  years  a  warm,  forbearing,  tender, 
and  at  times  most  efficient  friend.  I  have  been  with  him  at  junctures  when 
it  was  impossible  not  to  detect,  through  all  his  extraordinary  reserve,  the 
workings  of  a  heart  agitated  and  swayed  by  gracious  principle. 

"  Samuel  L.  Southard  was  also  a  member  of  the  congregation,  and  a 
friend  of  all  that  promised  its  good.  More  sprightly  and  versatile  than 
Mr.  Ewing,  he  resembled  a  tropical  tree  of  rapid  growth.  Tew  men  ever 
attained  earlier  celebrity  in  New  Jersey.  This  perhaps  tended  to  produce  a 
certain  character  which  showed  itself  in  good-natured  egotism.  Mr.  South- 
ard was  a  man  of  genius  and  eloquence,  who  made  great  impressions  on  a 
first  interview,  or  by  a  single  argument.  He  loved  society,  and  shone  in 
company.  His  entertainments  will  be  long  remembered  by  the  associates 
of  his  youth.  It  is  not  my  province  to  speak  of  his  great  efforts  at  the  bar ; 
he  wa3  always  named  after  Stockton,  Johnson,  and  Ewing,  and  with  Fre- 
linghuysen,  Williamson,  Wood,  and  their  coevals.  Having  been  bred  under 
the  discipline  of  Dr.  Finley,  at  Baskingridge,  he  was  thoroughly  versed  in 
Presbyterian  doctrine  and  ways ;  loving  and  preferring  this  branch  of  the 
Church  to  the  day  of  his  death.  Defection  from  its  ranks  gave  him  sincere 
grief,  as  I  am  ready  more  largely  to  attest,  if  need  be.  In  those  days  of 
his  prime,  Mr.  Southard  was  greatly  under  the  salutary  influence  of  the 
Chief  Justice,  who  was  his  Mentor ;  I  think  he  felt  the  loss  of  this  great 
man  in  some  important  points.  So  earnestly  and  even  tenderly  did  he  yield 
himself  to  divine  impressions,  that  his  friends  confidently  expected  that  he 
would  become  a  communicant.  During  this  period  he  was  an  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  the  Temperance  Society,  then  in  its  early  stage.  I  remember  at- 
tending a  meeting  at  Lawrenceville,  in  company  with  my  learned  friend, 
the  present  Chief  Justice,  where  Mr.  Southard,  following  Mr.  Frelinghuysen, 
made  an  impassioned  address  in  favor  of  abstinence  and  the  pledge.  In  re- 
gard to  religious  things,  the  change  to  Washington  did  not  tend  to  increase 
solemnity  or  zeal.  I  have  been  informed  that  Mr.  Southard  felt  the  deep 
impression  of  divine  truth  at  the  close  of  his  days.  As  a  young  minister,  I 
received  from  him  the  affectionate  forbearance  of  an  elder  brother,  and  I 
shall  always  cherish  his  memory  with  love. 

"  Before  closing  this  hurried  letter  of  reminiscences,  let  me  note  that  the 
ruling  elders  during  my  day  were  Robert  McNeely,  Nathaniel  Burrowes, 
John  Voorhees,  and  Samuel  Brearley,  all  good  and  believing  men,  and  all 
gone  to  the  other  world.  The  trustees  were  Messrs.  Rose,  Chambers, 
Ewing,  Burroughs,  and  Fish  ;  of  whom  likewise  all  are  gone,  except  my 
esteemed  friends,  Messrs.  Burroughs  and  Fish. 

"  Before  taking  my  pen  from  the  paper,  let  it  be  permitted  to  me  to  give 
expression  to  a  feeling  of  personal  regard  to  the  late  Mrs.  Rice  and  her 
family,  under  whose  roof  my  years  of  early  ministry  in  Trenton  were 
passed.  She  was  a  woman  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  and  was  honoured 
and  beloved,  during  a  long  life,  for  the  benignity  of  her  temper,  and  the 
kindliness  of  her  words.  Juliette  Rice,  her  daughter,  was  a  person  who  in 
some  circumstances  would  have  become  distinguished.  To  sincere  piety, 
VOL.  i. — 9* 


202  WHILE   PASTOR   IN   TEENTON. 

she  added  more  than  usual  cultivation,  delicacy  of  taste,  refinement  of  man- 
ners, and  a  balance  of  good  qualities  which  elevated  her  to  a  place  among 
the  most  accomplished  and  even  the  exclusive.  Under  the  disadvantage  of 
a  deafness  almost  total,  and  a  pulmonary  disease  which  slowly  wasted  her 
away,  she  manifested  a  sweet,  uncomplaining  disposition,  and  a  steady  faith 
in  Christ.  Amidst  the  kindness  of  these  good  people  I  spent  the  first  months 
of  my  married  life,  and  welcomed  the  tender  mercies  of  God  in  our  first- 
born son,  long  since  taken  to  be  with  the  Lord. 

"  Thus  I  end  my  rambling  letter,  (which,  by-the-by,  is  only  the  last 
article  of  an  epistolary  series  extending  through  forty  years,)  and  am,  as 
always, 

"Your  faithful  friend,  James  W.  Alexander. 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hall." 


CHAPTER    VII. 

LETTERS    WHILE    EDITOR    OF    TIIE    PRESBYTERIAN/ 

1833. 

Trenton,  January  8,  1833. 

After  weather  of  May,  one  is  hardly  prepared  for  the  rigours 
of  such  a  day  as  this.  I  am  myself  fond  of  cold  weather,  but 
have  been  more  indisposed  this  winter  than  usual.  This  has 
been  the  sole  cause  of  my  avoiding  the  city  for  a  time.  You 
intimate  that  you  are  going  to  draw  in  from  the  Journal,  and  give 
yourself  more  to  book-making.  I  a  little  regret  this ;  though, 
by  experiment,  I  know  that  you  will  write  books  better  and  more 
of  them,  in  consequence  of  having  the  paper  as  a  stated  employ- 
ment, than  if  you  totally  gave  yourself  up  to  authorship.  Next 
to  preaching,  there  is  no  employment  I  should  relish  more,  than 
writing  books  for  the  Union.  I  think  you  have  peculiar  tact  as 
an  editor,  of  which  I  feel  myself  more  devoid  than  I  had  thought. 

To  you,  I  need  not  say  any  thing  of  the  unspeakable  and 
increasing  joys  of  Christian  wedlock;  joys  which  become  purer 
and  more  exquisite  as  they  lose  the  adventitious  glare  of  early 
romance ;  joys  which  are  increased  by  affliction,  and  raised  by 
religion  to  the  very  summit  of  terrestrial  blessings.  You  will 
not  refuse  the  counsel,  though  it  may  be  very  familiar,  when  I 
urge  on  you  to  begin,  as  soon  as  possible,  with  the  freest,  confi- 
dential, mutual,  unbosoming  on  the  subject  of  personal  expe- 
rience. I  hear  many  husbands  and  wives  complaining  of  a 
shyness  here. 

For  the  last  three  or  four  months,  there  has  been  a  wonder- 

1  During  the  year  of  his  employment  as  editor,  he  spent  so  much  time 
in  Philadelphia,  that  our  frequent  personal  intercourse  precluded  the  usual 
frequency  of  correspondence.  In  the  course  of  this  year  he  preached 
thirteen  times  in  Trenton,  sixteen  times  in  Philadelphia,  and  fifteen  times 
in  Princeton  and  its  neighbourhood. 


204:  WHILE   EDITOK   OF   THE    PEESBTTEEIAN. 

ful  work  of  grace  (so  I  must  call  it,  notwithstanding  blemishes) 
in  the  Methodist  Church  here.  I  think  150  have  been  supposedly 
converted.  It  goes  on  uniformly,  and  some  of  the  changes  are 
surprising.  While  our  other  churches  suffer,  I  am  persuaded  the 
cause  of  Christ  gains.  Such  zeal  I  never  saw.  They  seem  dis- 
posed to  attempt  the  conversion  of  every  soul  in  Trenton.  God 
grant  them  success.  I  cannot  but  say  that  God  is  with  them  of 
a  truth,  though  we  have  lost  a  number  of  hearers.  It  is  not  the 
minister,  but  the  private  members  who  have  been  instrumental 
in  this. 

Trenton,  January  17,  1833. 
You  will  have  seen  in  the  Presbyterian,  No.  1  of  Dr.  Miller's 
letters  ;  and,  I  doubt  not,  you  approve  its  spirit.  It  is  a  sincere 
attempt  at  pacification  ;  and,  like  all  such  attempts,  will  displease 
the  extremes.  I  have  nearly  finished  the  Life  of  Nicholas  Ferrar, 
a  wonderful  man  of  the  reigns  of  James  and  Charles  I.1  There 
is  one  scruple  which  your  committee  may  have  about  it :  his 
piety,  which  was  eminent,  exhibits  itself  very  much  in  attach- 
ment to  his  king,  his  church,  fasts,  feasts,  liturgies,  &c.  I 
preached  last  night,  with  much  comfort,  from  Psalm  lxxvii.  7, 
"Will  the  Lord  cast  off  forever  ? "— Answer  1.  No.  His 
attributes  forbid  the  thought.  2.  No.  His  gift  of  Christ  for- 
bids :  "  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,"  &c.  3.  No.  His 
dealings  towards  the  church  forbid.  4.  No.  His  dealings  in 
time  past  to  us  forbid.  5.  No.  His  special  promises  forbid. 
Application:  1.  To  have  this  safety  we  must  have  interest  in 
Christ.  2.  To  enjoy  the  comfort  of  this,  we  must  have  a  good 
persuasion  of  our  interest.  3.  To  be  raised  in  triumph  above 
all  despondency,  we  must  have  the  full  assurance  of  hope.  May 
such  blessings  be  ours  !  I  am  reading  a  file  of  the  London 
Gazette,  1682-7. 

Trenton,  February  1,  1833. 
I  had  commenced  the  Life  of  Elijah,  and  made  some  con- 
siderable mental  preparation,  and  written  some  twenty  pages ; 
but  I  hereby  decline  it,  as  the  author  in  whose  hands  it  is,  is 
immeasurably  above  me  in  this  style.  I  say  this  ex  animo. 
I  will,  Deo  volente,  go  to  work  upon  Bun}*an.  I  have  Southey's 
life  of  him,  but  want  some  other.  Ferrar  is  done,  and  awaits  an 
opportunity.  I  am  not  sanguine  about  it,  and  shall  be  neither 
surprised  nor  mortified  if  it  is  rejected.  It  has  these  grand 
faults  :  It  is  meager  in  dates  and  consecutiveness  ;  it  is  too 
much  padded  out  writh  remark,  and  it  is  too  ascetic  for  the  age. 

1  This  work  was  published  by  a  bookseller  of  Philadelphia. 


1833.  205 

Yet  it  is  a  little  morsel  of  history,  entirely  unique ;  and  would 
be  read  with  much  interest.  A  French  gentleman  lately  told 
me  it  was  considered  a  vulgarism  to  write  as  capitals  the  L  and 
D,  in  such  names  as  V Enfant,  d'Arvieux,  &c. ;  unless  at  the  begin- 
ning of  a  sentence.  Perhaps  I  shall  begin  my  "  Mother's  Book," 
before  Bunyan.  Scripture  biography  I  am  conscious  of  no 
talent  for  ;  my  life  of  Elijah  would  have  been  an  experiment.  I 
am  at  a  Jane-Scott-"  ische"  *  book  about  the  Bible.  I  do  not 
at  all  satisfy  myself  in  it.  I  have  a  favourite  plan  which  I  wish  to 
execute,  whether  the  Union  should  patronize  it  or  not — Conver- 
sations on  the  Life  of  Christ.     This  I  shall  begin  without  delay.2 

I  shall  be  glad  to  publish  your  remarks  on  catechisms,  re- 
serving to  myself  the  usual  right  of  stricture.  Your  argument 
goes  to  prove  that  catechising  is  not  conducted  in  the  right 
manner.  The  piece  in  the  Repertory  does  not  give  due  credit 
to  the  Union  questions,  and  appears  to  assume  that  "  the  present 
system  "  is  identical  with  the  old  parrot-system.  You  ought  to 
correct  this  impression.  Yet  I  think,  Gall's  plan  is  the  right 
one.  I  even  find  great  benefit  to  myself  from  reading  the  New 
Testament  with  his  dissecting  Helps.  I  Avish  I  had  access  to  his 
publications  ;  I  have  seen  only  those  republished  here.  I  think 
I  could  concoct  out  of  them  something  useful. 

I  find  no  employment  so  delightful  to  me,  as  writing  little 
books.  I  am  determined  not  to  put  my  name  on  them,  and  I 
even  doubt  whether  I  shall  ever  agree  to  say  "  by  -  the  author 
of  so  and  so."  You  will  perceive  that  Mr.  Ferrar  established  a 
bona  fide  Sunday  School  in  1626.  I  have  no  doubt  that  Paul 
had  one  at  Corinth  and  Ephcsus. 

Princeton,  August  Y,  1833. 

Princeton  has  never  been  freer  from  disease  than  for  two 
months.  I  found  the  air  restorative  on  the  first  draught  of 
it,  and  the  society  still  more  so.  I  have  recently  seen  some 
astonishing  experiments,  original  with  Prof.  Henry,  in  further 
proof  of  the  identity  of  magnetism  and  galvanism.  He  has 
made  the  strongest  magnet  ever  seen,  and  has  one  nearly 
complete  which  will  sustain  5,000  lbs.  when  charged  from  a 
voltaic  battery. 

I  have  tried  to  glean  ["  Biblical  antiquities "]  but  cannot 
promise  you  any  thing  regular,  as  I  dare  not  apply  myself,  and 
yet  have  a  mass  of  matter  constantly  demanded  by  the  two  daugh- 
ters of  the  horse-leech,  the  Presbyterian  and  Repertory.  You 
must  let  me  off  with  occasional  contributions  in  no  regular  series. 

1  "  Jane  Scott,"  on  prayer,  was  one  of  his  own  Sunday  School  books. 
'  The  Only  Son  "  was  another  of  his  writings  about  this  time,  (22-1  pages.) 

2  His  series  under  this  head  appeared  in  the  Journal. 


206  WHILE   EDITOR   OF   THE   PEESBYTEKIAN. 

I  am  endeavouring  to  find  out  the  precise  and  complete  history 
of  the  Missionary  Concert,  [Monthly  Prayer  ;]  have  you  any  ref- 
erences on  that  subject,  which  can  be  useful  to  me?  This  village 
still  increases ;  some  half-dozen  handsome  houses  are  building,  be- 
sides the  new  College,  the  Seminary  Chapel,  and  the  Episcopal 

Church.     Bishop is,  in  my  poor  judgment,  a  puerile  and 

namby-pamby  writer.  See  his  published  discourse  over  the 
corner-stone  of  the  Church  here. 

I  am  really  pained  at  heart  about  my  late  poor  charge.  They 
are  dividing,  dwindling,  and  scattering ;  cannot  agree  in  any 
one  ;  and  though  the  place  is  rapidly  growing,  and  soon  to  grow 
yet  more,  the  congregation  decays.  Their  appeals  to  me  produce 
an  effect  which  you  can  never  know,  until  you  have  have  broken 
the  peculiar  cords  which  unite  a  pastor  and  flock.1  There  was 
one  case  of  undeniable  Cholera  Maligna  here,  but  it  was  like  a 
bolt  of  lightning,  without  precursor  or  consequent. 

Aug.  14. — As  I  have  at  this  present  20  grains  of  calomel  in 
my  carcase,  you  will  not  expect  me  to  be  very  hilarious.  I  had 
been  much  better,  but  am  suffering  almost  all  the  time  with  a 
severe  rheumatism  in  my  game  leg.  Dr.  Miller's  son  [Samuel] 
took  part  of  the  first  honour  yesterday.  I  forgot  to  say  that  J.  A.  A. 
called  on  Lee  at  Cambridge,  and  was  taken  by  him  to  the  library, 
and  saw  the  celebrated  Beza  MS.,  and  Beza's  autograph  letter ; 
also  Burckhardt's  Arabic  MSS.  at  Edinburgh,  (which  he 
glorifies  amazingly.)  He  bought  a  book  at  Blackwood's,  and 
took  his  last  cup  of  coffee  at  Ambrose' 's. 

I  am,  in  extreme  haste,  your  nauseous  friend. 

Princeton,  November  4,  1833. 

You  perhaps  know  that  I  am  not  in  favour  of  a  separate 
Sunday  School  Society.  But  I  am  not  sure  but  that  to  prevent 
such  an  organization,  it  will  be  needful  to  concede  a  separate 
Society,  for  printing  our  sectarian  characteristics.  Further  than 
this,  I  am  not  willing  to  advocate  any  thing.  I  do  not  understand 
you  as  complaining  of  my  inserting  "  Consistency  "  ;  but  if  any  { 
one  should  complain,  I  can  only  say,  that  the  question  is  be-$ 
coming  common,  is  discussed  in  our  judicatories,  and  that  we 
ought  to  have  a  fair  understanding  about  it.  Moreover,  I  sin- 
cerely wish  some  Presbyterian  friend  of  the  A.  S.  U.  would 
come  out  in  the  Presbyterian.  I  assure  you  of  a  fair  hearing, 
for  any  reasonable  time  and  space. 

You,  no  doubt,  have  heard  more  than  I,  of  the  synodical  pro- 

1  His  successor,  the  Rev.  John  W.  Yeomans,  was  installed  October  7, 
1334,  on  which  occasion  Mr.  Alexander  preached. 


1833.  207 

ceeding  touching  your  Presbytery.  Non  nostri  tantas  compo- 
nere  lites  !  Of  the  technical  and  ecclesiastical  correctness  of 
what  the  synod  has  done,  I  entertain  no  doubt,  and  of  the  anti- 
presbyterial  tendency  of  the  affinity  system,  I  have  as  little ; 
but  I  greatly  question  the  wisdom  of  this  new  measure.  One 
thing  is  plain  enough.  Two  who  are  so  little  agreed  as 
the  old  and  new  side,  cannot  long  walk  together.  I  look  for  a 
rupture  with  much  certainty,  and  rebus  sic  stantibus,  could  not 
mourn  over  it,  if  it  were  possible  to  divide  upon  the  principles 
of  our  book.  New  students  are  coming  into  the  Seminary  and 
College ;  two  young  men  have  walked  from  Tennessee,  carrying 
all  their  clothes  in  their  packs.  Such  men  are  worth  helping ; 
such  men  do  the  work  of  the  Church.  I  mean  to  help  you  about 
the  Journal,  but  must  wait  till  I  get  a  stove  in  my  study  ;  for, 
be  it  known  to  you,  that  I  write  these  presents  in  a  room, 
where  my  wife,  two  children,  and  a  nurse,  are  all  discoursing.1 

1  Mr.  Alexander's  connexion  with  "The  Presbyterian"  continued  from 
November,  1832,  until  the  close  of  the  volume  for  1833.  Before  the  end 
of  the  year,  however,  he  accepted  the  appointment  of  Professor  of  Rhetoric 
and  Belle s-Lettres  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and  entered  upon  its  duties. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

LETTERS  WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  COLLEGE 
OF  NEW  JERSEY. 

1833—184:4:. 

%  Princeton,  December  12,  1833. 

In  answer  to  yours  of  the  29th  ult.,  I  have  very  little  to 
say  in  the  way  of  news ;  it  is  you  who  are  now  in  the  centre, 
while  I  am  far  off  from  the  "  stir  and  smoke  of  this  dim  spot, 
which  men  call  earth;"  not,  however,  in  my  affections  and 
habits,  as  I  should  desire  to  be.  What  you  say,  and  what  I 
have  elsewhere  heard,  concerning  the  Catholic  disputation,  is 
mortifying  and  humiliating.  There  was  a  time,  before  the  rise 
of  periodical  literature,  when  oral  disputes  were  necessary  and 
useful ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  that,  in  the  present  state  of 
society,  the  press  is  the  proper  engine,  the  most  favourable  to 
dispassionate  investigation  and  fair  conclusion.  ,  Dr.  Ewing's  1 
Natural  History  will  be  a  work  of  much  labour,  concisely  and 
judiciously  prepared.  If  I  ever  can  run  a  little  ahead  of  my 
proximate  employments,  I  do  really  mean  to  journalize  some 
more  for  you.  What  think  you  of  my  giving  you,  what  I  had 
projected  for  my  own  paper,  a  series  of  Letters  to  a  Younger 
brother  ?  One  appeared  in  the  Presbyterian.  It  might  be  made 
into  a  book.  But  then  I  should  insist  on  not  confining  myself 
to  religious  topics.  The  heads  which  I  had  drafted  w^ere: 
1.  Religion,  under  which,  The  Great  Concern,  Bible  Reading, 
Prayer,  Divine  Worship,  Benevolence  is  Piety,  Filial  Duty, 
Regard  for  Teachers,  &c.  2.  Studies ;  Memory,  Languages, 
Books  Recommended,  Study  for  God.  3.  Manners  and  Habits; 
Habits  in  General,  Good  Manners,  Early  Rising,  Temperance, 
Recreations,   Company,  &c.     4.    General  Instruction.     5.  Mis- 

1  Dr.  Francis  A.  Ewing,  commemorated  in  the  letter  on  page  201.  The 
Natural  History  was  published  in  1835,  and  reviewed  by  Mr.  Alexander  in 
the  Repertory  of  October  of  that  year. 


1833— 1844.  209 

cellaneous.1  I  am  getting  into  my  routine.  Though  my  engage- 
ments are  by  no  means  numerous,  yet  having  to  deal  with  a 
number  of  acute  fellows,  I  cannot  avoid  a  considerable  tension 
of  mind.  I  attend  the  Seniors  four  times  a  week,  on  one  of 
which  occasions  1  spend  about  an  hour  in  lecturing  ;  the  subject 
is  Rhetoric  and  Composition.  The  Latin  of  the  two  higher 
classes  is  also  consigned  to  me.  At  present,  I  have  the  Juniors 
live  times  a  week  on  Tully's  Orator.  I  occasionally  lecture  to 
them.  Attend  prayers  every  evening,  preach  in  my  turn  in 
the  chapel,  and  every  Lord's  day  afternoon  at  Queenston. 
Every  fortnight  a  literary  club  meets,  viz. :  Drs.  Alexander, 
♦Miller,  Carnahan,  Howell,  Maclean,  and  [B.  LI.]  Rice ;  Pro- 
fessors Dod,  Maclean,  Henry,  Jaeger,  Alexander ;  Tutors 
S.  Alexander,  Hart,  and.  Wilson.  It  is  truly  a  delightful  soiree. 
On  alternate  weeks  a  strictly  Clerical  association  meets.  On 
Monday,  we  have  a  stated  faculty  meeting,  and  in  the  evening  a 
faculty  prayer-meeting.  On  Tuesday  evening  a  College  prayer- 
meeting.  On  Thursday  evening  Dr.  Rice  preaches.  My  College 
employments,  with  the  Repertory  and  Presbyterian,  make  me  a 
busy  man,  and  I  am  far  from  being  the  less  happy  on  this 
account.  While  I  used  to  have  your  Cut-Book  to  give  me 
texts,  I  used  to  be  much  more  fertile  in  Sunday  School  scraps. 
Now  it  has  occurred  to  me,  that  if  I  were  to  buy  up  several 
hundreds  of  the  little  French  cuts,  which  they  have  for  scrap- 
tables,  and  for  transferring,  and  which  they  call  Croquis,  &c,  I 
should  have  abundance  of  hints.  I  might  paste  these  little 
pictures  into  my  MSS.,  and  your  wood-engraver  could  copy 
them.  This  may  strike  you  as  whimsical ;  but,  seriously,  I  can 
do  little  or  nothing  without  suggestions  of  this  kind. 

December  16. — My  letter  still  unfinished.  But  I  do  not 
know  that  a  letter  derives  its  chief  value  from  being  clone  at  one 
lick.  Do  you  know  that  John  Proudfit  is  appointed  Professor 
of  Greek  in  the  New  York  University  ?  I  have  just  been  read- 
ing a  narrative  by  Robert  Baxter,  who  Avas  Jrving's  chief  prophet, 
and  who  has  recanted  of  the  horrible  delusions  of  the  "  Tongues," 
&c.  I  formerly  thought  there  was  more  fraud  than  fanaticism, 
but  this  has  convinced  me  that  they  are  nearly  crazy.  Notwith- 
standing his  recantation,  Baxter  is  still  regarded  by  Irving  as 
having  been  truly  inspired,  but  as  having  grieved  the  Spirit. 

Princeton,  January  23,  1834. 
I  have  been  making  a  little  book  out  of  the  remnant  of  cuts 

1  He  began  his  series  of  letters  in  the  Sunday  School  Journal,  January 
1834,  and  continued  them  to  twenty  numbers,  when  they  were  collected  in 
a  volume. 


210  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

for  the  Gleanings.  It  will  be  done  in  a  day  or  two.  I  have  a 
leetle  book  also,  in  the  style  of  "  Amelia  Finley,"  an  attempt 
at  the  Socratic  method.  But  the  new  labours  of  my  station, 
especially  writing  lectures,  must,  for  a  time,  stay  my  hand  very 
much.  Some  of  my  chief  pleasures  are  in  writing  for  and  talk- 
ing with  children. 

Princeton,  March  6,  1884. 
We  are  all  going  on  here  much  as  usual.  Indeed,  there  is  a 
happy  dearth  of  all  news,  except  the  sickening,  dull,  stale,  and 
unprofitable  reverberation  of  the  monetary  question.  The  burn- 
ing of  the  Penn  is  awful  indeed.1  Mitchelmore  I  knew  well;, 
he  was  a  plain,  honest  Israelite,  without  guile,  without  pride, 
without  one  fiery  or  one  bitter  ingredient.  He  was  an  English- 
man, and  had  been  in  Britain  a  Methodist  exhorter.  I  doubt 
not  he  has  been  caught  up  to  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah.  Of  the 
following  particulars  you  may  make  such  use  as  you  choose : 
Mr.  Wirt2  was  long  incog,  as  the  author  of  the  "  British  Spy ; " 
and  I  do  not  know  that  the  secret  would  have  transpired,  except 
from  this  circumstance :  Wirt  had  caught  from  Dr.  W^addel  an 
enthusiastic  admiration  of  Robert  Boyle,  as  one  of  the  first  who 
had  practically  carried  out  the  inductive  principles  of  Bacon, 
and  as  eminently  a  Christian  philosopher.  In  the  "  Spy  "  he 
made  allusions  to  Boyle,  whose  works  were  then  little  read,  and 
it  was  found  that  these  works  were  scarcely  ever  taken  out  of 
the  public  library  at  Richmond  except  by  Mr.  Wirt.  Nothing 
in  the  "  Spy  "  attracted  more  attention  than  the  account  of  Dr. 
Waddel.  In  June,  1830,  I  took  advantage  of  a  private  inter- 
view, to  ask  Mr.  Wirt  how  far  the  account  might  be  taken  as 
authentic  history.  He  replied  that  there  was  no  fiction,  except 
in  the  grouping.  He  had  thrown  into  one  scene  circumstances 
and  discourses,  which  had  in  point  of  fact  been  scattered  through 
various  interviews.  Yet  he  had  heard  all  the  sentiments  from 
his  lips  ;  and  on  the  retrospect  he  still  considered  Dr.  W.  as 
inferior  to  no  man  he  had  ever  heard,  in  eloquence.  For  his 
day,  Dr.  W.  was  an  eminently  learned  man.  The  contents  of 
his  library  evince  an  acquaintance  with  all  the  learned  languages, 
and  the  best  works  in  science  and  literature  which  were  then 
and  there  accessible.  A  few  years  ago  I  fell  upon  a  MS.  copy 
of  the  Minutes  of  the  Old  Hanover  Presbytery,  from  which  I 
made  the  following  gleanings :    Dr.  Waddel  was   licensed   to 

1  The  steamboat  William  Penn  was  burnt  on  the  Delaware  March  4.  The 
Rev.  John  Mitchelmore  threw  himself  from  the  flames  into  the  river,  and 
was  drowned. 

2  The  death  of  Mr.  Wirt  had  lately  taken  place. 


1833— 1844.  211 

preach,  April  2,  1761,  at  Tinkling  Spring,  Virginia.  His  ser- 
mons were  from  Philip,  ii.  9,  10,  and  John  v.  40,  and  his  proba- 
tionary lecture  from  Isa.  lxi.  1-3.  At  the  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery, at  the  same  place,  October  7,  1761,  there  is  the  following 
minute,  which  needs  no  comment :  "  The  following  calls  were  put 
in  to  Presbytery  for  Mr.  Waddel,  viz.,  one  from  Upper  Falling 
and  the  Peaks  of  Otter ;  one  from  Nutbush  and  Grapy  Creek ; 
one  from  Brown's  Meeting  House  and  Jennings'  Gap ;  one  from 
the  Fork  of  James  Eiver  in  Augusta ;  and  one  from  Halifax :  none 
of  which  he  thought  fit  to  take  under  consideration."  Also  a 
further  minute,  October  7,  1762 :  "  Mr.  Waddel  accepts  a  call 
from  Lancaster  and  Northumberland."  He  was  ordained  at 
Prince  Edward,  June  16,  1762.  On  April  3d,  1774,  he  was 
called  to  Opaken  and  Cedar  Creek.  May  1st,  1776,  he  was 
called  to  Tinkling  Spring.  His  decease  was  reported  to  Pres- 
bytery October  4,  1805.  He  departed  this  life  September  17, 
1805. 

Much  love  to  all  yours,  from  me  and  mine.  Excuse  my 
brevity,  as  I  am  not  at  ease. 

Princeton,  April  10,  1834. 

I  owe  you  an  apology  for  disappointing  you  twice,  in  the 
communications  to  the  paper.  The  truth  is,  I  have  been  pressed 
above  measure.  First,  I  have  a  very  oppressive  catarrh  ;  then 
our  semi-annual  examination  lasted  8  days,  7  hours  a  day, 
accompanied  with  other  winding-up  business  ;  then  I  am  labour- 
ing spasmodically  to  get  something  instanter  for  the  Repertory ; 
besides  an  engagement  under  which  I  lie  to  furnish  something 
at  once  for  Rev.  John  Breckinridge's  [Education]  annual ;  and, 
finally,  the  New  Jersey  Lyceum  has  been  meeting  here  and 
devolved  a  good  deal  of  extra  work  on  me. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graves  (of  and  for  Bombay)  have  been  spend- 
ing a  day  with  us.  Mr.  G.  is  a  specimen  of  meek  and  affection- 
ate Christianity,  such  as  it  does  one  good  to  see.  The  flame  of 
missionary  zeal  rises  considerably  in  the  Seminary  after  every 
interview  with  such  a  man.  The  report  here  is,  that  the  elec- 
tions in  New  York  have  been  accompanied  with  outrages  ;  but 
we  have  no  particulars.  Let  me  know  when  any  of  my  S.  S. 
books  are  accepted.  I  have  several  small  affairs  on  the  anvil. 
After  one  session's  trial,  I  find  my  present  situation  more  agree- 
able to  the  flesh,  and,  as  yet,  less  incident  to  trials,  than  any  in 
which  I  have  previously  been.  My  indisposition  this  week  pre- 
vents my  fulfilling  a  purpose  of  attending  a  protracted  meeting 
in  Queenston,  where  I  preach  every  Lord's  day.  The  Semi- 
nary has  just  received  a  set  of  good  old  Mr.  Simeon's  works  (21 


212  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

vols.)  from  the  author  ;  altogether  the  most  splendid  London 
books,  paper,  binding,  &c,  I  ever  saw.  You  will  do  me  a 
favour  by  mentioning  to  me,  from  time  to  time,  such  Hebrew 
books  as  you  may  see  offered  for  sale ;  as  I  am  particularly 
desirous  to  furnish  myself  with  the  best  editions  of  Bibles  and 
Lexicons.  1  am  obliged  to  you  for  an  occasional  English  paper ; 
a  repetition  of  the  favour  will  renew  my  obligation  ;  and  so  of 
any  other  papers,  as  I  no  longer  pasture  upon  that  sort  of 
clover.  Some  of  these  clays  I  mean  to  have  a  paper  here  ;  but 
nothing  can  be  done  till  the  Assembly  has  decided  a  question  or 
two. 

Princeton,  June  3,  1834. 

You  must  excuse  me  about  the  motto  ;  like  lapidary  inscrip- 
tions, it  requires  a  Parr  to  adjust  it ;  and  the  delicate  "  nuances  "  of 
sententious,  elliptical  latinity  are  beyond  my  reach.  In  a  delicate 
matter  of  the  kind,  I  would  apply  to  such  a  man  as  Schipper, 
but  to  no  American.  A  new  memoir  of  Calvin  is  published  in 
Berlin,  by  Henry,  Pastor  of  the  French  Church  there.  Calvin 
on  the  New  Testament  has  gone  through  an  immense  2d  edition, 

under  Tholuck's  auspices.     was  told  by  Prof.  Rheinwald 

of  Bonn,  that  while  almost  every  system  of  opinion  had  been 
deduced  from  the  Bible  by  the  speculations  of  modern  Germans, 
no  one  had  been  wild  enough  to  dream  of  diocesan  episcopacy, 
which  (he  said)  had  not  one  adherent  in  Protestant  Germany,  as 
being  destitute  of  a  vestige  of  authority.  Our  College  is  grow- 
ing ;  we  have  now  185  students,  and  still  some  are  coming. 
Of  these  about  60  are  religious  professors.  On  looking  into 
Guericke,  I  am  unable  to  find  any  thing  but  the  following  note, 
Guericke  Kirchengeschicte,  p.  1013:  "  Indeed,  somewhat  earlier 
than  this,  (that  is  than  Gustavus  Vasa's  mission  to  the  Laplanders, 
in  1559,  which  he  notes  in  the  text  as  the  first  Protestant  mission,) 
Calvin  and  the  Church  of  Geneva  had  sent  missionaries  for 
Christians  and  heathen  to  Brasil ;  which  undertaking,  however, 
was  soon  relinquished."  It  is  a  serious  fact,  that  the  Hegel-ians 
(the  reigning  philosophical  sect  in  Germany)  hold  as  their  two 
fundamental  axioms,  that,  (1)  Esse  et  non-esse  idem  sunt ;  (2) 
Omnis  Veritas  sui  contradiction  em  continet ! ! !  Eichte's  leading 
truth  was  "  Ich  bin  Ich  "  !  !  There  is  no  writer  more  execrated 
among  the  pious  Germans  than  John  Locke. 

Dr. was  much  laughed  at  in  London,  for  pronouncing 

Quay  as  it  is  written  :  all  the  elite  pronounce  route  as  French, 
see  Walker.  A  "fine  man"  is  unintelligible  in  England  ;  ajine 
woman  is  a  handsome  one.  Every  one  says  fortfilte,  see  Walker. 
Chateaubriand  is  the  Parisian  style.     Of  course  you  will  thank 


1833—1844:.  213 

me  for  these  dicta.     I  find  progress  [the  verb]  in  Shakspeare, 
B.  Jonson,  and  Quarles,  but  accented  on  penultimate. 

In  correcting  sheets,  be  sure  to  resolve  all  the  diphthongs  in 
Latin  :  the  old  way  se  and  ce  is  going  out  of  use  in  Europe.  You 
use  realize  in  an  unauthorized  sense,  though  I  own  the  word  is 
absolutely  needed. 

Princeton,  June  23,  1834. 
Amice  amicissime, 

I  am  pleased  to  see  you  quoting  from  the  "  Penny  Magazine," 
which  happens  to  be  my  great  hobby  at  this  time.  It  is  certainly 
the  cheapest  book  in  the  world,  and  is  full  of  entertainment 
without  a  line  of  trash.  My  father  is  quite  enthusiastic  about 
it.  Nevertheless,  it  is  lamentable  that  (negatively)  it  is  so  irre- 
ligious. You  might  extract  something  from  every  number. 
You  will  have  Dr.  Rauch  and  all  the  Germans  on  the  back  of 
you,  for  that  irreverent  article  about  Fichte  and  Hegel ;  "  experto 

crede  Jacobo."     The  review  of is  very  paltry  ;    with  such 

a  subject,  a  dunce  might  have  been  severe.     And  what  asinine 

abortion  of  a  critic  (see   the  "  Decline    of  Poetry  "  in ) 

has   discovered   that  Wordsworth  is   dull  and  unpoetical,  and 

Darwin,  (oh  !  oh  !  oh ! )  a  model ! ! !     If 's  review  is  dead, 

Walsh's  is  mortified  in  some  of  its  members. 

Princeton,  July  14,  1834. 

I  have  passed  the  happiest  summer  thus  far  that  I  have 
known  for  years ;  let  me  record  it  as  the  gift  of  Providence. 
The  greenness,  the  airiness,  the  fragrance,  the  healthfulness,  the 
over — over — overflowing  of  fruits,  and  the  otherwise  varied 
delightfulness  of  Princeton,  have  made  up  for  the  loss  or  want 
of  many  urbane  luxuries.  I  am  looking  towards  Long  Branch 
for  next  week.  I  am  endeavouring  to  get  all  the  books  I 
can,  relating  to  the  English  Language  and  Literature — Anglo- 
Saxon,  History  of  our  Tongue,  History  of  Literature  in  Eng- 
land, History  of  Poetry,  including  specimens  of  old  English 
books.  Now,  do,  I  beg  you,  bear  this  in  mind  ;  memorandum 
such  as  you  see  or  hear  of;  even  buy,  at  my  risk,  when  you  see 
a  rare  bargain.  My  boys  are  in  statu  quo,  save  that  the 
younger  has  acquired  the  English  language,  and  amuses  us  by 
his  sage  discourse. 

It  is  common  in  our  papers  to  talk  of  Neander  as  a  minister; 
he  is  a  layman.  I  am  reading  old  Fuller's  Church  History 
of  Britain  with  great  delight ;  though  the  more  prelatical  he 
grows,  the  more  do  I  grow  puritanical.  I  regret  that  the  British 
Church  Establishment  is  going  to  fall  down.  The  consequence, 
I  fear,  will  be  not  increased  piety,  but  the  rampancy  of  fanat 


214  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

icism,  latitudinarianism,  and  popery.  Though  I  hold  in  derision 
the  barefaced  logical  impositions  of  the  prelatical  argument,  and 
hate  the  tyranny  of  the  English  Church,  I  reverence  the  antique 
sublimity  of  the  structure.  I  feel  [the  awkwardness]  of  being 
a  dissenter  in  England,  but  more  the  ridiculosity  of  wearing  the 
cast-off  clothes  of  British  Churchism  in  America.  I  admire  the 
past  history  of  the  Anglican  Church,  but  in  England  as  well  as 
here,  quantum  mutatus  ab  illo !  In  theology  and  all  clerical 
science  and  literature  how  shallow,  how  superficial ! 

Mr.  and  Mr. told  me  that  the  only  organ  of 

their  sort  of  Dissenters  was  the  "  Congregational  Magazine ;" 
that  the  "  Evangelical  "  was  a  granny ;  that  the  "  Eclectic  "  has 
played  false  to  their  cause  ;  that  the  "  Christian  Advocate  "  was 
discountenanced  by  all  sober  disssenters  as  wickedly  and  roughly 
radical  and  Jacobinical ;  and  that  they  encouraged  a  weekly 
paper,  called  "  The  Patriot,"  of  London,  which  they  believed  to 
be  able,  and  sound  to  their  cause. 

Lately  I  have  made  friends  with  Coleridge,  at  least  for  a 
time,  and  am  reading  his  "  Aids  "  again  with  a  peculiar  sort  of 
mystical  pleasure. 

has  just   left   Princeton,  having  spent   here   some 

twenty  hours.  He  scrupled  to  eat  with  us,  but  gave  us  much 
of  his  company,  which  was  very  agreeable.  I  was  deeply  affected 
at  the  naivete  with  which  this  poor,  childlike,  Christless  Jew, 
described  the  state  of  mind  in  which  he  is,  and  must  needs  be 
so  long  as  he  denies  the  Messiah  ;  on  the  threshold,  but  with  a 
vail  over  his  heart  which  hides  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life. 
Let  us  pray  for  his  illumination  ;  and  I  entreat  you,  without  an 
approach  to  controversy,  to  encourage  in  him  the  development 
of  those  feelings  of  want,  which  may  lead  him  to  see  Christianity 
to  be  the  necessary  complement  of  Judaism. 

Price  for  me  an  instruction-book  for  the  violoncello.  Music 
is  my  main  medicament  just  now. 

Princeton,  September  12,  1834. 

You  must  not  ask  me  who  is  the  best  sermon  writer.  If 
suddenly  cornered,  I  should  say  Baxter.  On  second  thought, 
Robert  Hall.  Then  a  mixture  of  Baxter,  Barrow,  and  Taylor. 
I  have  Sherlock,  but  never  become  interested.  Indeed,  I  scarcely 
read  sermons. 

I  will  go  so  far,  as  with  more  than  ordinary  earnestness,  to 
recommend  to  you  to  get,  own,  put  on  your  table,  and  study,  a 
book  with  this  title,  "  Letters  Practical  and  Consolatory,  de- 
signed to  illustrate  the  nature  and  tendency  of  the  Gospel,  by 
David  Russell,  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  Dundee,  4th  Ed.,  Edin- 


1833—1844.  215 

burgh,  1830,  2  vols.,  12mo."  Who  this  Russell  is  I  know  not, 
probably  a  Scotch  Dissenter ;  but  I  have  read  no  human  pro- 
duction which  comes  nearer  my  views  of  Calvinism  :  it  is  theol- 
ogy without  one  shred  of  scholasticism  ;  orthodoxy  without  one 
film  of  mystification ;  purity  without  one  note  of  ecclesiastical 
harshness.  I  have  so  far  reconsidered  my  former  resolution,  as  to 
determine  (as  you  have  already  let  the  cat  out  of  the  bag)  to  put 
on  my  Sunday  School  volumes  hereafter,  (by  leave  of  Providence 
sparing  and  enabling  me  to  write  any  more,)  "  By  the  author 
of  Jane  Scott,  Hebrew  Customs,  Harvest,  &c."  The  Father's 
Magazine  has  some  good  things  in  it ;  but  why  have  a  depart- 
ment and  a  pigeon-hole,  and  a  magazine  for  every  thing  1  Next 
we  may  look  for  an  Old  Maid's  Magazine — Barbers'  Department 
— Society  for  the  illumination  of  back-cellars,  with  a  travelling 
agent.  Soberly,  do  not  the  Scriptures  indicate  a  less  cumbrous, 
more  simple  mode  of  propagating  Christianity  1  Perhaps  I 
judge  ill  because  I  am  not  in  active  life. 

In  immense  haste  (before  breakfast !)  thine. 

Princeton,  Sept.  1*7,  1834.  - 
A  very  interesting  letter  has  been  received  from  Mrs.  Mis- 
sionary Thomson,  formerly  schoolmistress  Hanna  of  this  place. 
Suppose  the  American  S.  S.  Union  should  send  her,  and  the  other 
missionaries  in  Palestine,  each  a  copy  of  your  chart  of  Jerusa- 
lem, and  Geography  maps,  furnished  with  blank  leaves,  that 
from  year  to  year  they  may  correct  the  topography  on  the  spot. 
After  you  and  I  are  dead,  the  good  work  might  still  be  going  on. 
On  looking  over  my  little  works,  I  am  brought  back  to  my 
original  judgment,  that  the  best  way  is  to  write  for  the  cuts,  and 
not  cut  for  the  writing.  Therefore  let  me  have  proofs  of  such 
cuts  as  you  are  willing  to  repeat  in  this  way.  1  am  afraid  the 
Greek  and  English  New  Testament  [in  parallel  columns]  will 

be  misunderstood,  and  so  scouted  by  Dr. ,  if  there  is  no 

further  explanation.  He  may  take  it  into  his  noddle  that  some 
dunce  has  wished  to  help  lazy  or  ignorant  ministers  ;  whereas  it 
is  meant  for  the  most  learned — a  mechanical  help,  one  page  in- 
stead of  two  distinct  books.  Say  a  word  in  the  right  ear,  to  this 
point. 

With  reference  to  English  preachers,  the  best  article  I  ever 
saw  is  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Edinburgh  Presbyterian  Review. 
The  great  defect  in  the  Churchmen,  even  of  their  golden  era,  the 
17th  century,  is  Energy,  including  in  that  term  both  pungency 
and  pathos.  I  can  just  now  think  of  none  but  Barrow,  who  is 
powerful.  Taylor  is  rich,  and  often  pathetic,  always  brilliant 
and  poetical,  but  never  commanding.     Those  whom  we  (upon 


216  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRHTCETON    COLLEGE. 

English  tradition)  celebrate,  while  they  are  argumentative,  in- 
structive, sensible,  and  terse,  are,  to  my  feelings,  tame.  A  mix- 
ture of  Edwards  and  Davies,  who  are  all  our  own,  would  be  a 
phoenix.  Strange  as  it  would  seem  to  one  who  had  not  made 
the  comparison,  the  French  preachers  have  more  addresses  to  the 
conscience,  heart,  and  will,  than  any  I  ever  saw  in  print.  Bour- 
daloue  is  full  of  holy  unction,  Bossuet  is  Demosthenes  in  canoni- 
cals, and  Massillon  is  the  fusion  of  all  great  qualities  into  so 
perfect  a  mass  that  his  powers  are  scarcely  appreciated.  The 
same  thing  leads,  I  think,  to  the  undervaluing  of  R.  Hall.  This 
extreme  elegance  makes  one  suspect  there  is  no  strength,  be- 
cause there  is  no  ruggedness.  I  have  Sherlock,  and  know  some 
fine  places  in  him,  but  as  a  whole  he  does  not  take  possession  of 
me.  Paley's  plain  sermons  are  striking  for  their  "  good  round- 
about sense ;  "  look  at  them  for  half  an  hour.  Some  of  the  late 
C.  Wolfe's  sermons  ("  Not  a  Drum  was  heard,  nor  a  Euneral 
Note ")  surpass  any  modern  English  preachments  for  heart- 
rending appeals — even  of  terror.  Our  American  Episcopalians 
seem  to  me  mere  milk  and  water,  even  compared  with  the 
Christian  Observer-school ;  which  latter  class,  I  verily  believe, 
contains  the  very  best  men  in  England.  Except  on  church-order, 
you  never  hear  from  our  churchmen  a  sermon  of  square-hewn 
thought.  Their  best  evangelical  discourses  which  I  have  heard, 
arise  no  higher  than  John  Newton's  or  Mr.  Jay's.  I  ought  to 
have  named  Cecil,  who,  if  he  had  ivritten  sermons,  would  have 
been  (what  my  father  considers  him)  the  most  commanding  ser- 
monizer  of  his  connexion,  at  that  day.  Of  all  styles  of  sermon- 
izing, however,  the  most  sneakingly  mean,  in  my  humble  judg- 
ment, is  that  of  which  the [a  periodical  made  up  of  ser- 
mons] is  the  representative  :  I  speak  of  course  of  the  majority 
of  specimens.  No  exposition  of  Scripture  in  its  scope  and  con- 
nexion, apart  from  which  insulated  verses  may  mean  any  thing, 
and  are  at  best  single  rays  of  the  spectrum,  and  not  light :  few 
even  of  these  insulated  texts ;  in  default  of  the  latter,  not  even 
any  profound  series  of  doctrinal  statements  ;  but  mere  para- 
graphs, about  equal  to  the  "  Improvement "  of  an  old  sermon  ; 
false  sententiousness ;  shallow  illustration  of  what  was  before 
plain  as  day ;  every  thing  sacrificed  to  supposed  pungency,  and 

baseless  notation.     Who,  from  all  the  volumes  of  the , 

would  get  a  solid  structure  of  Scripture  truth  %  And  is  not  this 
what  preaching  should  convey  ?  And  after  all,  this  modern 
New  England  preaching  is  less  moving,  less  reaching,  less 
awakening,  than  that  of  the  preceding  age.  Ca-ira  !  So  much 
for  your  asking  any  thing  ex  cathedra. 


1833—1844.  217 

Princeton,  September  30,  1834. 
.  I  heartily  regret  that  you  have  had  [in  Philadelphia]  25 
deaths  by  cholera-morbus  and  cholera;  Avcrtat  Deus  !  The  con 
secration  of  Trinity  Church  here  was  an  uncommon  effort ;  it 
lasted  some  four  hours.  Bishops  White,  Ives,  and  Doane  present, 
and  altogether  twenty  clergymen.  Bishop  W.  preached  an  hour. 
The  good  old  patriarch  remained  to  commencement.  On  com- 
mencement evening,  I  drank  tea  with  the  three  Bishops  at  [Profes- 
sor A.  B.]  Dod's,  and  have  seldom  had  a  pleasanter  soiree.  It  was 
like  being  transported  to  a  purer  age,  to  talk  with  the  primate, 
and  I  value  the  interview  as  unique ;  he  was  inimitably  paternal 

and  really  instructive.     As  to ,  he  is  an  insufferable  mix 

of  upstart  Yankeeism,  froth,  affectation,  and  ludicrous  vanity. 
Bishop  Mcllvaine's  charge  is  a  lovely  paper.  O  si  sic  omnia  ! 
Read  it  for  your  own  heart's  good.  [J.  S.]  Hart  and  [Ste- 
phen] Alexander  are  made  adjunct  professors  in  our  college. 
You  can  now  come  hither  in  the  canal  from  Bordentown.  Did 
I  tell  you  that  Dr.  Hodge  was  writing  a  popular  commentary 
on  the  Romans  ? 

Princeton,  October  31,  1834. 

So  Coleridge  is  gone ! — the  last  of  the  Platonists.  I  both 
dislike  and  love  his  beautiful,  dreamy  philosophizings  ;  and  can- 
not hear  him  either  blamed  or  lauded.  His  poetry  I  never  read, 
(i.  e.  Byronice  redde.) 

Tell  Mr.  Packard  I  can  only  promise  to  think  about  the  Life 
of  Jacob.1  Also  say,  that  the  prints,  though  exceedingly  beauti- 
ful, are  so  much  of  a  marine  character,  that  I  fear  I  shall  have  to 
return  them  to  him,  with  my  sincere  thanks. 

Let  me  beg  you  to  take  it  as  a  prominent,  perpetual  object 
of  selections,  &c,  for  your  Journal,  to  hold  up  the  great  truth, 
that  the  Bible  is  the  book  to  educate  the  age.  Why  not  have  it 
the  chief  thing  in  the  family,  in  the  school,  in  the  academy,  in 
the  university  ?  The  day  is  coming  ;  and  if  you  and  I  can  in- 
troduce the  minutest  corner  of  this  wedge,  we  shall  be  benefac- 
tors of  the  race.  I  can  amuse  a  child  about  the  Bible ;  I  can 
teach  logic,  rhetoric,  ethics,  and  salvation  from  the  Bible.  May 
we  not  have  a  Bible  School?  Sow  the  seed,  my  dear  friend, 
meekly,  prayerfully ;  it  must  grow  !  A  series  of  Lectures  on 
Archosology,  including  Geography,  with  a  full  apparatus  of 
transparent  maps,  figures,  landscapes,  specimens  of  trees,  fruits, 
stones,  dresses,  &c,  &c,  &c,  might  help  on  the  great  wheel  sev- 
eral revolutions  in  our  cities.     Hold  a  protracted  meeting  of  a 

1  His  "  Life  of  Jacob  and  his  son  Joseph  "  was  published  by  the  Union 
in  1836,  pp.  191. 

VOL.   I. 10 


218  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

week,  and  have  two  or  three  sermons  or  lectures  a  day,  (prepared 
long  before,)  on  different  points  of  Education,  Bible  exposition, 
Illustration,  Juvenile  training,  Sunday  Schools,  &c,  then  print  it. 
I  want  to  write  a  volume,  somewhat  secular,  after  the  fashior 
of  "  Uncle  Philip,"  [by  Rev.  Dr.  Hawks,]  teaching  some  physical 
principles,  but  interweaving  religion.  In  a  word,  the  book  is  to 
be  one  of  excitement  rather  than  instruction  ;  intended  to  awaken 
a  thirst  for  knowledge  of  all  kinds. 

Princeton,  Nov  19,  1S34. 

What  you  say  about is  distressing  to  me,  though  not 

wholly  unexpected.  I  trust  you  are  by  this  time  relieved ;  if 
not,  you  know  to  whom  we  have  given  our  dear  children.  It  is 
a  sweet  Christian  exercise  for  parents  to  give  away  their  offspring 
daily,  and  daily  to  receive  them  as  a  fresh  gift.  Of  a  truth,  I 
know  something  of  like  affliction ;  a  daily  burden,  but  tempered 
with  hourly-dropping  balm.     I  do  not  wish  a  hair's  wreight  of  the 

past  to  have  been  taken  off.     Mr. 1  have  not  seen,  for  he 

does  not  come  till  next  month.  I  am  prepared  to  love  him, 
always  provided  that  he  does  not  obtrude  dispute  about  the 
apostolical  succession.  If  he  does,  I  am  off.  My  life  is  too 
short  to  be  spent  on  these  "  endless  genealogies."  Politics  have 
left  me  in  the  rear  :  where  ignorance  is  bliss,  'tis  folly  to  be 
wise.  I  believe  we  are  tolerably  well  governed.  By  all  means 
write  "  The  Beloved  Disciple."  Lardner  will  give  you  all  you 
want,  and  reference  to  everybody  else :  you  ought  also  to  read 
St.  John's  life  in  Butler's  "  Lives  of  the  Saints,"  not  the  copy  in  3 
vols.,  but  in  12  vols.,  8vo.  I  concealed  my  name  to  my  lullabies, 
for  the  very  reason  which  leads  the  Moravian  to  exclude  all 
adults,  wdien  he  preaches  to  children.  Mrs.  Sigourney's  are 
poetic,  but  not  baby-like,  mine  are  baby-like,  but  not  poetical. 
They  are  "  Cherries  are  ripe,"  also  the  tune  ;  "  Father  and  Mother 
'tis  time  to  arise ;  "  "  The  ABC;""  Up  in  the  Morning."  The 
ABC  tune  I  adapted  from  a  Ranz-des-Vaches.  We  have  ad- 
mitted fifty  less  or  more  to  college,  and  an  uncommonly  large  acces- 
sion to  the  seminary.  Professor  Stephen  Alexander  has  gone  to 
Ebenezer,  Ga.,  with  a  splendid  telescope  (made  by  Ultzschneider 
and  Fraunhofer  at  Munich)  to  observe  the  central  solar  eclipse 
on  the  30th  hist.  This  eclipse  is  quite  an  American  affair,  and 
the  European  savans  will  look  to  us  for  the  elements  of  astro- 
nomical correction,  &c.  Alexander  is  equal  to  Payne  himself 
as  an  observer.  The  results  will  be  given  to  your  Philosophical 
Society.  There  will  not  be  such  another  eclipse  till  1869. 
Qu.  Does  this  justify  a  Sabbath  observation  1 

With  much  whimsy,  there  are  some  eximious  things  in  Simp- 


1833—1844.  219 

son  on  Popular  Education.  I  was  already  a  full  convert  to  the 
doctrine  that  babes  ought  to  be  taught,  not  books  but  things. 
Precocity  is  plainly  a  brain-disease.  1  am  filled  with  enthusiasm 
about  having  the  Bible  more  taught.  Instead  of  a  mere  reading- 
book  in  schools,  it  must  be  taught,  after  the  Sunday  School 
fashion ;  geography,  archaeology  and  all.  All  our  girls  must 
read  the  Greek  Testament.  I  mean  to  teach  a  few  on  the  plan 
of  Locke.  By  an  interlinear  version  any  merchant's  clerk  may 
learn  Hebrew.  Don't  tell  this  to  the  old-school  grammarians. 
The  Bible — the  Bible — it  is  this  which  must  save  America.  It 
is  this  which  must  save  the  church ;  not  by  spasmodic  tran- 
sitory attempts,  on  emergencies,  but  by  being  a  perennial  well- 
head of  divine  truth.  I  talk  of  writing  an  introduction  to  the 
New  Testament  for  you.  I  have  finished  about  a  dozen  of  the 
penny  books  ordered  by  Mr.  Packard ;  having  no  suitable  cuts, 
I  have  to  describe  what  the  cut  should  be.  If  I  had  a  hundred 
little  cuts,  I  could  write  two  dozen  in  a  twinkling.  As  it  is,  I 
fear  some  difficulty,  and  the  works  themselves  will  probably  not 
suit  Mr.  P.'s  ideal.1 

Princeton,  November  23,  1834. 

I  have  finished  the  baby-books ;  they  wait  for  a  bearer. 
Henry  Clay  left  us  to-day,  but  I  could  not  intrust  him  with  so 
great  a  charge.  I  saw  him  for  some  hour  or  so.  I  hope  you 
will  have  a  good  touch  of  the  rheumatism,  so  that  you  may 
never  laugh  at  me  again.  Apropos,  this  strange  influenza  comes 
on  with  singular  pains,  and  even  temporary  paralysis. 

I  am  printing  in  the  Trenton  Emporium  some  letters  to  Gov. 
Vroom,  on  Education.  I  read  a  letter  of  [Rev.  Mr.  Nevins  on  the 
death  of  his  wife]  which  for  pathos,  naivete,  and  unaffectedness, 
supasses  any  thing  of  the  sort  I  ever  saw.  In  one  quality  Nevins 
exceeds  all  men  I  know ;  he  is  frank  and  childlike  without  an 
effort,  and  without  knowing  it. 

Princeton,  December  9,  1834. 

I  am,  late  at  night,  and  in  the  sick  room  of  my  George,  who 
has  been  dangerously  ill,  writing  you  a  scrawl,  as  I  have  an  op- 
portunity to-morrow.  Let  me  say  a  word  now  about  some  no- 
tions of ■  about  scriptural  books,  which  impress  me  as 

true  and  good,  and  are  a  little  exemplified  in  his  book.  He  talks 
thus  to  me:  Don't  try  to  vary  the  Bible  language  too  much;  say 
what  you  will,  it  is  most  intelligible  to  children.     Don't  try  too 

1  The  result  was  "  The  Infant's  Library,"  consisting  of  twenty>four  of 
the  smallest  size  in  which  any  thing  in  the  shape  of  a  book  can  be^  printed, 
and  in  the  smallest  language.  It  may  be  amusing  to  know  that  in  "  The 
Sabbath  Breaker,"  "  James "  and  "Edward"  represent  himself  and  Mr. 
Kirk,  in  an  incident  of  their  boyhood. 


220  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

much  to  improve  upon  the  Bible ;  let  what  you  add  be  exegeti 
cal  and  brief.  He  says  moreover,  (and  I  own  I  never  thought 
of  it  before,  though  it  is  specious,)  that  a  thousand  books  may 
yet  be  woven  out  of  the  raw  Bible  material,  with  very  little  al- 
teration of  the  text.  Thus  one  may  take  all  that  relates  to  the 
archaeology  of  Hebrew  houses,  and  make  a  book  of  it ;  and  that, 
mark  me,  not  by  casting  the  Scripture  parts  into  the  pigeon- 
holes of  formal  artificial  arrangement,  but  following  the  exact 
order  of  the  Scripture  story.  Take  one  subject,  and  chase  it 
through  the  whole  canon.  Doesn't  this  merit  a  thought?  I 
am  engaged  (meaning  to  work  slowly,  and  scrap-wise)  at  a  life 
of  Christ — blessed  theme  !  O  that  we  may  daily  ponder  on  it ! 
You  will  readily  see  how  my  thoughts  course  one  another  in  the 
channel,  which,  but  for  Sunday  Schools,  would  never  have  ex- 
isted for  me.  I  am  a  little  wild  on  the  subject  of  making  the 
Bible  the  grand  organ  of  mental  and  spiritual  development. 
Suppose  one  knows  the  Bible,  and  from  it  as  a  centre  radiates 
into  the  thousand  subsidiary  knowledges,  will  he  not  know  all  ho 
needs  ?  Will  not  you  and  I  make  this  the  rule  for  bringing  up 
our  children  ?  Why  may  not  our  female  friends  be  made  to 
read  the  Greek  Testament  ?  I  will  engage  to  teach  any  of  the 
poor  things  that  lose  their  time  on  French,  to  read  the  New 
Testament  in  less  time.  Why  does  not  Dr.  Ely  take  the  beauti- 
ful scriptural  motto  for  his  Philadelphian — rj  <£iA.aSeA.c/na  fxevero  ! 1 
I  am  deep  in  Mrs.  [Hannah]  More's  life ;  a  lovely  book,  from 
which  I  augur  great  things  for  evangelical  religion.  I  preach 
every  Sunday  to  a  dear  little  flock  of  poor  people,  in  Queenston, 
where  I  think  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  not  altogether  absent. 
Yesterday,  alas  !  I  witnessed,  in  a  Magdalen,  (if  the  name  is  not 
a  libel  on  Christ's  friend,)  something  very  like  death-bed  despair. 
I  ought  to  be  a  very  thankful  man,  for,  with  "  manifold 
temptations,"  I  am  as  happy  in  my  present  site,  as  a  miserable 
sinner  ought  to  expect.  I  am  very  sure  that  some  of  us  do  not 
discipline  the  flesh  enough  in  our  prosperity,  by  voluntary  ab- 
stinence from  many  things  which  are  lawful  but  inexpedient. 
Paul  talks  (in  Greek  terms  of  force)  of  bringing  under  and  sub- 
jecting the  body.  Might  we  not  sometimes  fast?  Might  we 
not  curtail  expenses  and  retrench  style  ?  Might  we  not  risk  a 
little  worldly  sneer  for  being  nearer  the  primitive  model  ?  May 
we  not  hope  for  more  uncommon  manifestations,  when  we  make 
more  uncommon  sacrifices  to  walk  in  Christ's  steps?  Austin 
says  sweetly,  JSfudus  nudum  sequor  Christum.  I  more  and  more 
sicken  at  human  dilutions  of  the  Word,  and  love  the  taste  of  the 
fresh  fountain.     Good  night. 

1  "  Let  brotherly  love  (Philadelphia)  continue." 


1833—1844:.  221 

Princeton,  December  10,  1834. 
I  hope  your  map  and  manual  will  mark  an  epoch — you  know 
every  thing  nowadays  marks  an  epoch — and  will  open  many 
eyes  to  the  wants  of  the  world.1  I  own,  though  I  have  often 
studied  the  map  gospel-wise,  I  never  had  so  impressive  a  view. 
Every  one  who  sees  it  is  so  struck.  Apropos,  I  find  it  good  to 
use  a  small  atlas  as  a  pra}^er-book ;  it  defines,  systematizes,  and 

condenses  one's  desires.     1  have  read  large  portions  of 

with  great  care.  I  am  surprised  that  he  should  stereotype  such 
a  work  ;  it  seems  to  shut  the  door  against  all  future  retractation, 
which,  if  I  understand  him,  is  inconsistent  with  his  views  of  the- 
ological perfectibility.  I  am  horrified  with  meeting  in  his  re- 
marks the  self-same  rationalistic  canon  of  interpretation  which 
has  dethroned  Christ  in  German  divinity  ;  I  mean  what  is  in- 
volved in  the  concession  that  David's  imprecations  may  be 
wicked  imprecations.  Then,  ex  cequali,  as  the  Germans  argue, 
Paul's  deductions  may  be  foolish  deductions.  This  I  regard  as 
far  worse  than  specific  aberrations  even  into  heretical  doctrines  ; 
for  it  unsettles  the  base  of  all  doctrines.  I  doubt  not  this  evil 
seed  will  soon  germinate.  The  caricature  of  imputation  is  dis- 
ingenuous. Pray  by  whom  has  the  old  doctrine,  as  he  states  it, 
been  held  ?  The  reader  will  understand  him,  "  by  old  Calvin- 
ists."  It  has  been  in  terms  disavowed  by  every  successive  the- 
ologian of  eminence.  Edwards  has  never  been  regarded  as  an  in- 
terpreter of  our  doctrines.  The  view  given  in  the  Repertory  for 
1830,  p.  425,  I  pledge  myself  to  substantiate,  if  it  were  proper, 
from  Turretin,  Witsius,  Owen,  Dr.  Mason,  and  our  Princeton 
lectures ;  and  these  may  be  assumed  as  saying  what  Calvinism 
is,  whether  it  be  in  itself  right  or  wrong.  The  nonsense  which 
pretends  to  refute,  is  not  imputation,  but  its  exact  re- 
verse. After  many  years  suffering  torments  of  doubt  about 
Romans  5th,  I  left  all  commentaries  and  confined  myself  to  the 
Greek  text,  with  a  lexicon,  (I  do  not  mean  a  New  Testament 
lexicon,  which  is  merely  a  comment  arranged  alphabetically,) 
and  my  opinion  of  that  glorious  passage  I  regard  as  a  key  to  the 
whole  Pauline  system. 

Your  "  Harvey  Boys  "  I  think  excellent  for  the  end  in  view. 
The  plural  of  wharf,  however,  in  spite  of  Philadelphians,  is 
zvha?'fs  not  wharves.  I  hereby  give  notice  to  your  committee, 
that  I  have  in  good  progress  a  book  of  dialogues,  intended,  1, 
to  make  the  Bible  an  object  of  interest;  2,  to  explain  its  form, 
divisions,  books,  chapters,  verses,  &c. ;  3,  to  show  how  to  study 

1  A  map,  designating  by  colours  and  marks  the  state  of  the  world  as  to 
the  progress  of  Christianity,  with  a  manual  of  missionary  doctrine  and 

statistics. 


222  WHILE   TKOFESSOR   EST    PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

it ; — in  a  word,  an  Introduction  to  the  Bible.  The  continued 
affliction  of  your  little  girl  excites  our  sympathy.  When  God 
sees  that  the  trial  has  clone  its  work,  he  will  remove  it ;  until 
then  let  patience  have  its  perfect  work.  I  think  I  rejoice 
that  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  that  the  angels  of  these  little  ones 
do  behold  the  face  of  our  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  I  hope  no 
changes  in  your  employments  will  take  you  away  from  the  ser- 
vice of  these  little  ones.  Many  who  are  in  it  are  incompetent 
or  unfaithful.     Let  us  seek  to  be  made  wise  and  directed. 

Monday,  Dec.  12. — The  lowest  degree  of  cold  here,  by  Pro- 
fessor Henry's  standard  thermometer,  was — 11°.  In  Albany, 
you  see  it  was  32  °  !  Surely  one  had  better  go  to  Pekin  than 
to  New  Orleans.  I  should  regard  [Rev.  Joel]  Parker  as  more 
of  a  martyr  than  any  of  our  missionaries.1  Your  [Missionary] 
chart  hangs  in  full  view  of  my  bed,  and  I  hope  many  of  my 
nightly  and  morning  thoughts  will  take  their  direction  from  it. 
No  publication  of  the  year  so  permanently  affects  me.  "  Thy 
kingdom  come  ! "  Brewer  of  Smyrna  is  a  noble  fellow ;  he 
seems  to  me  to  lead  the  van  in  the  Levant. 

Read  the  56th  Psalm,  with  reference  to  Parker  and  the 
Orleans  folk.  The  people  of  Nineveh  shall  rise  up  in  the  judg- 
ment with  this  generation,  and  condemn  it,  for  they  repented  at 
the  preaching  of  Jonas.  I  have  a  fearful  belief,  that  the  open 
rejection  of  God  in  his  ministers,  will  call  down  temporal  and 
marked  judgments.  Greatly  as  I  differ  from  Joel  Parker,  I  feel 
called  upon  to  pray  for  him  with  affection.  The  Christians 
of  Germany,  *.  e.  the  real  Christians,  are  all  (except  Neander  and 
his  school)  legitimatists,  who  regard  the  king  as  God's  earthly 
image,  and  hold  the  twofold  command,  Fear  God  and  honor 
the  king,  as  indivisible.  They  cannot  abstract  democracy  from 
infidelity.  This  loyalty,  in  some  of  them,  is  very  lovely.  There 
is  a  family  of  Gerlachs,  one  high  in  office  (Louis)  at  Halle,  a 
privy-counsellor ;  one  a  professor  and  pastor  (Otto)  at  Berlin ; 
one  a  Major,  and  aid  of  the  king.     The  first  two  are  geniuses, 

men  of  profound  learning,  arid regards  Louis  as  the  greatest 

man   he  met  in  Germany.     I  read  much  of  their  writing  in 

1  Mr.  (now  Dr.)  Parker,  in  soliciting  aid  at  the  North  for  the  erection  of 
the  church  in  New  Orleans  of  which  he  was  pastor,  was  reported  to  have 
spoken  disparagingly  of  that  city,  and  was  threatened  with  violence  if  he 
should  return  to  it.  After  sending  proofs  of  the  falseness  of  the  allegation, 
Mr.  Parker  sailed  for  New  Orleans ;  but  such  were  the  apprehensions  of 
the  captain  and  passengers,  that  he  and  his  family  were  put  on  shore  before 
reaching  the  city.  A  public  meeting  was  assembled  for  the  purpose  of 
expelling  the  minister :  Mr.  Parker  addressed  the  multitude  in  person ; 
his  friends  rallied ;  the  church  on  Lafayette  Square  was  erected,  and  he  re- 
tained his' position  with  net*  efficiency. 


1833—1844.  223 

Hengstenberg's  paper  ;  and  Dr.  IT.  had  lately  a  charming  letter 
from  Otto,  who  is  at  a  commentary  for  the  plebs.  I  laid  down 
the  "Zeitung"  of  April  23,  to  pen  this,  in  which  Louis  v.  Ger- 
lach  undertakes  the  maintenance  of  this  thesis  :  "  That  Liberalism 
and  Absolutism,  though  seeming  opposites,  may  be  traced  to  a 
common  trunk,  viz.,  the  severance  of  the  State  from  God."  Not 
so  bad.  "  God  (says  he)  is  the  sole  source  of  all  liberty.  He 
is  the  sole,  legitimate,  supreme  Sovereign.  Therefore  a  prince 
who  does  not  consider  his  lordship  as  God's  loan,  who  does 
not  limit  it  by  God's  law",  and  who  places  the  highest  source  and 
principle  of  his  rights,  not  in  the  divine  will,  but  in  some 
earthly  end  of  state,  (Staatszweck,)  or  who  does  not  accord  to 
his  subjects  the  sacred  rights  given  them  of  God,  is  a  true 
Revolutionist.  And  a  popular  association,  however  democrati- 
cally constituted,  which  makes  their  own  will,  or  the  will  of  the 
sovereign  multitude,  the  highest  state-law,  is  truly  despotic? 
Now  for  a  truly  German  sentence,  from  Ringscis.  a  Catholic, 
General-medieal-Counsellor  of  the  king  of  Bavaria  ;  the  allusion 
is  to  the  reigning  philosophy  of  Hegel,  who  denies  any  personal 
God  :  "  As  in  Philosophy  and  Theology,  there  has  been  substi 
tuted  for  one  God  in  three  persons,  an  impersonal  Supreme 
Being,  a  moral  world-government,  or  world-order  ;  so  in  politics, 
there  has  been  substituted  for  a  personal  lord  of  the  country, 
uniting  in  himself  all  -powers — the  ghost  of  an  abstract,  hateless, 
loveless  State  ! !  " 

I  feel  indignant  at  the  piece  by  N.  N.  in  the  Boston  Recorder, 
on  Presbyterianism.  If  our  church  were  to  fill  to  pieces, 
Presbytery  would  not  be  touched ;  nay,  nor  if  we  were  re- 
solved into  our  separate  presbyteries :  even  in  this  last  case,  we 
should  be  infinitely  above  the  no-organization  of  Congregation- 
alism. How  indelicate  such  Yankee  meddling  !  If  we  chose  to 
turn  the  tables,  how  easy  to  twit  them  with  the  Unitarian  defec- 
tion ;  yet  the  latter  are  all  Congregationalists.  "  Presbyterian- 
ism a  failure  !  "  Marry  come  up  !  We  have  existed  a  cen- 
tury under  our  present  organization ;  and  then  look  at  the, 
masses  of  Dutch  and  Scotch  Presbyterians.  It  is  as  if  the  Hot- 
tentots who  live  in  isolated  sheds  should  sneer  at  the  Tremont 
House,  because  mayhap  its  united  chambers  occasion  some  dirt 
or  some  inconvenience.  What  we  have  suffered,  has  been  by  the 
Congregationalism  with  which  we  are  inoculated.  Either  sys- 
tem may  stand  by  itself,  but  a  mixture  is  pork  and  molasses,  or 
cider  and  coffee. 

Princeton,  December  15,  1884. 

More  to  disburden  a  throbbing  and  full  heart,  than  to  com- 
municate much  good,  I  write  to  you.     I  know  you  will  feel  a  pang, 


224  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

when  I  tell  you  that  this  afternoon,  at  3  o'clock,  God  was  pleased 
to  take  away  my  little  Archibald — our  Benjamin,  the  son  of  our 
hopes.  Blessed  be  God  for  all  his  mercies  !  Last  evening  he 
was  as  well  as  a  child  could  be,  to  appearance.  About  7  he 
began  to  show  symptoms  of  croup,  which  gradually  advanced, 
in  spite  of  the  most  vigorous  practice  of  our  physician,  who  was 
with  us  almost  from  first  to  last,  until  he  died  in  our  arms.  His 
last  moments  were  sweet ;  he  simply  fell  asleep,  no  pang,  no 
distortion ;  he  lies  like  a  lovely  smiling  marble.  Pie  was  two 
years  four  months  old.  Twenty  hours'  illness  !  A  little  before 
his  death  he  clasped  his  hands  and  said,  "  I  want  to  say  my 
prayers."  Judge  what  we  feel.  My  dear  friend,  the  tears  I 
poured  in  torrents  over  his  dying  form  were  tears  of  joy — blessed 
be  God  for  it !  Never  had  I  such  faith  of  immortality.  My 
wife  and  I  yield  with  a  composure,  for  which  we  can  never  be  thank- 
ful enough,  to  the  resumption  of  the  precious  gift.  We  have 
been  in  the  practice  of  deliberately  giving  up  our  children  to 
God,  every  day.  O  how  I  rejoiced  in  this,  as  I  felt  his  last 
pulses,  and  found  his  precious  hand  turning  to  clay  in  mine. 

We  have  too  much  caressed  and  prized  this  dear  boy.  Dis- 
appointed in  our  first,  whom  we  held  by  a  spider's  thread,  we 
counted  much  upon  Archibald.  He  was  lovely,  and  precocious. 
In  a  moment  we  are  blasted !  But  why  do  I  repeat  these  things  % 
Join  us  in  giving  thanks  to  God  for  the  wonderful  (I  will  not  say 
resignation,  but)  comfort  we  have.  Join  us  in  praising  Him 
who  can  make  us  glory  in  tribulations  also.  Join  us  in  prayer 
that  we  may  be  kept  in  faith.  "  Hold  thou  me  up  and  I  shall  be 
safe." 

I  wish  to  learn  the  lesson  of  this  dispensation.  I  wish  to  be 
more  entirely  consecrated  to  the  work  of  God.  If  God  write  us 
childless  (an  awful  word  now — once  it  seemed  a  trifle)  I  will 
try  to  find  children  in  the  Sunday  School.  O  my  friend  !  I 
have  a  dear  child  in  heaven  !  Only  a  few  hours  in  heaven  !  Is 
not  this  an  honour — a  joy — a  triumph  ?  let  me  then  determine  to 
lead  a  heavenly  life  here.  When  shall  we  "  use  this  world  as 
not  abusing  it "  1  When  shall  we  who  have  wives,  live  as 
though  we  had  none  ?  A  little  while  and  all  these  shadows  will 
fly  away,  and  we  shall  find  ourselves  amidst  the  realities  of 
eternity.  For  some  time  previous  to  this  dispensation,  1  have 
found  myself  under  a  leading  to  thoughts  more  serious  than 
common  ;  greater  desires  to  cut  off  superfluous  pursuits,  to  take 
up  unaccustomed  crosses,  and  to  cultivate  humble  love.  Alas  ! 
how  little  have  I  succeeded  in  doing  so. 

I  cannot  well  say  much  on  ofher  topics.  Remember  me 
and  mine  at  the  throne  of  grace. 


1833—1844.  225 

Pkinceton,  February  17,  1S35. 

Tell  Mr.  Packard  I  and  the  rest  of  us  think  very  highly  of 
"  Ann  Conover  "  [a  book  for  female  domestics]  :  one  great  excel- 
lence it  hath,  the  talk  is  "  real  talk  "  without  provincialism. 

Among  the  thousand  and  one  things  I  have  in  my  plans, 
is  the  A]i]3rentice,  a  book  for  ditto.  I  endeavour  to  have 
as  many  plans  as  I  can :  thereby  I  find  work  for  all  moods  of 
mind.  Mr.  P.  sent  me  a  book  which  Dr.  Julius  left  with  him. 
It  is  a  sensible  and  pious  book,  but  purely  German,  and  not 
suited  to  our  meridian.  There  are  gross  passages  about  the 
vices  of  boys,  and  that  which  relates  to  intellectual  and  moral 
culture  is  only  a  moiety.  The  spirit  of  the  work  is  good,  and . 
there  are  beautiful  passages  ;  it  might  be  very  useful  among  the 
German  population ;  but  I  do  not  find  a  single  chapter  which 
would  merit  translation  as  it  is.  I  have  selected  20  texts  for 
baby  sermons,  to  publish  with  my  name.  I  wish  my  first  'on- 
ymous  work  to  be  one  which  shall  have  nought  to  do  with  literary 
ambition.  O  how  much  better  I  love  my  nursery-work,  than 
my  rhetoric !  I  feel  pleased  to  think  that  the  truth  we  are 
throwing  so  widely  among  the  nation  of  children,  cannot  all 
die.  While  many  things  are  against  us,  God's  truth  will  not 
perish. 

Feb.  19. — I  am  still  in  the  house  with  my  throat  and  palate; 
which  I  turn  to  some  little  account  in  the  way  of  Sunday  School 
writing.  The  absorbing  power  of  composition  makes  it  a  great 
solace  when  one  is  unwell.  I  doubt  whether  Baxter  or  Hannah 
More  would  have  scribbled  so  much  if  they  had  not  been  val- 
etudinarians, [j^gr*  Put  a  paragraph  into  your  paper,  recommend- 
ing to  some  writer  a  book  expressly  intended  for  Factory  Chil- 
dren. There  are  many  thousands  of  these  in  the  United  States, 
and  they  are  cut  off  from  instruction  and  home  influence,  and  ex- 
posed to  numberless  corruptions.  I  witnessed  this  in  Trenton,  but 
it  must  be  immensely  worse  in  Lowell,  Paterson,  &c,  &c.  The 
person  who  does  this  should  be  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
factory  system.     But  for  want  of  this  knowledge,  I  would  set 

about  it  myself.     I    agree  with   you  fully  about .     At 

times  I  am  almost  converted  to  the  extreme  doctrine  of  "  no  con- 
troversy." We  are  too  anxious  lest  God  should  not  maintain 
his  own  truth.  I  know  no  cause  why  we  may  not  devote  our- 
selves to  other  work.  In  my  sorrows  I  think  I  could  make  a 
useful  little  pocket  volume  for  bereaved  parents,  but  I  am  held 
back  by  the  belief  that  nobody  will  publish  for  me  but  the  S. 
S.  Union,  and  your  committee  would  not  adopt  a  book  so  ex 
clusively  for  adults. 

vol.  i.— 10* 


226  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN    PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

Princeton,  March  21,  1835. 
I  saw  in  one  of  the  Catholic  Journals  that  the  highest  honours 
of  the  De  Propaganda  Fide  were  awarded,  to  a  young  Kentuckian 
named  Martin  J.  Spalding  ; 1  and  shortly  after,  that  he  had  coma 
home  as  a  priest.  .  He  is  at  Bardstown,  and  I  lately  saw  a  lettei 
from  him  to  an  old  schoolmate  in  this  place,  which  is  one  of  the 
finest,  adroitest,  and  most  learned  defences  of  popery  I  ever  read. 
If,  instead  of  reviling  the  Catholics,  we  would  surpass  them  in 
schools,  in  personal  charities,  in  persevering  missions,  and  in  the 
preparation  of  our  ministers,  I  believe  we  should  make  more  head 
against  them.  Every  day  I  live  I  become  more  sick  of  controversy ; 
I  cannot  persuade  myself  that  the  Church  was  meant  to  be  kept 
always  in  hot  water.  As  to  our  own  church  a  split  seems  to  be 
inevitable.  I  honour  the  men  who  seem  to  be  labouring  directly 
for  the  conversion  of  souls.  In  closing  our  long  session  at  Col- 
lege, it  is  matter  of  gratitude  that  with  nearly  two  hundred  stu- 
dents, we  have  had  no  occasion  for  rigorous  discipline,  no  sus- 
pensions, and  no  disorders  beyond  the  merest  boyish  pranks. 
I  sigh,  however,  when  I  think  how  far  we  are  from  the  state  of 
revival  which  is  said  to  exist  in  Jefferson  and  Dartmouth. 
Nothing  short  of  this  can  effect  what  I  should  desire. 

Princeton,  April  17,  1835. 
A  hurt  finger  makes  me  write  with  some  deliberation,  so 
you  must  not  mistake  my  calligraphy  for  that-  of  another.  This 
letter  begins  without  object,  but  perhaps  may  amuse  you  as  well 
as  if  it  were  divided  into  heads.  To-morrow,  Deo  volente,  I  go 
with  my  little  family  to  Trenton.  I  appreciate  the  kindness  of 
your  invitation,  but  our  journeying  is  attended  necessarily  with 
so  many  arrangements,  and  so  much  sickroom  apparatus,  that 
Trenton  is  our  ultima  Thule.  I  may  run  down  and  see  you. 
Among  many  reasons  for  gratitude,  one  is  the  service  of  a  good 
servant.  We  have  a  young  girl  for  child's-nurse,  who  for  more 
than  a  year  has  been  with  us  constantly,  and  in  whom  we  have 
never  discovered  any  faults  at  all.  She  is  a  plant  of  the  Sunday 
School,  and  is  in  my  opinion  quite  a  prodigy,  for  parts  and  ac- 
quisitions. Our  boys  have  become  wonderful  zoologists.  We 
had  two  raccoons  domesticated  during  the  winter.  One  eloped 
after  a  few  days,  the  second  stayed  six  months,  and  then  fled 
also.  A  hare  lived  in  the  cellar  a  week  or  two,  and  then  forsook 
civilization  in  disgust.  An  opossum  died  under  our  hands ; 
and,  last  of  all,  a  most  dignified  owl  broke  gaol  and  escaped 
within  a  week  past.  I  shall  miss  Walsh  very  much  if  he  goes 
abroad,  for  his  pithy  paragraphs  have  become  a  necessary  condi- 
ment.    *  *  *  But  what  mercy  is  there  in  the  Fanaticism  of  the 

1  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of  Louisville  since  September,  1S18. 


1833—1844.  227 

Symbol  ?  O  for  a  cycle  of  peace !  O  for  a  breathing  spell  from 
these  unnatural  contentions  !  I  feel  as  if  I  could  join  with  any 
who  would  humbly  unite  in  direct  and  kind  efforts  to  save  sin- 
ners and  relieve  human  misery.  Cannot  a  poor  believer  go 
along  in  his  pilgrimage  heavenward,  without  being  always  on 
military  duty  1  At  judgment  I  heartily  believe  that  some  her- 
esies of  heart  and  temper  will  be  charged  as  worse  than  heavy 
doctrinal  errors.  To  you  I  may  say  this,  because  you  under- 
stand me  as  holding,  not  merely  that  the  tenets  of  our  church 
are  true,  but  that  they  are  very  important.  But  I  see  how  easy 
it  is  to  "  hold  the  truth  "  in  rancour,  and  hate,  which  is  the  grand 
error  of  depraved  human  nature  ;  \  yea,  and  of  diabolism  itself. 
I  regret  to  see  that  Mr. ,  in  his  Lectures,  betrays  through- 
out a  polemical  attitude,  and  evidently  is  fuller  of  animosity 
against  the  foes  of  revival-measures,  than  of  direct  zeal  for  the 

saving  of  souls.     Is  this  not  a  common  error  1     's  day  is 

probably  over,  as  Nettleton's  was,  and  for  the  same  cause ;  thus 
Moses  could  not  enter  the  land ;  but  where  are  our  Joshuas  1 
Sometimes  there  seems  to  me  to  be  an  opening  just  now  for  a 
united  attempt  to  awaken  religious  feeling  in  the  churches,  with- 
out the  shibboleths  of  measures.  Surely  too  much  has  been 
made  of  these  measures,  both  pro  and  contra.  But  my  preach- 
ment is  already  too  long,  as  my  practice  is  so  defective.  Never- 
theless, I  believe  my  happiest  hours  are  spent  on  Sunday  after- 
noons in  labouring  among  my  little  charge  [the  congregation 
of  colored  persons].  I  am  humbled  when  I  think  how  little 
effect  results  from  my  discourses.  I  write  at  a  table  with  three 
chattering  girls,  and  my  thoughts  ramble. 

Princeton,  June  3,  1835. 

I  should  have  concluded  that  you  were  still  at  the  Pittsburg 

furnace,   had    not incidentally   mentioned   your   return. 

The  vacation  slipped  away  strangely  without  my  seeing  you, 
and  when  I  heard  you  were  gone  westward,  I  thought  it  not 
worth  while  to  make  my  visit  to  the  city.  For  some  weeks  I 
have  two  recitations  a  day,  and  the  only  absence  I  can  expect  is 
a  trip  to  New  York,  which  I  make  to-morrow,  to  preach  for  Dr. 
Spring's  people.  We  have  215  in  college,  and  consequently  have 
divided  several  of  the  classes,  thus  exactly  doubling  our  labours. 
Look  at  two  articles  of  Professor  Henry's,  in  the  late  number 
of  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  He 
and  Faraday  of  London  seem  to  have  hit  on  the  same  discovery 
simultaneously. 

My  little  boy  is  better  than  we  have  seen  him  for  a  year  or  two. 
Though  he  is  on  his  back  all  the  time,  he  is,  through  Divine  mercy, 


228  WHILE    PliOFESSOE    IN    PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

exquisitely  happy.  I  was  not  pleased  with  the  spirit  of  the  Col 
onization  meetings  in  New  York.  I  am  tending  towards  a 
middle  ground  which  neither  party  will  allow  :  i.  e.  I  abhor 
slavery,  and  think  the  public  mind  should  be  enlightened,  and 
every  lawful  means  immediately  taken  for  an  eventual  and  speedy 
abolition ;  but  I  also  approve  of  the  plan  of  Colonization,  on 
grounds  altogether  distinct  from  the  question  of  slavery.  Thus 
I  open  my  mind  to  the  full,  legitimate  impressions  of  all  the 
anti-slavery  arguments.  I  have  seldom  heard  a  man  so  power- 
fully eloquent  as  G.  Thompson,  though  he  is  hot-headed,  arrogant, 
and  imprudent  in  excess. 

Princeton,  July  2,  1835. 

I  am  in  my  room,  and  have  been  in  my  bed,  with  a  quite  se- 
vere attack  of  fever.  After  being  blooded  profusely,  both  in  arm 
and  jugular,  physicked  and  dieted ;  and  after  having  a  hammer- 
ing in  my  head  as  if  the  Cyclops  had  transferred  their  anvil  to 
my  brain-pan,  I  am  now  free  from  symptoms  of  disease,  though 
haggard,  weak,  and  thin.  Perhaps  I  may  exhibit  my  anatomy 
at  No.  119  South  8th  street  before  many  days.  I  scarcely  know 
why  I  am  spared,  unless  in  infinite  mercy,  that  I  may  make  my 
calling  and  election  sure.  What  you  say  of scarcely  sur- 
prises me  ;  I  had  somehow  got  the  notion  that  he  was  (to  use  a 

word  of  my   quondam   sexton)   "  a  notionable  man." 

made  great  misstatements  in  his  speech  about  the  duties  of  the 
professors  here.  They  have  no  day  without  a  lecture,  and  the}^ 
are  employed  almost  every  evening;  besides,  they  do  not  con- 
stantly repeat  the  old  lectures.  I  know  not  a  busier  man  in  the 
world  than  my  old  father.  And  half  of  every  day  is  spent  in 
talking  with  students  privately.  True,  he  does  not  chase  them  from 
room  to  room,  or  run  through  the  roll,  but  he  never  chains  up 
his  gate,  or  pleads  any  business  to  exclude  any  one,  at  any  hour. 

Much  that  you  say  of  ministers  and  their  ways  is,  no  doubt, 
true.  I  dissent,  however,  from  one  of  your  statements  of  fact. 
I  do  not  believe  that  ministers  herd  too  much  together ;  if  they 
were  more  together,  it  would  be  better.  In  such  a  place  as 
Princeton,  where  we  are  aggregated  in  a  literary  capacity,  it 
may  be  the  case,  yet  how'is  the  fact  even  here?  Dr.  Rice 
probably  talks  ten  times  with  lay-people  for  once  that  he  talks 
Avith  a  preacher.  In  Trenton  I  consorted  five  hundred  times 
with  laics,  for  every  once  with  a  clerk.  And  in  Charlotte,  the 
ratio  was,  I  doubt  not,  1000  to  1. 

Princeton,  Aiigust  11,  1835. 
Not  only  do  busiest  men  do  the  most,  but  our  busiest  times 
are  those  in  which  we  work  most  extra.     So  it  has  been.     At 


1833—184:4.  229 

Saratoga,  of  all  places  in  the  world,  I  could  not  find  time  to 
write  to  you  ;  and  to-day,  in  the  busiest  week  of  the  year,  viz., 
that  of  our  final  examination,  lo  !  I  am  inditing  a  missive.  I  was 
nineteen  days  at  the  Springs.  All  the  time  comfortable ;  health 
bettered,  spirits  prime,  flesh  not  increased,  beauty  ditto,  face 
nigrified  three  shades,  nose  germinal,  ruddy,  &c,  &c.  N.  B. 
1  plucked  up  courage  to  take  a  shower-bath,  and  with  more  de- 
cided good  than  I  ever  had  from  any  remedial  process.  I  saw 
"  all  the  world  and  his  mother  "  at  the  Springs.  Inter  alios  et 
alias  ;  Rev.  Dr.  Lyell,  Rev.  Hugh  Smith,  Van  Buren,  Cambre- 
leng,  Gov.  Wolf,  Gov.  Marcy,  Dr.  Proudfit,  Prof.  Alonzo 
Potter,  Sir  Wm.  Barnaby,  Governor  of  Bermuda,  General 
Nelson  of  Trinidad,  Roberts  Vaux,  Perdicaris,  Miomotsky, 
Pres.  Wayland,  Mr.  Pierpoint,  Major  Jack  Downing  of  New 
York,  Mrs.  Bradstreet,  (the  female  lawyer,)  Dr.  Cox  of  Eng- 
land, T.  P.  H ,  (Temperance  agent,  fou  on  the  wine  question  : 

N.  B.  Temperance  Ship  spoken  at  Albany,  high  and  dry  on  the 
Wine-bank ;  crew  drunk  or  crazy  ;  mutiny  below  hatches, 
headed  by  one  Delavan  ;  pilots  afraid  to  venture  out,  as  the 
vessel  has  careened  and  threatens  to  go  down  under  a  heavy  sea 
from  Stuart's  cove,)  S.  V.  S.  Wilder,  Lane,  (one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Seminary  of  that  ilk,)  Signore  Eabi  and  Garenghi  of  the 

Opera,  pictures  of  Adam  and  Eve,  which ,  in  my  hearing, 

solemnly  recommended  in  a  sermon. 

Here  are  a  few ana.     He  is  vehemently  against  the 

present  Temperance-society  freaks:  "  When  men  grow  wiser  than 
the  Bible,  I  am  off.  I  go  the  whole,  figure  :  if  Christ  did  not  so 
foresee  the  present  as  to  make  a  sufficient  rule  for  our  times,  I 
shut  the  lids  of  my  Bible ;  it  is  henceforth  no  Bible  for  me." 
Of  Coleridge :  "  I  do  not  understand  him ;  bright  fogs  ;  some 
few  rays  of  truth  beyond  the  vulgar  seem  to  have  impinged  on  his 
mind,  but  after  several  reflections,  so  as  to  be  seen  in  a  wrong 
place.  We  want  a  metaphy sic  which  shall  settle  things.  Among 
us  all  opinion  is  in  flux  ;  nothing  arrived  at ;  settled  truth  is  our 
object.  What  I  long  to  see  accomplished  is,  that  we  should 
come  to  conclusions  about  something,  and  hold  them  fast ;  to 
leave  out  of  view  what  Germans  or  what  Britons  think  of  this 
or  that,  and  march  up  in  manly  sort  to  some  points  of  truth. 
That  is  the  intellect  for  me  which  settles  things;  makes  dark 
things  clear,  and  undefined  things  definite :  so  does  not  Cole- 
ridge. I  judge  of  teaching  by  fruits.  The  fruits  of  Coleridge- 
ism,  where  I  have  seen  it,  are  extravagancies.  If  there  is  a 
Metaphysic,  it  must  be  very  clear  :  the  true  system  must  of  ne- 
cessity be  a  plain  one.  What  point  has  Coleridge  cleared  1  "  I 
hope  you  are  not  suffering  with  the  heat.     Come  up,  come  up, 


230  WHILE   PROFESSOR   EST   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

and  breathe  a  little  vapor  from  good  mother  earth,  whom  you 
have  interred  under  a  world  of  Naming  bricks  in  your  great 
Babel.     Love  to  Mrs.,  misses,  and  master. 

College  op  New  Jersey,  August  28,  1835. 

The  "  Life  of  Kilpin,"  by  the  American  Tract  Society,  is  one 
of  the  loveliest  Sunday  School  books  I  have  ever  read.  It  will 
furnish  you  some  grand  excerpts  for  the  Journal ;  especially  are 
his  sermons  to  children  grand,  according  to  my  notion.  And 
the  appended  memoir  of  his  son,  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
juvenile  biographies.     Read  it  incontinently. 

When  you  next  propose  an  excursion  anywhither,  do  me  the 
honour  to  ask  me  to  go  along.  I  can  never  do  such  things  of  my 
own  motion,  greatly  as  I  need  travelling,  and  I  am  so  liable  to 
sudden  attacks  of  severe  disorder,  that  I  am  scarcely  fit  to  travel 
alone.  Todd's  "  Student's  Manual"  is  a  good  book ;  I  wish 
every  College  student  had  one. 

I  have  myself,  in  reading  Owen,  marked  some  sixty  passages, 
repudiating  the  objectionable  imputation  [as  charged  against 
strict  Calvinists]  in  every  form  of  diction  which  he  could  use. 
This  is  only  important  to  defend  us  from  the  charge  of  not 
agreeing  with  our  standards,  i.  e.  simply  a  point  of  doctrine- 
history,  (Dogmengeschiehte.)     It  strikes  me  as  remarkable  that 

neither    W ■   nor    B ,   has   the    slightest    metaphysical 

acumen ;    F has  less,  if  there  can  be  a  negative  quantity  ; 

and  B less  still !  !     I  think  none  the  less  of  them,  except 

that   they   do   not   stick   to   their   last.     M ,    E ,  and 

L ,    are   the   true    hair-splitting    metaphysicians ;    and   all 

three  do  more  harm  than  good.  Jenkyn  (on  atonement)  seems 
to  make  conscience  of  forming  his  system  without  any  reference 
to  exegesis,  the  only  basis  of  a  true  theology.  I  cannot  but 
view  his  atonement  as  none  at  all.  He  says  the  "  Eden  experi- 
ment has  failed,  the  Sinai  experiment  has  failed  " — quere  :  what 
becomes  of  you  and  me,  if  the  Calvary  experiment  fail  1 

August  25. — A  box  from  Germany ;  beautiful  editions  of 
Calvin  on  New  Testament ;  Vulgate,  by  Van  Ess ;  Neander's 
history,  as  far  as  Charlemagne ;  another  massive  volume  of  the 
arch-geographer  Ritter ;  I  have  Tholuck's  University  sermons,  etc. 
Apropos  of  geography,  Neander  has  supervised  and  had  engraved 
a  capital  map  of  all  places  mentioned  in  the  New  Testament 
and  the  early  fathers.  You  will  see  it  at  the  end  of  his  history 
of  the  "  Planting  of  Christianity."  On  Sunday  night,  died,  at 
Englishtown,  in  the  sweet  peace  of  the  gospel,  Ira  Condict  Gulick, 
a  promising,  gifted,  and  exemplary  member  of  the  Sophomore 
class.     It  was   his   dying   request  that  a  discourse  should  be 


1833—1844.  231 

delivered  by  President  Carnahan,  from  Ecc.  xii.  1  :  "  Remem- 
ber now  thy  Creator,"  &c.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  the 
members  of  the  Sophomore  class,  in  number  sixty-five.  Mr. 
G.  was  a  younger  brother  of  the  Rev.  Peter  J.  Gulick  of  the 
Sandwich  mission.  Onderdonk's  theory,  i.  e.  that  the  New 
Testament  contains  plain  notices  of  a  regular,  successive,  three- 
fold ordination  of  the  apostles,  outrages  my  common  sense  more 
than  Stuart's  wine  theory.  In  each  case  a  desperate  preconcep- 
tion is  taken  to  the  Bible  to  find  support  there,  per  fas  et  nefas. 
The  spread  of  my  little  books  is  pleasing  to  my  mind,  as  it 
flatters  my  hope  of  not  dying  without  leaving  some  few  souls  the 
better  for  my  having  been  born.  Rejoice,  my  friend,  in  the 
station  you  hold ;  never  let  the  truth  grow  stale  in  your  esti- 
mation, that  what  we  do  for  infants,  we  do  for  the  best  interests 
of  man,  in  the  most  hopeful  way.  I  go,  God  willing,  to  New 
York,  on  the  29th  to  preach  at  the  Brick  Church.  I  have  been 
reading  Tholuck's  Sermons ;  they  have  some  passages  equal  in 
eloquence,  unction,  and  pungency,  to  any  thing  I  know. 

Princeton,  September  4,  1835. 
I  was  in  New  York  about  the  bursting  of  the  Lunar  bubble.1 
Thousands  were  taken  in,  even  savans  ;  notwithstanding  the 
internal  evidence  against  it.  For  it  seems  very  plain  that  no 
light,  however  intense,  cast  upon  the  spectrum  or  image  of  the 
telescope,  can  add  any  clearness  to  this  image ;  inasmuch  as  such 
light,  however  intense,  comes  not  from  the  moon,  (therefore  can 
tell  us  nothing  new  about  her,)  but  from  the  hydro-oxygen  flame, 
and  the  canvas.  It  is  like  throwing  a  flood  of  light  on  a  shadow, 
in  order  to  see  the  substance.  Night  before  last,  I  looked  at  the 
moon  through  our  Fraunhofer,  and  I  saw  the  annular  mountains 

as  clearly  as  you  see  these  marks but  no  griffins, 

gorgons,  or  chimaeras.     I  dined  at  an  eating  house,  on  the  next 

chair  to   . ;    he  looks  wan  and  eye-sunken.     Not  for  an 

instant  do  I  doubt  either  his  piety  or  his  ignorance.  The  new 
regions  of  New  York  city  are  lordly,  and  I  have  seen  nothing 
approaching  them.  I  spent  a  grand  evening  with  [Chancellor] 
Kent.  Ask  me  about  it,  when  we  meet.  On  Sunday,  I  hope 
to  preach  to  the  children  of  a  rural  district,  and  to  parents  ; 
also  catechize.  I  chatted  a  little  with  Joshua  Leavitt;  he 
groweth  fat.  The  late  fire  burnt  round  the  three  Dutch  par- 
sonages, and  almost  took  the  Bible  House,  which  was  on  fire 
several   times.     Fanshaw,  next   day,  gave    $500   to    Mariners' 

1  A  long  and  grave  report  in  one  of  the  newspapers  of  pretended  tele- 
scopic discoveries. 


232  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

Church,"  which  he  had  offered  as  premium  of  insurance,  just 
before  wind  changed,  and  saved  his  furniture.  Same  day, 
Phelps,  Starr,  (Bible-binder,)  and  A.  Tappan,  gave  each  a  thou 
sand  to  same  object.  Fanatic  or  not,  New  York  religion  is  the  go- 
ahead  system.  O  for  a  good  8vo  on  Money,  the  God  of  Amer- 
icans ;  its  use,  its  abuse,  how  far  right  to  make  haste  to  be  rich, 
whether  we  can  get  too  much  honestly,  about  giving,  about  luxury, 
surplusage,  legacies,  &c, — a  noble  theme,  and  a  layman  must 
do  it. 

Princeton,  September  23,  1835. 

My  present  belief  is,  that  it  will  be  my  duty  not  to  go  to 

Virginia,  as  I  had  intended.     The  case  is  thus  :  my  good  father 

and  mother,  after  so  long  a  time,  and  doubtless  for  the  last  time 

together,  are  going  to  see  the  land  of  their  nativity,  their  youth, 

their  marriage.     They  will  take  ,  and  so  my  wife  will 

become  prima  donna  here.  My  father  is  quite  full  of  a  plan 
for  hawking  your  books  about  the  country  ;  he  even  talks  of 
buying  a  complete  set  for  himself.  I  wish  you  would  be  liberal 
enough  to  give  me  a  fine  selection  of  your  [S.  S.  Union]  works 
to  send  to  Rev.  Prof.  Otto  von  Gerlach  of  Berlin ;  it  would 
insert  the  wedge  in  Prussia.  Do  you  know  that  my  grand 
difficulty  in  making  baby  books  has  been  that  of  getting  few 
enough  words  in  a  page  1  Well,  Addison  has  invented  the 
method  of  ruling  his  page  like  a  multiplication-table,  with  just 
squares  enough  for  the  complement.  This  is  measured  prose 
with  a  witness  !  I  have  been  wearing  myself  down  with  the 
examination  this  afternoon,  and  am  almost  broken-winded. 
Happily  it  is  my  last  duty  of  the  pedagogical  sort  for  the 
academical  year.  We  have  a  student  in  the  Seminary,  who  is 
the  son  of  Lord  Brougham's  half  sister,  and  the  grandson  of 
Lord  Rothsay.  How  pleasing  it  would  be,  if  we  could  be  all 
the  time  engaged  in  labours  for  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  the 
exaltation  of  the  Bible  !  When  we  talk  of  the  scriptural  plan 
of  missions  to  the  heathen,  ought  we  not  to  look  especially  at 
the  plan  of  Paul,  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles  I  You  will  discern 
my  hand  in  the  New  York  Observer ;  pray,  do  not  be  jealous, 
as  I  do  not  mean  to  forsake  you.  I  am  almost  a  convert  to  the 
German  notion  of  a  Spirit  of  the  Age,  independent  of  commu- 
nication, breaking  forth  in  simultaneous  manifestation.  Look 
at  the  reigning  mobs;  convent -burnings  in  Spain,  and  commo- 
tions even  in  quiet  Berlin.  I  am  taking  hold  again  of  my  book 
of  introduction  to  the  Scripture,  which  has  lain  by  several 
months  ;  I  hope  to  do  something  at  my  10th  chapter  this  week. 
The  researches  are  laborious  and  long,  though  the  results  will 


1833—1844.  233 

seem  very  small  and  simple.  Quere :  may  we  not  receive  a 
hallowing  impression,  though  vague  and  unrepresentable  in 
words,  from  portions  of  Scripture  which  we  do  not  understand, 
such  as  Ezekiel,  Canticles,  or  Revelation  1  and  may  not  this  be  a 
part  of  their  intention  %  This  struck  me  mightily  last  night, 
while  reading  some  picturesque  passages  in  the  original  Apoca- 
lypse. Here  is  a  sentence  from  a  sermon  of  Tholuck :  "  Not 
only  to  us  is  that  unseen  One  nigh,  who  rules  these  Hps  while  I 
speak  to  you,  but  over  all  existences  doth  he  reign  and  influence ; 
as  well  the  comet  in  its  orbit,  as  the  small  worm  that  crawls  in 
dust,  hath  he  folded  in  the  broad  shadow  of  his  mantle.  '  Do  I 
not  fill  heaven  and  earth  ? '  saith  the  Lord  in  our  text.  '  If  I 
ascend  into  heaven  thou  art  there,  if  I  make  my  bed  in  hell,  be- 
hold thou  art  there.'  "  Again :  "  A  voice  rings  in  thine  ears, 
My  child,  why  hast  thou  not  sought  me?  Yea,  from  infancy 
up,  first  when  thou  wast  sitting  in  thy  mother's  embrace,  while 
she  told  thee  the  story  of  the  dear  Redeemer,  and  then  in  thy 
boyhood,  when  in  starry  nights  thou  gazedst  on  the  grandeur  of 
thy  heavenly  Father's  mansions,  and  thine  eyes  shed  drops  of 
thankfulness,  that  among  all  his  million  worlds  he  forgot  not 
thee,  poor  child ;  and  then  in  thy  youth,  when  sin  conflicted 
sorely  with  thee,  and  thou  learnedst  the  truth,  '  he  that  trusteth 
in  his  own  heart  is  a  fool ; '  everywhere  and  all  the  way,  has  thy 
Father's  voice  cried  to  thee  :  '  Wherefore  seekest  thou  me  not, 
for  I  am  still  thy  Father.'  " — How  Madame  de  Stael  depicts 
Lucian  in  one  word,  "  il  est  le  Voltaire  de  l'antiquite."  We  are 
making  ready  for  our  feast  of  tabernacles  [commencement].  A 
German  rationalist,  resident  formerly,  perhaps  now,  in  Illinois, 
has  vilified  your  Union  books,  in  a  book  of  travels,  at  Hamburg. 
The  worst  he  can  say  is  that  they  are  too  evangelical. 

As  you  have  a  little  touch  of  Anglomania,  let  me  recommend 
to  you  to  buy  Tanner's  second  map  of  England  separately,  and 
have  a  linen  back  pasted  on  it.  It  is  a  delightful  companion  to 
one's  English  reading.     I  have  seen  nothing  like  it. 


Piunceton,  November  o,  1835. 
I  have  just  come  from  the  funeral  of  Dr.  Howell,  the  best 
physician  and  one  of  the  best  friends  I  ever  knew ;  and  never 
has  there  been  so  sincere  a  mourning  general  in  our  village.  The 
Church  was  verily  a  Bochim.  The  Dr.  was  signally  a  gentleman 
and  a  man  of  science.  His  integrity,  his  generosity,  his  public 
spirit,  his  delicacy,  and  his  sensibility,  were  uncommon.  He 
was  a  model  of  uncalculating  liberality  and  chivalrous  honour  ; 
and  all  his  failings  were  the  running  over  at  the  brim  of  these 


234  WHILE   PKOFESSOR   IN    PEINCETON    COLLEGE. 

virtues.  Though  bred  a  hickory  quaker,  he  was  growing  in 
religious  knowledge,  and  has  given,  to  my  mind,  unequivocal 
evidence  of  faith  in  Christ  during  his  late  trials.  His  son  William 
preceded  him  a  few  weeks ;  his  eldest  daughter  lies  ill  now  ; 
his  second  daughter  is  slowly  recovering ;  his  wife  has  had  the 
early  symptoms  [typhus  fever],  as  has  his  eldest  son.  Such  a 
house  of  grief  I  never  saw,  and  it  has  fallen  chiefly  on  me  to 
minister  tf>  these  minds  diseased.  Out  of  this  one  house  I  know 
of  no  cases  of  the  complaint  in  the  place.  We  hear  from  my 
parents  that  they  are  well  and  prosperous  in  their  way  through 
Virginia.  You  have  seen  the  Life  of  Dr.  Rice  1  It  interests 
me,  of  course,  but  I  lament  the  publicity  given  to  many  foibles 
of  men  still  alive.  I  rejoice  that  Wordsworth  is  publishing  in 
Philadelphia ;  heartily  and  religiously  do  I  believe  that  our 
money-loving  and  gain-reckoning  generation  would  be  profited 
by  the  leaven  of  the  Coleridge  and  Wordsworth  philosophical 
poesy,  even  though  this  has  its  whimsies.  Newark  is  a  wonderful 
place  now ;  pop.  20,000,  exported  manufactures  this  year 
158,000,000.  Of  young  men  between  15  and  25,  four  to  five 
thousand.  I  never  had  such  an  audience  as  there,  on  the  25th  ; 
I  preached  at  the  invitation  of  the  Young  Men's  Society.  The 
Churches  there  are  all  alive,  and  the  place  is  a  little,  sublimated 
New  York.  I  called  on  Col.  Stone  [editor  of  "  Commercial 
Advertiser"]  in  New  York,  in  his  den,  and  found  him  courtly 
and  facete.  In  the  progress  of  mobs,  I  see  every  thing  portent- 
ous ;  worse  this,  by  far,  than  abolition.  And  though  I  conceive 
the  anti-slavers  to  be  rash  and  pragmatical,  yet  I  think  the  arro- 
gance of  the  South  is  palpably  their  worst  policy.  This  wedge 
is  in,  and  drives  deeper  year  by  year.  And  I  rejoice  that  you 
and  I  are  not  laden  with  negro  souls  and  bodies.  Amazingly 
orthodox  as  I  am,  I  own  I  should  relish  a  little  breathing  spell ; 
at  least  a  trial,  whether  some  of  the  sheep  could  not  be  fed  to  a 
certain  degree,  even  though  the  shepherds  did  not  play  at 
quarterstaff  over  their  heads.  However,  my  head  is  not  wise 
on  these  great  points.  Let  me  hear  about  any  apostolic  blows 
and  knocks  that  you  wot  of.     Bush  is  making  a  lexicon.     Who 

is  Nehemiah  1     I  suppose  he  comes  of  the  family  of  the 

Peleg  Pecks,  and  Chenaniah  Coffins,  and  Remembrance  Reids, 

whose  names,  in  the Review,  show  forth  the  glory  of  the 

anti-anonymous  system.     Adieu.     Thine  particularly. 

Princeton,  November  27,  1835. 
Horace  Binney's  eulogy  [on  Chief  Justice  Tilghman]  is  Attic 
The  introduction  and  a  few    sentences  here  and  there  are  too 
antithetical,  so  as  to  be  both  stiff  and  obscure  ;  otherwise  it  looks 


1833—184:4:.  235 

to  me  like  a  piece  of  severe  rhetoric  worthy  of  Athens.  I  have 
wanted  to  ask  you,  for  some  time,  this  question  :  Though  you 
publish  many  Scripture  biographies,  and  though  they  are  taken 
out  of  the  libraries,  as  is  every  thing  else,  yet  are  they  really 
perused,  sought  after,  delighted  in  ?  In  this  I  feel  interested.  As 
an  antiquary  (N.  B.  Johnson  uses  the  noun  "  antiquarian  "  in 

Pref.  to  Diet.)  I  have  a  grand  treat  just  now. brought  me 

from  Virginia  a  load  of  MSS.,  letters  of  old  Dr.  Waddel,  pieces 
of  sermons,  numerous  skeletons,  and  letters  to  him.  He  ordered 
all  his  papers  to  be  burned  before  his  death ;  these  escaped 
casually.  Also  a  MS.  Diary  of  Col.  James  Gordon,  my 
mother's  maternal  grandfather,  the  first  of  the  line  in  Virginia. 
The  family  was  Scotch,  but  he  came  from  Ireland  to  Lancaster 
Co.,  Virginia,  Look  at  the  singularly  fine  commercial  site  of 
that  county.  He  was  a  merchant  in  direct  trade  with  England, 
and  I  read  of  ships  arriving  every  day.  He  was  a  Presbyterian 
among  hundreds  of  Episcopalians,  and  in  constant  feuds  with 
the  fox-hunting  parsons.  Every  few  pages,  I  read  of  Whitefield, 
Da  vies,  Todd,  and  Waddel.  Date  1759-'G5.  Some  historical 
dates  may  be  fixed  by  this. 

I  breed  so  many  plans  which  cannot  be  accomplished  in  one 
brief  lifetime,  especially  of  books,  that  I  have  sometimes  half 
a  mind  to  send  you  a  half  dozen  or  so  of  skeletons,  that  you 
may  get  them  fitted  up  with  flesh  and  skin.  One  of  the  best  clas- 
sical scholars  I  know  was  never  at  school  till  he  entered  College, 
but  was  taught  wholly  by  his  grandmother  ! 

Princeton,  December  17,  1835. 
I  think  it  my  duty  to  decline  the  invitation  so  kindly  given 
me  by  (you  say  not  whom  else)  you,  to  preach  to  the  teachers, 
&c. ;  on  the  sole  ground,  that  I  cannot  take  the  time  or  strength 
to  make  a  discourse.1  I  am  particularly  full  of  writing  ;  I  have 
been  a  full  month  kept  from  any  other  writing  by  preparing 
for  the  Repertory.  I  have  lectures  to  write,  and  preach  at  least 
every  Sunday,  besides  preparing  four  chapters  for  Bible  classes 
each  week,  and  conducting  two  private  classes  in  belles-lettres  in 
addition  to  my  official  task,  and  my  constant  private  instruction 
of  two  boys  in  my  study.  I  have  just  done  a  most  lengthy 
investigation  of  the  Servetus  affair,  in  which  I  have  wearied 
through  some  thousand  of  pages.2  The  collateral  information  I 
have  thus  got  of   Calvin's  character,  is  very  delightful.     You 

1  He  afterwards  consented  to  perform  the  service,  but  was  stopped  by  a 
snow-storm  on  the  journey  to  Philadelphia. 

2  He  gave  an  article  on  the  life  of  Servetus  in  the  Repertory  for  Jan- 
uary, 1836. 


236  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN    PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

would  be  greatly  pleased  with  tne  3d  vol.  of  Scott's  Continuation 
of  Milner ;  read  an  English  copy  by  all  manner  of  means. 

Princeton,  February  2,  1836. 
I  bless  God  for  that  part  of  my  imperfect  education  which 
resides  in  good  systems,  and  wish  every  student  could  read  ten 
where  our  young  men  now  read  one.  I  should  somewhat  doubt  the 
expediency  of  a  Sunday  School  Memoir  of  Zinzendorf.  On  the 
whole,  I  think  he  was  a  good  man,  but  his  character  is  very  tick- 
lish. He  passed  through  very  evil,  report,  and  probably,  from 
his  being  so  often  and  so  unfavourably  mentioned  in  Wesley's 
Journals,  lies  under  a  traditionary  prejudice  among  Methodists. 
He  came  near  the  brink  of  very  gross  Arminianism,  and  his 
early  hymns  were  so  carnal  in  their  expression,  that  they  have 
been  left  out.  Aaron  Burr  has  been  dying  some  months,  and 
his  grave  bespoken  here,  but  he  hangs  on.  He  has  given  our 
College  a  portrait  of  his  father,  the  President,  by  J.  S.  Copley, 
the  father  of  Lord  Lyndhurst.  The  latter  part  of  the  last 
Report  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  Missions  is  capitally  written.  Don't 
take  these  for  words  of  course,  but  read  the  few  last  pages.  I 
have  never  been  so  filled  with  the  reality  of  increase  in  mission- 
ary zeal,  as  in  comparing  several  successive  reports.  Try  this 
experiment.  Take  the  reports  of  the  Board,  and  compare  the 
"  reading  part,"  the  plans,  the  appeals  to  the  church,  from  the 
first  to  the  last.  What  an  amazing  difference  !  What  an  in- 
crease of  light,  of  courage,  of  large  plan,  of  hope  !  How  much 
higher  the  standard  of  duty,  as  it  regards  the  Church  and  indi- 
viduals !  I  have  never  been  able  to  rid  my  mind  of  an  impres- 
sion, that  matters  will  not  come  right,  in  the  work  of  evangelism, 
till  we  see  men  setting  out  "  on  their  own  hook  "  (as  to  destina- 
tion and  support)  in  the  missionary  enterprise ;  staking  all,  rely- 
ing on  God,  and  penetrating  deserts  or  hostile  kingdoms,  after  the 
apostolical  manner.  Perhaps  this  is  fanatical.  If  we  are  as 
much  on  the  alert  in  a  French  war,  as  we  seem  to  have  been 
with  regard  to  the  Seminoles,  shall  we  not  be  in  a  fine  posture 
of  defence  1  Suppose,  as  has  been  said,  the  fleet  of  King  Philippe 
should  pounce  on  Pensacola,  how  much  of  the  South  might  be 
ravaged  by  him,  and  the  savages,  before  our  redoubtable  army 
could  be  created  !  I  am  against  war,  in  any  and  every  one  of 
the  contingencies  mentioned.  "  Will  honour  set  a  leg  1 "  Yet 
I  am  far  from  being  a  Quaker  on  the  general  question  ;  for  I 
would  fight  the  Seminoles,  tooth  and  nail.  My  palate  has,  for  a 
year  or  two,  been  growing  so  (perhaps  under  some  mistaken 
idea  of  increasing  my  taste)  that  I  begin  to  think  of  having  it 
docked. 


1833—1844.  237 

Princeton,  March  10,  1836. 
We  learn  by  tradition,  that  the  crust  of  our  earth  was  once 
of  the  nature  of  soil,  but  from  all  appearances  snow  is  the  real 
substance  at  present.  Since  my  futile  attempt  to  get  to  you,  1 
have  taken  one  or  two  voluntary  sleigh-rides,  with  which  I  am 
abundantly  satisfied  for  the  winter.  Through  great  favour  of 
Providence,  our  large  family,  including  myself,  have  enjoyed  a 
remarkable  exemption  from  disease  during  the  rigours  of  the 
season.  My  wife  and  children  in  particular  have  been  very  well, 
and  we  are  the  more  able  to  value  the  blessing,  from  having 
had  so  much  experience  the  other  way.  I  learn  there  is  a  great 
revival  in  Yale  College,  which  began  on  the  day  of  prayer,  as 
several  revivals  there  have  done.  There  are  very  pleasing 
indications  in  my  late  charge  in  Trenton.  Do  you  observe  that 
the  new  Master  of  the  Rolls  is  brother  of  good  Edward  Bicker- 
steth,  and  the  new  Lord  Chancellor  son  of  H.  More's  witty  old 
correspondent,  Sir  W.  W.  Pepys  1  This  looks  well.  It  looks 
as  if  Providence  was  not  forsaking  a  country,  when  the  seed  of 
the  righteous  are  exalted.  The  legal  decision  of  Chief  Justice 
Savage  about  the  Trades  Unions,  strikes  me  as  important. 
Every  thing  nowadays  seems  to  betoken  the  triumph,  at  least  for 
a  season,  of  ignorance,  violence,  agrarianism,  and  the  canaille ; 
and  the  worst  is,  that  when  a  country  comes  out  of  this  fit, 
it  usually  falls  into  that  of  despotism.  The  excesses  of  the  Tem- 
perance advocates  have  brought  me  to  a  serious  question,  whether 
the  whole  pledge  system  is  not  wrong. 

Princeton,  April  14,  183G. 
I  have  read  the  address  of  Mr.  Barnes's  congregation.  The 
only  important  item  is  the  statement  of  doctrinal  questions.  If 
this  has  any  meaning,  it  plainly  is,  that  the  doctrines  which  Mr. 
Barnes  is  required  to  hold,  which  Synod  holds,  and  for  not  hold- 
ing which  Mr.  B.  is  suspended,  are,  inter  alia :  1.  That  God  made 
a  formal  and  express  covenant,  &c.  2.  That  Adam's  sin  is  my 
personal  sin.  3.  That  Christ's  sufferings  are  the  precise  sufferings. 
4.  That  Christ's  righteousness  becomes  my  'personal  righteous- 
ness. 5.  That  man  is  involuntary  in  (actual)  sin.  You  know  I 
dissent  from  the  decision  of  the  Synod,  but  the  above  represen- 
tation shocks  me.  For,  1.  Mr.  Barnes  was  never  required  to 
maintain  any  such  doctrine.  2.  These  are  not  the  points  alleged. 
3.  I  never  heard  of  a  member  of  Synod  who  held  any  one  of 
them.  4.  I  pledge  my  character,  that  no  man  in  America  can  be 
found  who  pretends  to  hold  any  two  of  them.  We  have  a  lovely 
day  after  yesterday's  storm.  Our  session  is  now  closed,  and  I 
am  only  waiting  for  a  little  fixment  in  order  to  set  out  on  my 


238  WHILE    PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

Virginia  trip,  which  I  expect  to  do  on  Tuesday  next.  Our  trus- 
tees have  made  Jaeger  professor  of  French,  in  place  of  Hargous, 
resigned.  I  have  read  "  Good's  Better  Covenant,"'  published  by 
Hooker,  with  high  interest,  and  I  hope  profit.  The  book  justi- 
fies all  [Bishop]  Mcllvaine's  laudation ;  a  lovely  work.  Hug's 
Introduction  to  the  New  Testament  is  translated  at  Andover  ;  if 
well  done,  it  will  be  worth  possessing,  being  the  best  book  on 
the  subject,  by  a  very  learned  Roman  Catholic.  Our  little  book- 
seller here  will  send  a  few  copies  of  my  "Gift"  [to  the  Afflicted]. 
I  have  been  writing  a  series  of  six  articles  on  "  Civic  and  Rural 
Decoration,"  in  a  Newark  paper,  of  which  I  send  you  the  only 
number  I  have.  By  the  Christian  Observer  I  perceive  that  the 
Churchmen  of  England  are  again  agitating  the  question  about  an 
emendation  of  the  Liturgy,  much  as  in  the  reign  of  William  III. 
To  this  they  seem  to  be  driven  by  fear  of  the  radicals.  Among 
a  new  importation  from  London,  I  see  a  new  life  of  Watts,  by 
one  Milner.  The  first  volume  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  Maga- 
zine is  mainly  occupied  in  defending  establishments,  and  abusing 
Colton  and  America.  Maria  Monk  [a  professed  convert  from 
Popery]  is  again  dragged  out  in  all  her  feculence  and  purulence 
in  the  newly  risen  "  Protestant  Vindicator,"  which  I  hoped  had 
gone  to  its  own  place.  You  probably  see  by  the  papers  what  a 
hoax  there  has  been  about  Miss  Frederica  Misea,  who  turns  out, 
instead  of  a  German  baroness,  to  be  a  Pennsylvania  huckster. 

Princeton,  May  30,  1836. 
For  six  weeks,  nearly,  I  have  laboured  under  a  terrible 
cough,  giving  me  sore  trouble  at  night,  and  from  its  continuance 
quite  threatening.  The  doctors  have  repeatedly  told  me  that  I 
must  expect  to  suffer  in  this  way,  as  long  as  my  uvula  or  pen- 
dulous palate  dragged  on  my  tongue,  as  it  has  done  for  eighteen 
months  past.  Yesterday  I  had  the  tip  end  nipped  off;  but  this 
seeming  insufficient,  I  have  to-day  submitted  to  the  excision  of 
an  additional  lump  of  some  size.  After  having  thus  lost  my 
palate,  I  am,  as  you  may  readily  suppose,  disqualified  for  lectur- 
ing on  Taste,  and  am  snugly  confined  to  my  room,  until  such 
time  as  I  may  be  relieved.  My  father  is  in  Baltimore,  and  has 
been  in  Washington,  where  he  saw  Jackson  and  Van  Buren. 
He  speaks  of  the  disorder  in  the  House  of  Representatives  as 
exceeding  any  thing  he  ever  witnessed.  I  saw  something  of  the 
same,  and  could  not  but  call  to  mind  the  charges  made  against 
our  General  Assembly,  by  ignorant  or  peevish  persons,  as  being 
more  unruly  than  secular  bodies  of  equal  size.  I  always  consid- 
ered it  as  false  in  fact,  and  it  is  to  be  also  considered  that  the 
Assembly  has  but  a  fortnight  in  which  to  bring  into  order  men  of 


1833—1844.  239 

every  section,  some  of  whom  have  never  before  been  in  any  de- 
liberative body.     So has  covered  his  retreat  by  a  book, 

in  which,  I  dare  say,  deserter-like,  he  abuses  those  he  has  left. 
This  has  become  the  mode  ;  indeed,  is  it  not  in  human  nature  1 
I  am  reminded  of  a  sentence  of  Parr's :  "  Proselytes,  after  a  few 
misgivings,  soon  glow  with  the  real  or  pretended  fervor  of 
zealots.  In  order  to  obtain  protection  against  the  indignation 
of  the  persons  whom  they  have  deserted,  they  adopt  every  prej- 
udice, inflame  every  passion,  and  minister  indiscriminately  to 
every  good  and  every  bad  purpose  of  the  party  to  whom  they 
have  delivered  over  their  interests  and  their  honour." 

Our  college  has  opened  with  a  larger  accession  than  is  com- 
mon at  the  season.  The  eastern  storm  has  been  so  long  and 
close  since  my  return,  that  I  can  hardly  tell  how  our  northern 
country  looks.  It  seems  to  me,  in  looking  over  the  history  of 
the  church,  that  the  real  progress  of  religion  has  been  in  a  very 
small  degree  dependent  on  the  spread  or  permanency  of  any  ex- 
ternal form  of  polity.  The  external  form  has  shot  out  great 
branches,  and  taken  root,  while  at  the  same  time  the  spirit  of 
religion  has  become  almost  extinct ;  witness  the  Romish  church, 
the  Anglican  church  under  Queen  Anne,  and  in  Virginia.  The 
external  form  has,  on  the  other  hand,  been  violated  and  trampled 
on,  while  the  spirit  of  religion,  taking  a  large  view,  has  made  im- 
mense progress  ;  witness  the  early  Reformation  ;  the  Moravian 
offset  from  Lutheranism,  and  the  Wesley  an  Reformation  in  Eng- 
land. This  thought  runs  beautifully  through  the  whole  of  Nean- 
der's  Church  History.  He  looks  for  the  unity  of  the  church  in 
something  internal.  Hurlbut  of  your  city  has  furnished  an  ad- 
mirable selection  of  Cicero's  letters,  with  notes.  In  all  classical 
antiquity,  so  far  as  I  have  any  glimpses,  there  is  no  better  read- 
ing for  youth,  as  I  am  sure  in  all  pagan  history  there  is  no  better 
character.  This  I  say  the  more  readily  after  a  careful  perusal  of 
his  familiar  epistles.  Democracy  and  I  are  less  and  less  friends 
every  day  I  live.  Yet  nothing  else  would  do  for  a  country  like 
ours.  It  must  be  several  ages  yet  before  we  have  a  noblesse,  or 
a  literary  caste ;  and  until  we  have,  nominal  aristocracy  would 
be  as  ridiculous  as  the  "  Due  de  Limonade,"  &c,  of  St.  Domingo. 

Princeton,  June  13,  1886. 
Having  been  doctored  for  a  time  under  misprision  of  whoop- 
ing or  chin-cough,  I  am  at  length  duly  convicted,  having  caught  it 
of  Mr.  Carrington's  children,  and  conveyed  it  to  my  own.  Dur- 
ing the  intervals  I  feel  quite  well,  but  at  the  paroxysms  I  have 
the  feeling  of  being  choked  to  death,  and  that  sometimes  for  a 
minute.     I  shall  always  have  a  sincere  pity  for  children  under 


240  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

this  visitation.  As  to  the  operation  on  my  palate,  it  is  so  plain 
a  one  that  if  I  could  have  seen  and  reached  the  spot,  I  should  not 
have  scrupled  to  do  it  for  myself.  It  is  now  well.  Reperusing 
the  life  of  Hannah  More ;  with  more  admiration  and  instruction 
than  before.  Truly  the  circle  in  which  she  moved  was  brilliant 
and  great,  beyond  compare ;  but  look  ye,  when  you  or  I  talk  of 
emigrating  to  England,  let  us  never  forget  that  we  could  never 
gain  access  to  that  aristocratic  class.  The  caste  would  forever 
exclude  us,  and  our  Americanism  would  be  semi-barbarism. 
And  therefore  I  should  prefer  the  upper  circle  here,  to  the  Eng- 
lish middlings,  who  cringe  and  truckle  with  a  servility  which  no 

American  could  endure.     I  have  looked  over 's  sermon  on 

sects,  which  seems  to  me  to  contain  an  infinite  deal  of  nothing. 
I  have  in  vain  tried  to  deduce  from  it  any  one  practical  canon, 
which  is  not  already  acted  on.  The  best  reply  to  it  would  be  an 
article  I  once  read  in  the  Vermont  "  Chronicle,"  entitled  "  Hypos- 
tasization,"  or  some  such  hard  word,  showing  that  when  we  broke 
all  the  sectarian  vessels,  we  spilled  all  the  Christian  liquor  at  the 
same  time.  Romish  unity  1  can  understand,  but  the  unity  which 
is  to  arise  from  the  compromise  and  suppression  of  every  thing 
peculiar,  I  cannot  understand ;  and  if  there  were  a  society  on 
the  principle  that  no  sectarian  proclivities  of  doctrine  should  be 

preached,  which  suggests   to  be  a  good   principle  for 

preaching,  I  should  abhor  it  little  less  than  I  do  the  Pope's 
church.  Indeed,  it  is  only  the  liberty  of  declaring  within  each 
separate  pale  the  supposed  truths  of  the  gospel,  in  their  length 
and  breadth,  which  for  a  moment  reconciles  me  to  the  compro- 
mise of  the  Sunday  School  Union,  or  the  Tract  Society.  The  stars 
in  their  courses  seem  to  fight  against  the  Marion  [college,  &c,  in 
Missouri]  humbug ;  indictment,  inundation,  murder,  flogging, 
lynching.  I  ween  some  of  the  stockholders  begin  to  be  remind- 
ed of  the  South  Sea  bubble. 

It  occurs  to  me  that  a  tract  might  be  written  in  the  dialogue 
form,  after  the  model  of  H.  More's  Village  Politics,  against  the 
Trades  Unions  ;  but  how  could  it  be  circulated  1  Females  and 
ladies  have  ousted  the  noble  old  word  looman.  Fanny  Kemble 
laughs  at  old  Riker  for  having  called  her  a  female.  N.  B.  All 
negro  wenches  are  ladies.  "  I  met  two  males  with  white  hats  ;" 
how  does  that  sound  ?  I  wish  this  new  dictionary  of  Richard- 
son's could  be  held  up  as  a  shield  against  the  barbarous  missiles 

of  Noah  Webster.     writes  from  London  that  his  health 

is  greatly  amended,  and  that  for  a  guinea  a  day  he  has  worse 
fare  than  his  mother's  upper  servants.  In  one  respect  I  am  glad 
he  has  gone ;  he  is  an  American  who  will  not  sink  or  mask  any 
one  peculiarity  out  of  fear  of  John  Bull,  and  who  will  beard  our 


1833—1844.  241 

impertinent  English  critics  even  in  Exeter  Hall.  He  has  more- 
over strength  of  mind  and  vigorous  eloquence.  When  I  was  in 
Washington  1  saw  some  moulds  for  statues  by  a  pupil  of  Thor- 
waldsen,  from  Rome,  and  also  busts  by  him  of  Clay,  Jackson, 
Southard,  &c.  They  were  very  striking.  East  wind  and  raw 
weather  again.  Farmers  say  we  shall  have  no  small  grain. 
Happy  land  is  ours  where  famine  has  never  come  ! 

Princeton,  July  10,  1836. 

Princeton  is  now  in  a  state  of  Anglican  viridity,  enough  to 
cure  half  the  people  "  in  populous  city  pent."  I  have  a  shudder- 
ing, 1  hope  not  superstitious,  about  Girard  College.  Its  corner- 
stone lies  on  the  credit  of  Christ's  ministers,  and  thus  (Luke  x. 
16)  on  the  honour  of  Christ.1  Institutions,  having  no  immortal 
souls,  are  punished  in  this  life,  and  therefore  I  do  confidently 
forebode  some  signal  frown  of  Providence  on  that  institution. 
Yet  I  speak  hesitatingly,  for  e  contra — shall  we  leave  it  to  be  the 
prey  and  organ  of  the  devil  and  his  angels  ?  We  are  all  too  apt, 
however,  to  give  an  undue  weight  to  selfish  considerations  in 
making  our  election  of  our  lot,  and  our  satisfaction  of  mind  is 
therefore  all  the  greater  when  we  can  feel  that  we  choose  the 
humbler  and  thornier  path  for  Christ's  sake.  Having  been  re- 
peatedly called  to  this  anxious  sort  of  inquiry,  I  have  come  to 
this  result :  that  when  we  pray  for  guidance,  we  receive  it,  but 
do  not  always  know,  even  when  we  take  the  decisive  step,  that  it 
is  just  the  right  thing ;  we  leap,  so  to  speak,  in  the  dark,  or  in 
the  best  light  we  have,  and  then  find  ourselves  on  solid  ground, 
and  are  ultimately  convinced  that  what  we  did  was  "  of  the 
Lord." 

Princeton,  Aug.  23,  1S36. 

Your  absence  from  the  city  detracted  somewhat  from  my 
usual  satisfactions,  and  during  the  only  secular  hour  which  I 
had  to  bestow  on  the  Union,  both  the  worshipful  secretaries 
were  absent.  I  saw  Mr.  Packard  in  perspective  at  the  10th 
church  [from  the  pulpit]  but  had  no  •"  speech  of  him." 

I  had  never  heard,  until  your  last,  of  any  opposition  to  your 
Union  from  the  Boston  Recorder.  It  may  be  observed,  however, 
that  the  eastern  folk  are  great  friends  of  all  national  societies 

which  centre  at  Boston.     Some  years  ago and had  a 

controversy,  as  to  whether  the  Massachusetts  Missionary  Society 
should  be  swallowed  up  by  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society.     It  cannot  be  long  before  the  Episcopalians  will  have 

1  The  will  of  Girard  excluded  clergymen  from  the  College,  even  as  tran* 
sient  visiters. 

VOL  I. 11 


242  W1IILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRESTCETON   COLLEGE. 

to  desist  from  their  taunts  at  non-prelatical  sects  for  their  dis- 
cord. In  Bishop  White  they  have  lost  a  great  balance-wheel. 
They  may  look  for  troubles  at  home.  Witness  the  lamentable 
feud  between  their  Goliath,  Dr.  G and  Bp.  S ,  the  quar- 
rel between  McC and  his  late  vestry,  the  erratic  proceedings 

of  C ,  and  the  despotism  of  D . 

You  will  perhaps  smile  when  I  tell  you  that  I  have  been 
taking  some  lessons  in  drawing.  This  I  have  done  with  special 
reference  to  making  pictures  for  some  of  my  projected  books. 
Having  had  to  supply  Prof.  Maclean's  place  in  part,  during  his 
absence,  I  do  scarcely  any  thing  else  in  my  study  but  pore  over 
Greek  tragedy ;  an  employment  which  I  find  irksome,  except 
that  I  am  enlivened  by  the  hope  of  gaining  a  more  accurate 
knowledge  of  New  Testament  grammar. 

If  you  will  look  into  Walker,  you  will  discover  that  half  our 
good  speakers  mispronounce  the  following  words  :  "  access,  re- 
cess, exhaust,  transient,  transition,  relaxation,  exhortation,  isolate, 
enthusiasm,  ecclesiastical."  I  have  read  no  traveller's  account 
more  graphic  or  satisfactory  than  R.  J.  Breckinridge's  letters 
from  England  in  his  Baltimore  magazine.  On  the  20th  inst.  a 
young  Irish  maid,  being  phrenetic,  precipitated  herself  from  the 
garret  window  to  the  ground,  and  was  not  seriously  injured, 
though  she  continues  crazy.  I  have  seen  a  recent  letter  from 
Tholuck,  in  which  that  good  man  writes  despond ingly  about 
the  state  of  evangelical  religion  in  Germany.  We  are  expecting 
every  day  a  large  importation  of  new  German  books.  The  old 
king  of  Prussia  is  crazy.  The  heir  apparent  is  a  pious  man,  and 
vehemently  opposed  to  the  Neologists.  I  hope  we  shall  have  no 
more  stupid  Hobys  from  England  to  act  as  spies  on  their  return. 
Suppose  we  should  pursue  a  similar  course  with  regard  to  their 

treatment  of  the  wild  Irish  ;  or  that  B should  wage  a  crusade 

against  their  marine-impressment,  or  their  tithe-laws. 

I  believe  you  are  an  honorary  member  of  the  Am.  Whig 
Society  of  our  college.  Among  our  improvements  here,  we  pro- 
pose to  erect  two  separate  edifices  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
two  literary  societies.  A  subscription  to  this  end  is  going  about 
among  our  graduates.  You  may  mention  it  publicly  or  private- 
ly upon  any  suitable  occasion.  It  is  a  fine  idea  of  Vitringa's 
that  Isaiah,  in  the  passage,  "  doves  to  their  windows,"  alludes  to 
merchant  vessels  returning  with  outspread  sails  to  their  ports. 
I  have  this  day  finished  the  critical  study  of  the  Phoenissae  of 
Euripides,  and  am  disposed  to  accord  to  that  great  poet  the  praise 
which  is  commonly  given  for  his  ingenuity,  correctness,  and 
tragic  pathos.  Take  some  occasion  to  brush  up  your  French 
by  reading  the  letters  of  Archbishop  Eenelon.     Surely  there  have 


1833—1844.  243 

lived  few  more  holy  men  upon  our  globe.  It  is  pleasing  under 
the  worst  forms  of  church  opinion  to  discover  the  undeniable 
operations  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

Princeton,  Aug.  26,  1836. 

I  agree  to  every  word  you  say  about  memoirs.1     In  the  case 

of ,  for  instance,  a  dear  and  honored  friend  of  mine,  I  can 

see  no  demand  for  a  biography.  Diaries  are  often  mere  diar- 
rhoeas or  defecations  of  a  man's  most  troubled  and  worst 
thoughts.  1  have  been  so  fully  employed  as  to  be  unable  to  lay 
a  finger  to  any  Sunday  School  job  for  several  months.  There 
are  some  archaeological  pictures  which  I  will  endeavour  to  copy 
for  you  as  soon  as  may  be.  It  is  also  in  my  earnest  intention 
to  give  you  somewhat  for  the  "  Youth's  Friend,"  [a  monthly 
magazine,]  My  present  attitude  about  Temperance  is  this  :  I 
regard  the  teetotalers  as  the  only  consistent  society,  but  have 
some  slight  scruples  about  the  whole  principle,  when  I  look  at 
its  abuses  and  corollaries.  Do  you  ever  see  a  foot-stove  in  a 
church  nowadays  1  I  remember  when  they  were  almost  as  in- 
dispensable in  winter,  as  fans  are  in  summer. 

If  the  principle  of  infinite  series  can  be  exemplified  in  practice, 

it  will  be  in  the  case  of  the 's  French  correspondent. 

Arminius's  motto  was  Bona  conscientia  paradisus  ;  Calvin's, 
Promote  et  sincere  ;  Erasmus's,  Cedo  nulli.  I  expect  to  preach 
to  the  children  at  Kingston,  at  their  Sunday  School  Anniversary 
next  Sunday. 

Princeton,  Sept.  24,  1836. 
I  am  sorry  that  you  are  so  confirmed  a  cockney  as  to  be  un- 
fit for  travel.  My  case  differs  from  yours  ;  for  a  week  before  I 
set  out  anywhither,  I  am  in  a  perfect  tremor  and  feeze,  but  after 
about  forty  miles  I  become  entirely  nonchalant,  and  feel  as  if  I 
could  journey  a  year.  You  alarm  me  about  your  water-drinking 
propensity.  Blessed  sir  !  have  you  not  read  Dr. 's  hy- 
drophobic stricture,  thereanent  1  See  "Permanent  Documents," 
appendix,  p.  25.  Are  you  ignorant  that  "  water  dilutes  the  gas- 
tric juice,"  and  is  a  species  of  intemperance  ?  Little  as  I  meddle 
in  politics,  or  believe  in  panics,  I  am  alarmed  at  the  unexampled 
audacity  of  the  19  Van  Buren  electors  of  Maryland.  It  seems 
to  have  come  to  this,  that  when  the  wagon  of  state  goes  in  a  road 
unpleasant  to  a  minority  of  passengers,  they  may  be  allowed  to 

1  His  correspondent  had  remarked,  that  it  seemed  to  be  understood  in 
the  religious  world,  that  every  one  who  had  kept  a  diary  or  written  letters, 
must  have  his  biography  written. 


244  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

remove  all  the  linch-pins  and  cut  the  traces.  Take  this  in  con- 
nexion with  Dallas's  doctrine  that  conventions  may  annul  com- 
pacts, and  we  have  the  spectre  of  anarchy  and  civil  war  before 
us.  I  fear  things  must  be  worse  before  they  are  better.  Yet 
how  natural  is  Hezekiah's  selfishness,  "  There  shall  be  peace  and 
truth  in  my  days."  I  join  you  in  lamentation  on  the  desert 
state  of  our  religious  field.  Perhaps  the  remedy  is  to  be  sought 
in  striving  to  build  up  individual  piety,  with  less  confidence  in 
the  omnipotence  of  associations,  unions,  and  polity.  The  more 
we  talk  and  plan,  the  more  we  seem  to  differ.  Fenelon  has 
some  truth  in  his  advice:  "  Parlez  a  Dieu  pour  la  paix  de  l'eglise, 
et  ne  parlez  point  aux  hommes."  At  [Aaron]  Burr's  burial, 
we  had  as  pall-bearers,  Judge  Edwards,  General  Swartwout,  sen., 

who  was  Burr's  second  in  the  duel,  and ,  who  has  also 

killed  his  man.    Dr. ,  in  rallying  Dr.  Rice  about  assisting 

at  the  rites,*said  a  good  text  would  have  been  "  By  this  time  he 
stinketh."  I  have  been  this  morning  to  see  the  eldest  son  of  our 
late  physician  [Dr.  Howell]  dying,  as  I  believe.  I  trust  he  is 
departing  in  faith.     His  little  sister  lies  only  not  as  ill  as  he.    My 

little  private  scholar is  also  very  sick;  all  in  the  same  house. 

Offer  one  hearty  prayer  for  these  afflicted  people.  I  never  knew 
such  a  case.  All  the  cases  1  know  of  are  in  this  one  house,  yet  it 
is  new,  high,  ventilated,  sweet  and  clean.  Entre  nous — I  have 
been  sounded  to  discover  whether  I  would  be  president  of  South 
Hanover  College ;  now  if  you  will  be  a  good  boy,  and  sign  the 
Act  and  Testimony,  and  return  to  the  ways  of  your  father's 
father,  I  will  make  you  vice-president.  You  will  not  need 
webbed-feet,  like  the  Marionites.  I  certify  that  the  college  is 
above  high- water  mark.  I  attended  a  pleasing  Sunday  School 
Anniversary  last  Sunday  at  Cranbury  ;  a  church  full  of  children. 
Henry  is  a  true  man  to  the  cause. 

Princeton,  October,  1836. 
Your  favour  of  last  week  I  found  on  my  return  from  Newark, 
where  I  had  been  spending  a  week  very  delightfully.  While 
there  I  fell  into  conversation  with  one  of  the  leading  politicians 
of  New  Jersey,  a  professor  of  religion,  who  took  the  following 
ground  against  Sunday  Schools,  a  ground  quite  new  to  me :  He 
holds  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Christian  public  to  institute  as 
fast  as  possible  a  system  of  schools  all  over  the  land,  which  shall 
teach  religion  as  well  as  learning.  Every  thing  which  delays 
this,  or  which  is  short  of  this,  he  deprecates.  He  therefore  re- 
gards the  energies  of  the  church  as  wasted  upon  the  endeavour  to 
teach  a  portion  of  the  children  a  mere  thirtieth  of  their  time. 
The  effort  which  carries  forward  the  Sunday  School  enterprise 


1833—1844:.  245 

would  almost  accomplish  the  other.     The  man  is  sincere  and 
enthusiastic,,  and  I  give  you  his  views  in  all  their  strength. 

We  are  to  have  two  of  Dr.  King's  Greeks  in  college.  They 
are  intelligent  fellows  ;  one  of  them  a  noble  specimen.  They 
read  the  Attic  Greek  works  with  scarcely  any  difficulty.  I  wish 
you  would  visit  Newark  on  your  Sunday  School  business.  I 
know  no  such  place  out  of  New  England.  Within  the  last 
month  they  have  raised  in  the  Presbyterian  churches  there  a 
little  less  than  $12,000,  for  public  objects.  Among  the  rest 
$3,500  for  a  new  African  church,  of  which  not  a  cent  was  given 
by  Abolitionists. 

Princeton,  Nov.  13,  1836. 
I  am  sensibly  affected  by  the  peril  and  the  escape  of 


and  unite  with  you  in  giving  thanks.  No  doubt,  you  already 
feel  the  lesson  to  be  better  than  many  volumes,  and  many  ser- 
mons. You  will  probably  never  lose  the  benefit  of  these  soften- 
ing and  humanizing  scenes.  "  By  these  things  men  live,  and  in 
all  these  things  is  the  life  of  the  spirit."  And  do  not  charge 
me  with  meaning  to  take  an  ungenerous  advantage  of  you  in 
an  argument,  when  I  say  with  earnest  conviction,  that  such  ex- 
periences better  fit  a  man  for  feeding  Christ's  sheep,  than  even 
the  ascetic  devotions  of  a  bachelor.  If  I  have  ever  made  any 
"  proof"  of  my  "  ministry,"  it  has  been  in  the  house  of  mourning, 
and  by  means  of  knowledge  learned  in  the  same.  The  thought 
has  occurred  to  me,  that  the  angels,  although  perfect  in  holiness, 
cannot  have  that  perfection  of  holiness  which  saints  have,  inas- 
much as  they  have  never  known  the  discipline  of  tears.  They 
cannot  know  what  it  is  to  bleed  with  a  wife  or  a  child.  And 
analogously,  how  much  is  contained  in  that  character  of  our  high- 
priest,  that  he  was  "  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are."  My 
thoughts  run  more  naturally  in  this  strain,  because  we  have  two 
sick  children. 

Princeton,  Nov.  29,  1836. 
I  Avill  try  to  write  the  questions  on  Hebrews ;  but  have  you 
considered  how  large  a  book  it  will  make  1  Among  perverted 
texts,  none  suffer  more  than  2  Cor.  v.  11.  "Knowing  there- 
fore the  terror  of  the  Lord  we  persuade  men."  Very  pretty 
theories  are  spun  out  of  it.  But  look  at  the  Greek,  rov  <f>6£ov 
tov  Kvpiov — it  is  the  unvarying  expression  for  the  fear  of  the 
Lord,  or  true  religion,  everywhere  else  so  translated;  and  why 
not  here  also,  as  well  as  in  Acts  ix.  31  %  Outof  many  instances 
in  the  LXX.,  take  these  at  random :  Job  xxviii.  28.  Psalm  xxxiv. 
11.     Isa.  xi.  3.     Proverbs  xxiii.  17;  i.  7;   ij.  5;  viii.  13.     Our 


246  WHILE   PROFESSOR   TN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

college  is  full ;  we  have  admitted  62.  The  junior  class  has 
86.  If  you  ever  see  a  paper  called  the  Newark  Daily  Adver- 
tiser, you  will  recognize  two  old  friends — C.  S.  A.  every  day  ; 
and  your  humble  servant  every  two  or  three  days,  under  the 
title  Literary  2yrifes.  Mr.  Walsh  had  one  gross  error  in  his 
English,  which  I  am  sorry  to  see  his  successor  imitates.  It  is 
saying  "  I  doubt  that"  for  "I  doubt  tvhether."  Not  only  is  the 
latter  the  authorized  phrase,  but  it  has  a  different  meaning.  In 
old  English,  I  doubt  that  he  ivill  fail  means,  I  fear,  or  suspect 
that  he  will  fail.  The  adverb  "  whether  "  is  exactly  suited  to  ex- 
press the  libration  of  the  mind  between  alternatives  which  doubt 
imports. 

Princeton,  Dec.  27,  1836. 

Last  night,  after  returning  from  Brunswick,  where  I  had 
been  for  three  days,  I  received  the  paper  you  sent  me,  con- 
taining the  news  of  your  bereavement.  May  the  Lord  make  it 
an  abundantly  useful  dispensation  !  I  might  dwell  on  the  fact 
that  the  increasing  afflictions  of  your  child  made  it  desirable 
that  she  might  be  transplanted  to  a  more  genial  climate,  if  I  did 
not  know  how  little  this  consideration  has  to  do  with  our  affec- 
tions, or  if  I  had  not  learned  by  experience  that  the  feeblest  is 
always  the  darling  of  the  parent's  heart.  A  better  rest  for  your 
mind  will  be  found  in  considerations  purely  evangelical,  and 
connected  with  the  covenant  of  grace.  This  stroke  is  a  part  of 
the  gospel  compact.  It  has  been,  I  doubt  not,  sent,  and  sent  at 
this  time,  with  a  specialty  of  purpose,  as  to  your  sanctification 
and  salvation.  In  the  belief  of  this,  I  am  less  disposed  to  suggest 
topics  for  your  consideration,  than  to  direct  you  to  listen  to  that 
voice  of  the  Spirit  which  accompanies  the  stroke.  If  you  care- 
fully observe  what  great  truths  of  Christianity  are  at  this  time 
most  weighty  on  your  soul,  or  most  precious,  you  will  find  it 
good  to  note  these,  and  treasure  them  up  for  future  contempla- 
tion and  practice.  In  these  seasons  of  night  we  are  permitted 
to  discern  those  stars  which  are  hidden  by  the  glare  of  day. 
Such  sins  also  as  now  weigh  upon  your  conscience  may  be  those 
which  the  dispensation  is  intended  to  cut  away.  After  all,  it  is 
safest  to  put  the  word  of  God  into  your  hands,  and  to  leave  you 
to  imbibe  those  truths  for  which  your  heart  shall  manifest  the 
greatest  affinity.     "  I  will  hear  what  God  the  Lord  will  speak." 

Such  are  my  pressing  engagements,  viz. :  14  hours  of  lecture 
and  recitation  a  week,  besides  Bible-class,  preaching,  and  Reper- 
tory, that  I  scarcely  foresee  a  time  when  I  can  really  fall  to  work 
upon  the  Questions. 

Did  I  say  to  you  that  we  have  here  a  very  interesting  Italian 


1833—1844.  247 

gentleman  named  Borsicri  1  He  was  15  years  imprisoned  in 
the  fortress  of  Spielberg,  in  Moravia,  for  conspiracy  against  the 
Austrian  domination  over  Lombardy.  He  is  several  times  men- 
tioned in  the  celebrated  Memoirs  of  Silvio  Pellico,  as  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  latter.  He  is  a  man  of  great  accomplishment, 
speaking  Latin,  French,  and  German,  but  he  has  very  little 
English. 


Trenton,  January  7,  1837. 

My  father  is  strongly  inclined  to  the  opinion,  that  your  Union 
should  have  an  agent  at  Calcutta,  for  the  purpose  of  circulating 
your  books  and  plans  throughout  British  India.1 

[After  speaking  of  the  perils  of  ministers  under  the  tempta- 
tions of  money.]  Truly  and  unaffectedly  I  am  alarmed  at  these 
things,  and  most  of  all  alarmed  at  what  I  discern  in  myself,  of 
desires  for  more  ease,  style,  and  luxury  than  is  compatible  with 
the  sincere  preaching  of  self-denial.  It  is  in  vain  for  us  to  cry 
out  against  the  luxury  of  Popish  priests,  in  the  face  of  such 
things.  I  believe,  that  the  majority  of  Popish  priests  are  poor 
and  live  low.  It  is  also  vain  for  us  to  prate  about  the  self- 
denials  of  the  ministry. 

I  am  more  and  more  pleased  with  Mr.  [John  W.]  Williams's 
redaction  of  the  [Philadelphia]  National  Gazette.  Sometimes  he 
is  prolix  and  not  enough  degage,  but  always  sober  and  generally 
elegant.  As  a  litterateur  he  must  certainly  take  the  highest 
rank.2  I  purpose  to  send  a  piece  from  the  Italian  to  his  paper,  if 
I  can  get  a  breathing- spell.  Since  I  wrote  my  ["  Jacob  and  "] 
':  Joseph,"  I  have  met  with  a  good  suggestion  in  Josephus. 
Why  did  Joseph  demand  Benjamin  to  be  brought  down  to 
Egypt  1  It  is  a  question  not  easily  answered.  Josephus  sup- 
poses it  was  because  from  his  own  experience  of  their  cruelty, 
Joseph  feared  they  had  made  way  with  Benjamin,  as  they  had 
wished  to  do  with  himself.  And  also  that  he  put  the  cup  into 
Benjamin's  sack  in  order  to  make  trial  of  his  brethren,  whether 
they  would  stand  by  Benjamin,  when  he  should  be  accused  of 
stealing  the  cup,  or  whether  they  would  abandon  him  to  his  fate. 

1  Large  _  supplies  of  the  publications  of  the  Society  had  already  been 
sent  to  India  upon  the  orders  of  British  and  American  missionaries.  Mr.  C. 
E.  Trevelyan,  in  the  civil  service  of  the  Government  at  Calcutta,  was  spe- 
cially zealous  in  this  work,  and  several  of  the  original  books  of  the  Union 
were  translated  into  Hindoostanee. 

2  Mr.  Williams  also  succeeded  Mr.  Walsh  in  sharing  the  editorial  charge 
of  the  American  Quarterly  Review  ;  but  his  promising  career  was  cut  off  by 
his  death  at  an  early  age,  in  August,  1837. 

VOL.  I. 11* 


248  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Princeton,  March  10,  1837. 
From  the  inconvenience  of  having  two  habitats,  [College  and 
dwelling,]  your  last  favour  is  not  within  my  reach,  and  I  must 
rather  ask  than  answer.  Serious  and  numerous  engagements  have 
so  fractured  my  days  that  I  could  not  feel  free  to  bestow  any 
of  my  horse  subcesivag  on  the  luxury  of  letter-writing.  I  have 
been  at  Trenton  assisting  at  the  sessions  of  our  law-makers,  and 
witnessing  their  squabbles  on  the  surplus  revenue  [of  the  United 
States]  which  is  producing  the  same  sort  of  scramble  and  fight 
that  ensues  upon  a  largess  of  coppers  among  a  group  of  sweeps. 
The  worser  side  has  the  best  of  the  battle,  and  the  principal,  not 

the  mere  interest,  is  to  be  distributed,  like  the  body  of  a 

you  wot  of,  [Judges  xix.  29,]  and  with  about  as  much  chance  of 
being   ever   reintegrated.      Trenton   will   probably   double   its 

trade  and  population  next  year.     is  the  most  elegant 

builder  of  a  sermon,  qua  talis,  within  my  knowledge.  I  found 
great  satisfaction  in  going  to  see  some  of  my  old  parishioners  in 
their  affliction.  One  of  these  is  James  Pollock,1  a  Scotchman 
from  Ayrshire,  a  poor  dyer,  and  a  broken-down  invalid,  but  rich  in 
faith  and  intellectual  resources.  For  nine  weeks  he  had  suffered 
anguish  from  calculi,  having  spasms  which,  as  he  said,  would 
certainly  have  killed  him  if  they  had  followed  one  another  on 
successive  days  ;  he  was  under  salivation  when  I  saw  him,  though 
he  was  dressed  and  sitting  in  his  chair.  I  wish  I  could  give  you 
some  idea  of  this  man's  manner  and  discourse.  His  face  was 
illuminated  by  a  fire  of  Christian  animation  beyond  any  thing  I 
ever  saw,  and  he  poured  forth,  in  the  very  broadest  Scotch  dia- 
lect, the  strongest  Calvinism  of  Paul,  every  point  of  which 
seemed  in  his  soul  to  be  turned  into  rich  experience.  Pollock  is 
the  best  theologian,  and  the  best  master  of  church  history,  I 
know,  out  of  the  clerical  profession ;  nor  in  it  do  I  know  five 
whom  I  consider  his  superiors.  Pie  declared  to  me  that  under 
agonies  of  bodily  pain  his  views  of  Christ  and  of  the  sovereign, 
distinguishing  grace  of  the  plan  of  salvation,  had  wholly  neutral- 
ized his  sense  of  suffering.  This  man's  stern  and  holy  enthu- 
siasm is  felt  with  amazing  influence  in  the  factory  to  which  he  is 
attached.  Though  very  poor,  he  overawes  and  prevents  the 
profaneness,  drinking,  and  scoffing,  which  are  always  ready  to 
break  out  in  such  places.  My  tears  are  not  easily  come  at,  but 
I  was  childishly  overcome  in  listening  to  his  Chalmerian  discourse. 
If  I  ever  saw  a  native  genius,  or  a  glorius  Covenanter,  it  is  in 
the  person  of  James  Pollock.     A  second  visit  I  paid  to  a  widow 

1  Mr.  Pollock  is  mentioned  before  on  page  199.     He  died  December, 
1856,  at  the  age  of  Id. 


1833—1844:.  249 

in  her  81st  year,  who  declared  to  me  that  she  had  seen  no 
moment  since  I  last  met  with  her,  in  which  she  did  not  joyfully 
await  the  summons  of  Christ.  And  when  I  asked  her  how  she 
viewed  her  own  doings,  she  absolutely  burst  into  tears,  as  she 
disclaimed  all  righteousness  of  her  own.  I  declare  to  you  my 
satisfaction  and  strengthening  of  faith  from  these  two  cases. 
Let  the  infidel  solve  the  problem  :  How,  at  an  age,  and  amidst 
pains  and  sicknesses,  which  naturally  cause  despondency,  and  sub- 
due hope,  the  fear  of  the  direst  of  human  ills  is  swallowed  up  in 
Christian  expectation  1 

I  have  not  for  weeks  done  any  thing  at  the  questions  on 
Hebrews,  and  see  no  chance  of  resuming  them  for  a  month  or 
twro.  It  is,  for  years,  my  canon,  to  do  no  writing  or  serious 
study  by  night ;  and  you  may  imagine  my  days  from  the  follow- 
ing schedule :  9.  A.M.,  at  my  study,  with  two  boys,  Livy  and 
Mair,  correct  exercises,  and  overlook  their  Algebra ;  meantime 
preparing  for  class,  and  writing  for  Repertory.  11.  A.M.  Lec- 
ture or  Recitation.  12 — 1^-  exercise  and  college  business ;  2, 
at  study  as  above.  Hear  Xenophon.  Class  at  3J.  Prayers 
at  5.  All  days  alike.  I  have  not  yet  told  you  that  the  Assem- 
bly's Board  of  Education  and  Missions,  have  nominated  me  their 
speaker  at  certain  palavers  to  be  holden  in  May,  at  Natchez,  Louis- 
ville, Pittsburg,  &c.  If  the  Lord  will,  I  shall  set  out  soon  after 
April  10th.  The  Natchez  meeting,  which  comes  first,  falls  in  the 
first  week  in  May.  Rev.  W.  Chester  goes  along.  He  intimated 
that  your  Board  wished  a  representative,  but  however  much  I 
should  love  to  serve  you,  I  think  it  would  hurt  all  three  to  have  an 
individual  acting  for  the  Co.  Charles  Matthews,  I  believe,  used 
to  enact  some  fourteen  characters  in  one  night,  but  poor  I  shall 
scarcely  have  vim  enough  for  one.  Now,  if  you  will  but  accom- 
pany, we  may  hope  for  a  happy,  useful  journey  ;  and  perhaps 
we  may  never  again  have  the  chance  of  seeing  the  mighty  lap 
of  this  Occidental  virgin  world. 

No  conviction  of  my  soul  gains  more  strength  than  that  our 
great  study  should  be  the  Bible.  I  reproach  my  butterfly  mind 
every  night,  for  her  idle  excursions.  Yet  one  consolation  I  cer- 
tainly find  :  though  I  am  much  away  from  my  Bible,  as  I  am 
much  away  from  my  wife  and  boys,  yet  when  I  do  get  back,  I 
feel  that  I  love  them  mightily.  O  how !  how !  how  shall  we 
check  the  waste  of  mind  upon  the  ever-increasing  frivolities  of 
literature !  Literature  needs  a  Deluge.  We  are  antediluvians 
in  this  regard.  Is  God  about  to  banish  our  impertinent  rivalry 
of  his  book,  by  sweeping  our  books  away  1  by  war,  discord,  or 
other  calamity  ?  I  hope  not.  Let  me  begin  reform  at  home. 
I  am  ashamed  of  piddling  all  my  days  among  periodical  scraps, 


25  )  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

and  short-lived  nothings,  while  whole  tracts  of  Scripture  remain 
unexplored.  Query.  What  would  John,  Paul,  or  Peter,  if 
arisen  in  our  day,  do  in  the  premises  %  I  am  sick  at  heart  of  a 
book-ancl-paper  surfeit.     I  wish  I  could  get  some  remedy. 

Princeton,  April  3,  1837. 

On  Saturday,  25th  ult.,  I  went  to  New  York  to  preach  for 
[Rev.  George]  Potts.  It  was  my  intention  to  stay  some  days, 
in  order  to  purchase  a  little  furniture  for  housekeeping,  which 
we  are  about  to  attempt :  (Apropos  of  which  we  cordially  join 
in  tendering  to  you  and  yours  such  things  as  we  have,  now, 
henceforth,  and  forever.     Make  my  best  speech  in  the  premises 

to ;)  but  a  grievous  assault  of  [pain]  disconcerted  me,  and 

I  was  fain  to  come  home.  My  employers  have  so  fixed  the 
anniversaries  at  the  West  (at  Louisville  on  the  24th  and  Pitts- 
burg a  week  later)  that  the  trip  seems  hardly  worth  making ; 
and  if  I  do  not  get  better,  I  shall  not  dare  to  go  at  all.  In 
that  event,  I  shall  hope  to  spend  a  little  time  in  my  old  Phila- 

delphian  haunts.     I  heard r-  and  [two  celebrated 

"  revivalists  "]  in  New  York.  The  former  has  taken  all  the 
wind  out  of  the  latter's  sails,  as  to  revivals.  The  Broadway 
Tabernacle  is  the  noblest  house  for  a  great  auditory  that  ever  I 
saw.     Perhaps  2,500  filled  the  seats  on  Sunday  week  at  night. 

is  on  the  cool,  metaphysical  tack  ;  but  the  mad  bull  will 

butt  and  bellow  sometimes.  The  sermon  was  an  odious  carica- 
ture of  old  Hopkinsian  divinity,  such  as  ferments  in  the  head  of 
an  ill-trained  but  vigorous  mind,  and  throws  up  a  scum  of  cru- 
dities. "  Government,"  "  Government,"  "  Government,"  nothing 
but  government — till  I  began  to  feel  as  if  the  Creator  was  but  a 
secondary  administrator,  put  to  hard  shifts  to  save  appearances. 

It  was  a  sermon  well  adapted  to  make ,  e.  g.  "  I  suppose 

all  the  united  malice  of  all  the  devils  in  hell  would  not  keep  a 
poor  sinner  in  hell  to  all  eternity.  O  no.  None  but  God  can 
have  firmness  enough  to  do  that,  &c."  These  were  his  words  so 
far  as  I  remember. 

As  to ,  the  account  of  him  in  the ■,  is  far  below 

the  reality.     His  manner  is  drunken,  he  adores  his  person,  and 

perpetually  protrudes  "  Mr. ,"  as  he  suburbanically  calls 

himself.  His  ordinary  compellation  of  the  hearer  is  " Mister  !  " 
He  is  profane  to  an  extreme  in  foisting  in  the  divine  names 
merely  to  point  a  phrase,  as  "  the  vilest  infidel  under  God's 
heaven  ;  "  the  "  greatest  mind  God  Almighty  ever  made ;  "  and 
all  this  in  the  tone  of  a  Yankee  bar-keeper.  I  heard  no  false 
doctrine  from  him.  You  see  the  Literary  and  Theological  Re- 
view goes  beyond  us   [Repertory]  on  Voluntary  Associations. 


1833— 18M.  251 

M is  in  a  feud  with  his  S.  S.  Superintendent,  an  abolition- 
ist, who  refuses  to  he  amenable  to  M.  and  turns  the  S.  S.  into 
an  anti-slavery  association.  All  the  pastors  complain  of  a  ten- 
dency to  such  jarring.  If  such  should  really  be  the  tendency  of 
the  present  arrangements,  the  sooner  we  alter  them  the  better ; 
for  I  am  high-church  enough  to  abandon  any  thing  wrhich  disturbs 
our  divinely  constituted  relations  of  ruler  and  ruled.  I  wish 
you  could  see  your  way  clear  to  have  some  of  your  [Union] 
books  translated  into  Italian,  for  the  Levant,  where  the  language 
is  extensively  used.  If  you  could,  we  have  here  a  highly  ac- 
complished Italian,  for  many  years  fellow-prisoner  of  Silvio  Pellico, 
and  of  Comte  Confalonieri,  who  could  do  such  work  under  my 
inspection.     He  is  a  Milanese,  named  Pietro  Borsieri. 

Princeton,  April  29,  1837. 
During  my  vacation,  I  have  been  absent,  first  for  a  week  at 
Newark  ;  for  a  day  or  two,  then,  at  Trenton ;  and  lastly  for 
a  day  or  two  at  Bound  Brook,  Somerset,  where  our  Presbytery 
met.  This,  with  the  accumulated  cares  of  raking  together  a 
little  furniture,  has  kept  me  from  much  study-work  or  corre- 
spondence. We  have  not  yet  got  into  our  house,  partly  from 
want  of  things,  but  chiefly  from  the  delay  of  a  servante  whom 
we  have  engaged.  I  am  living  in  the  back-parlor,  however, 
which  I  have  to  take  as  a  study,  or  else  have  no  room  for  my 
friends,  which  is  after  all  the  great  charm  of  one's  own  house. 
Mrs.  Samuel  Bayard  died  last  week  in  Westmoreland,  Va.,  at 
the  late  residence  of  Mrs.  Washington  ;  who,  by-the-bye,  died  a 

year  or  two  ago,  here,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Bayard. 

stopped  for  a  few  days.  I  was  here  only  part  of  the  time.  He 
gave  many  interesting  accounts.  Thinks  it  likely  that  the  High 
Church  tories  of  the  Church  and  the  Kirk,  finding  that  the 
Catholic  adhesion  to  the  liberal  side  must  ruin  the  conservative 
interest,  will  consent  to  give  Ireland  a  Catholic,  establishment ; 
in  consequence  of  which,  the  three  established  churches  can 
trample  down  the  Whigs,  &c.  He  says  there  is  more  piety  in 
proportion  to  the  population  in  the  Canton  de  Vaud,,  than  in 
any  part  of  the  wrorld.  There  is  English  preaching  at  seven 
places  in  Paris.  At  our  Presbytery  we  appointed  Dr.. Alexander 
and  Mr.  Yeomans  as  commissioners,  [to  General  Assembly ;.]  and 
Messrs.  [I.  V.]  Brown  and  Shafer  with  two  elders  as  delegates 
to  the  Convention,  [preliminary  to  Assembly.]  I  see  but  one 
plan,  and  that  I  have  often  stated  to  you  :  Reduce  the  Church  to 
its  constituent  Presbyteries.  These  are  all  that  are  essential  to  the 
notion  of  a  Presbyterian  Church.  These  may  coalesce  as  they 
see  fit. 


252  WHILE    PKOFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Princeton,  May  23,  1837. 

You  are  enough  acquainted  with  my  penchant  for  "  laid  "  or 
other  non-porous  writing  paper  to  be  able  to.  buy  me  a  parcel. 
I  prefer  the  old-fashioned  and  old  drab,  or  white,  to  the  blue,  and 
abominate  the  machine  paper,  which  looks  mottled  when  held  up 
to  the  light. 

But  I  write  expressly  to  demand  of  you  the  reason  why  you 
have  not  sent  me,  as  in  duty  bound,  a  Daily  Bulletin  of  the 
Sanheclrin  :  yea  a  daily  letter,  full  of  facts,  number  of  votes,  and 
pungencies,  <kc.  Prithee  begin,  and  honour  at  sight  this  bill  for 
one  epistle  per  diem  while  the  General  Assembly  is  sitting.  I 
suppose  you  have  divided  the  Church,  and  excommunicated  New 
England,  while  I  have  been  sowing  my  beet  seed,  and  blistering 
my  puny  fingers  with  spade  and  hoe.  Know  ye,  however,  that 
we  gardeners  of  Jersey  contemn  all  the  prettinesses  of  your  civic 
parterres  and  flower  beds,  and  go  for  massy  hills  of  corn,  un- 
sightly ridges  of  potatoes,  and  stupendous  poles  of  nodding 
hop-vines.  Come  up  and  behold  a  second  Cato  the  Censor,  an- 
other Cincinnatus,  a  great  experimenter  in  the  union  of  leeks  and 
letters ;  come  and  taste  of  my  rhubarb  pies,  (the  only  esculent 
I  yet  boast,)  my  embryo  radishes,  my  beans  just  up,  my  parsley 
and  sage  not  up  at  all,  and  my  nasturtions  not  pickled  nor 
planted. 

College  has  opened.  Prospects  better  than  we  feared.  My 
daily  duties  forbid  my  going  to  the  Assembly. 

I  passed  some  days  at  New  Brunswick,  where  there  is  a 
great  revival  in  three  several  places,  viz.,  the  Baptist  Church,  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  Free  Church. 

Pkinceton,  June  14,  1837. 
I  could  not  get  down  to  the  city,  because  when  I  was- not 
teaching,  I  felt  constrained  to  be  in  New  Brunswick,  to  aid  Bro. 
[Jos.  H.]  Jones,  one  of  my  most  intimate  brethren,  for  whom  I 
have  within  ten  days  preached  six  sermons,  and  attended  as  many 
meetings  more.  That  ultra  old  school  town  is  shaken  by  a  great 
awakening,  still  in  blessed  progress.  In  the  Baptist  Church  109 
have  been  baptized  ;  others  inquiring.  Jn  the  Dutch  Church 
(Dr.  S.  B.  How's)  35  have  been  admitted ;  perhaps  as  many 
more  awakened.  In  Jones's  Church,  some  70  entertain  the 
Christian  hope,  and  about  30  are  awakened.1  In  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, out  of  80  youths,  68  are  thought  to  have  believed  in  Christ. 

1  According  to  the  "  Outline  of  a  "Work  of  Grace,"  published  by  Dr. 
Jones  in  1839,  the  whole  number  received  into  the  communion  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  ]49; 
churches  about  600. 


1833—184:4:.  253 

David  Abeel,  the  missionary,  lives  there  ;  labouring  beyond  his 
strength,  for  he  has  come  back  from  St.  Croix,  I  fear,  to  die  with 
his  aged  parents.1  After  so  many  years  of  preaching  with  com- 
paratively little  visible  effect,  it  was  a  gratifying  and  unspeak- 
ably gracious  favour  conferred  on  me,  to  allow  me  to  witness 
some  remarkable  instances  of  apparent  fruits.  And  still  more, 
the  whole  tenour  of  this  revival  has  been  very  pleasing  to  me, 
as  confirming  that  high  Calvinistic  view  of  the  gratuity  of  salva- 
tion, and  the  efficacy  of  the  "  gospel,"  as  contradistinguished 
from  "  obligation,"  in  which  I  grow  day  by  day  more  exclusively 
rooted.  I  dare  say  my  creed,  if  written  out  in  full,  would  be 
condemned  by  many  an  Arminian,  and  many  a  New  England 
Calvinist,  or  Antinomian,  but  it  meets  me  unavoidably  in  every 
page  of  Paul.  David  Abeel  is,  I  suppose,  quite  as  good  a  man 
as  Henry  Martyn  ;  indeed,  so  heavenly  is  his  temper,  that  I  feel 
a  presentiment  wThile  in  his  company,  that  he  is  "  ready  to  be 
offered."  1  could  wish  and  pray  otherwise.  The  effect  his 
labours  have  had  on  the  Dutch  Church,  are  such  (in  missionary 
matters)  as  I  have  never  seen  from  the  labours  of  one  individual. 
Twice  he  has  been  ready  to  re-embark  for  China,  and  both  times 
brought  to  death's  door.  If  he  have  a  reprieve,  he  will  make 
another  attempt  before  long. 

We  have  about  220  on  our  College  roll.  Dr.  Nesbit's 
library  is  secured  for  the  Seminary,  so  long  as  they  teach  ortho- 
doxy. 

New  Brunswick,  July  13,  1837. 
Last  week  I  was  at  Bound  Brook,  on  the  Raritan,  at  a  special 
meeting.  The  revival  of  religion  has  extended  thither,  to  the 
flock  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rodgers.  About  a  hundred  are  inquiring. 
On  Monday  I  took  a  drive  of  46  miles,  from  Princeton  to  Som- 
erville,  thence  down  the  Raritan  to  this  city,  and  so  home.  The 
county  of  Somerset,  in  the  parts  through  which  I  passed,  is 
wholly  settled  by  the  Dutch ;  you  know  their  neatness,  thrift, 
and  morality  are  proverbial.  I  never  saw  the  country  look  so 
enchanting.  The  dense  masses  of  herbage  and  forest  are  luxu- 
riant in  consequence  of  the  rains,  and  every  sort  of  crop  promis- 
ing beyond  all  previous  supposition.  The  grass,  oats,  rye,  flax, 
and  wheat  are  excellent,  and  the  corn  better  thereabouts  than  in 
any  other  region  within  my  knowledge.  Those  who  are  accus- 
tomed to  pass  through  the  sands  of  lower  Jersey  have  no  concep- 
tion of  the  beauty,  fertility,  and  picturesqueness  of  the  middle 
and  upper  counties.     The  Dutch  forms  realize  the  ideal  of  rural 

1  Dr.  Abeel  returned  to  China  in  October,  1S38,  but  was  driven  home  by 
his  declining  health  in  January  1845,  and  died  at  Albany,  September  4,  1846. 


254:  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

comfort.     It  is  "  a  land  of  hills  and  valleys,  and  drinketh  water 
of  the  rain  of  heaven." 

Yesterday  I  came  hither ;  my  third  visit  to  this  revived 
church.  The  work  of  the  Lord  is  still  advancing  here,  though 
the  phase  of  divine  influence  is  somewhat  varied.  As  might  be 
expected,  the  number  of  awakenings  is  smaller  ;  but  some  of  the 
most  remarkable  conversions  have  occurred  within  a  day  or 
two  ;  including  several  professional  men,  and  other  persons  of 
great  influence.  The  Baptists  have  immersed  a  hundred  and 
fifty.  The  Dutch  number  some  50 — 70  converts ;  the  Presby- 
terians 130 — 150.  The  Methodists  have  a  great  excitement. 
All  the  students  of  Rutgers  College  but  five  or  six  are  now  hope- 
fully pious.  I  perceive  no  one  thing  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
which  is  undesirable,  nor  any  flagging  in  the  prayers  or  efforts 
of  pastor  or  people.  In  the  Sunday  School  the  state  of  feeling 
is  more  full  of  promise  than  it  has  been  at  any  time.  All  day, 
and  much  of  the  night,  Mr.  Jones  is  engaged  with  inquirers. 
Over  the  river,  in  Piscataway,  and  Metutchen,  also  in  Plainfield, 
and  (somewhat)  in  Rahway,  there  is  revival.  These  influences, 
except  in  the  case  of  Bound  Brook,  have  been  most  extensive 
among  the  Baptists.  There  has  been  here  no  veiling  or  modify- 
ing of  high  Calvinistic  tenets,  in  order  to  keep  the  sinner  under 
the  yoke  of  obligation,  or  to  precipitate  the  resolved  efforts  of  his 
own  soul,  as  abstracted  from  Divine  power.  The  doctrines 
which  have  been  blessed  are  the  "  primer  doctrines,"  taught  in 
the  old  way,  and  in  old  phraseology.  Indeed  I  may  say  of  the 
preaching,  what  Brainerd  says  of  that  which  was  used  to  awaken 
his  Indians  :  "  It  has  been  from  first  to  last  a  strain  of  gospel  in- 
vitation." 

College,  August  10,  183V. 
What  you  say  about  a  good  penny  paper,  is  most  true,  and 
has  often  occurred  to  me ;  only  for  weekly,  I  should  certainly 
read  daily.  Some  capital  is  needed  to  set  such  a  thing  on  foot, 
but  I  am  sure  no  book  or  magazine  which  could  be  issued  from 
the  press  would  have  so  wide  an  influence.  The  pious  laymen  ot 
Philadelphia  ought  not  to  rest  until  the  thing  is  done.  So  Wil- 
liam IV.  is  dead,  and  a  virgin  once  more  on  the  chief  throne  of 
the  world.  If  poets  were  not  extinct,  here  would  be  a  tempting 
subject.  I  hope  I  shall  never  so  far  undervalue  charity  as  not  to 
lament  the  false  fire  kindled  in  church  controversies ;  but  I  comfort 
myself  with  the  thoughts,  that  what  we  love  we  always  contend 
for ;  that  the  most  flourishing  seasons  for  piety  have  been  those 
of  the  most  active  debates :  witness  the  days  of  Augustin,  of 
Luther,  of  the  English  Nonconformists ;  that  the  conservative 


1833—1844.  255 

principle  of  Protestantism  is  discussion  of  all  points ;  and  that 
the  friction  of  debate  is  temporary,  while  the  gain  on  the  side  of 
truth  is  permanent.  I  am  sure  there  has  been  no  age  in  which 
controvertists  have  been  more  polite  towards  one  another  than 

the  present.     My is  so  little  of  a  Philadelphia  lady,  that  1 

believe  in  my  heart  she  has  as  few  thoughts  about  old  and  new 
school,  as  about  the  Sunnites  and  Shiites  of  the  Mohammedan 
"  persuasion."  Abeel  is  coming  to  spend  some  days  with  me ; 
his  health  is  slowly  failing.  * 

The  life  of  Scott  [Lockhart's  life  of  Sir  Walter]  is  a  capital 
book  indeed.  One  sees  how  much  may  be  accomplished  by  as- 
siduity. Another  good  lesson  is  the  danger  of  involving  one's 
self  in  pecuniary  connexions  with  "  the  trade."  The  last  days 
of  July  I  passed  in  Trenton  with  my  little  family.  I  must  say 
that  all  my  recollections  of  that  homely  town  are  soft  and 
pleasant ;  and  when  we  go  there,  we  are  made  welcome  by  a 
circle  of  hearty  friends.  A  book  ought  to  be  written  with  this 
title  :  "  The  Aged  Christian's  Book :  printed  in  large  type  for  the 
convenience  of  old  persons."  It  should  be  in  the  largest  charac- 
ter attainable.  Such  topics  as  these  :  The  Trials  of  Old  Age  ; 
The  Temptations  of  Old  Age ;  The  Duties  of  Old  Age ;  The 
Consolations  of  Old  Age,  &c,  &c.  It  should  be  a  large  book, 
with  little  matter  in  it.  Why  has  no  Tract  Society  thought  of 
such  a  thing  ?  My  little  introduction  to  the  Bible  can  soon  be 
finished,  as  I  find  I  shall  have  to  exclude  a  large  amount  of  mat- 
ter, hinting  in  the  preface  that  the  same  may  be  wrought  into  a 
second  volume,  or  work.  It  will  not  greatly  exceed  in  matter, 
if  at  all,  one  volume  of  Nevin's  Antiquities.  Hereafter  I  must 
confine  myself  to  my  former  description  of  books — I  mean  those 
which  can  be  written  currente  calamo,  requiring  no  consultation 
and  research  ;  for  unless  I  can  make  my  Sunday  School  labours 
a  sort  of  recreation,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  persevere  in  them. 
By  this  time  you  will  have  seen  what  we  have  been  doing  in  the 
Repertory.  Some  of  our  theologians  consider  the  metaphysical 
argument  of  the  paper  on  Beecher  [Dr.  Lyman  Beecher's  "  Views 
in  Theology"]  as  unsurpassed  for  acumen,  philosophical  lore,  and 
rigid  ratiocination,  by  any  thing  which  has  appeared  in  our  cycle. 
The  writer  is  certainly  a  man  of  extraordinary  versatility  ;  as 
much  at  home  among  the  poets  and  the  schoolmen  as  the  math- 
ematicians. There  are  occasions  on  which  I  feel  a  distrust  for 
all  books  but  the  Bible,  as  feeling  that  the  best  communications 
of  men  come  to  me  modified  by  the  discipline  of  a  sect  or  the 
idiosyncrasy  of  an  individual.  The  liquor  has  the  tang  of  the 
cask.  This  I  feel  most  as  it  regards  books  of  experimental  re- 
ligion ;  sometimes  turning  over  successively  the  stirring  or  ten- 


256  WHILE    PROFESSOR   IN    PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

der  productions  of  Catholics,  Methodists,  Moravians,  and  Pres- 
byterians, and  then  resorting  at  last  to  the  infallible  source  of 
all.  i  am  more  and  more  persuaded  that  the  practice  of  preaching 
on  a  single  text  has  greatly  impaired  the  influence  of  the  pulpit. 
The  diabolical  Voltaire  spoke  truth  for  once  when  he  said  :  "  En 
effet,  parler  long-temps  sur  une  citation  d'une  ligne  ou  deux,  se 
fatiguer  a  compasser  tout  son  discours  sur  cette  ligne,  un  tel 
travail  parait  un  jeu  peu  digne  de  la  gravite  de  ce  ministere.  Le 
texte  devient  une  espece  de  devise,  ou  plutot  d'enigme,  que  le 

discours  developpe C'est  dans  la  decadence  des  lettres 

qu'il  commenca,  et  le  temps  l'a  consacre."  (Louis  XIV., 
t.  iii.,  c.  32.) 

The  one  great  rule  for  Bible-study  appears  to  me  to  be  this  : 
Read  the  text — the  text — the  text.  Read  it  over  and  over,  over 
and  over.  Read  continually  and  largely.  Thus  while  particu- 
lars become  impressed  by  repetition,  we  do  not  lose  the  general 
connexion.  No  men  ever  lived,  me  judice,  who  knew  the  tenth 
part  as  much  of  the  contents  of  the  Bible  as  the  Puritans,  and 
thus  it  was  they  read  it.  They  were  never  without  their  little 
Bibles.  Among  them  I  regard  Charnock  as  far  the  most  won- 
derful in  this  regard,  and  Elavel  next.  To  my  taste  Flavel  is 
the  most  uniformly  interesting,  engaging,  and  refreshing  writer 
on  religion,  ancient  or  modern.  I  always  feel  that  1  am  talking 
with  a  Christian,  fresh  and  ruddy,  in  perfect  health  and  spirits, 
with  no  cloud  or  megrim,  and  with  every  power  available  at  the 
moment. 

Mr.  Poinsett  has  offered  Prof.  Dod  the  West  Point  profess- 
orship of  Ethics,  with  the  Chaplaincy.  I  do  not  suppose  he 
will  very  seriously  entertain  the  proposition.  Our  final  Exam- 
ination is  drawing  towards  a  close ;  it  is  a  work  plenum  sudoris 
in  this  weather.  The  library  of  old  Dr.  Nesbit  has  eome  to  the 
Seminary.     It  is  chiefly  of  books  in  the  modern  languages. 

Princeton,  Sept.  21,  1837. 
Since  I  last  corresponded  with  you,  I  have  had  a  return  of 
illness,  something  between  cholera  morbus  and  dysentery,  which 
confined  me  to  my  bed.  I  am  convalescent,  though  still  in  my 
room.  I  have  just  made  up  into  a  parcel  my  MS.  of  the  Juve- 
nile Introduction  to  the  Bible,  which  I  have  had  on  hand  for  the 
last  three  years.  It  contains  about  59,000  words  ;  from  which 
a  calculation  may  be  made.  Look  over  the  table  of  contents, 
and  read  a  chapter,  so  as  to  get  some  idea  of  the  plan.  There 
is  nothing  in  it  to  offend  any  sect  of  Protestant  Christians,  except 
that  the  Quakers  may  take  exception  to  my  calling  the  Scrip- 
tures (as  they  do  themselves)  the  Word  of  God.     I  flatter  my- 


1833—1844.  257 

self  that  it  contains  much  information,  which  will  be  new  to 
many  who  are  neither  children  nor  youth ;  and  I  pray  that  it  may 
recommend  the  most  delightful  and  blessed  of  all  books  to  many 
a  new  reader.  We  had  six  lectures  from  Mr.  Wolff,  [Rev. 
Joseph  Wolff,  a  Christian  Jew,]  of  which  I  heard  three.  He  was 
very  interesting  in  private.  What  amazes  me  is,  how  a  man, 
purblind  and  simple  as  a  babe,  wrho  can  scarcely  take  care  of 
himself  for  two  squares,  should  have  traversed  so  much  of  the 
earth. 

I  have  been  considering  the  smallness  of  the  benefit  which  w^e 
are  content  to  derive  from  our  ordinary  afflictions.  For  in- 
stance :  you  and  I  have  been  sick  lately  ;  what  good  has  it  done 
our  souls  1  Are  we  more  heavenly-minded,  and  better  fitted  for 
communion  with  God  1  "  Yes,  yes,"  we  are  ready  to  reply, 
"  but  these  are  small  afflictions,  to  which  I  scarcely  look  for  any 
advantage."  Thus  we  seem  to  render  great  trials  necessary ; 
whereas,  I  suppose,  every  disquietude  we  meet  ought  to  be  re- 
ceived as  a  message  from  God. 

Our  commencement  is  in  danger  of  being  frustrated,  in  some 
measure.  The  Whig  members  of  the  graduating  class  have  all 
refused  to  speak,  in  consequence  of  a  supposition  that  the  faculty 
had  slighted  their  Society  in  the  award  of  honours;  especially  the 
Valedictory.     There  is  a  mighty  storm  in  our  teapot. 

What  do  you  think  of  a  Sunday  School  Book  called  the 
Farmer's  Boy,  or  some  such  title,  of  some  length,  intended  to 
be  a  manual  for  young  fellows  in  the  country,  connecting  all  ag- 
ricultural operations  with  the  corresponding  Biblical  facts,  and 
giving  a  spiritual,  but  natural  turn,  to  the  works  and  changes  of 
the  husbandman  1  I  meditate  something  of  this  sort.  The 
church  in  this  village  is  at  length  sufficiently  finished  to  admit 
of  worship  in  it.  The  Tract  Society  have  issued  a  tract,  called 
"The  Child  a  Hundred  Years  old  !  "  Some  of  the  old  commenta- 
tors did  indeed  give  this  ultra-spiritual  and  ultra-natural  turn  to 
Isaiah  lxv.  20  ;  but  the  passage,  as  half  a  glance  reveals,  is  a 
promise  of  longevity  in  the  New  Jerusalem  ;  the  "  new  heavens 
and  new  earth."  Our  version  does  not  keep  up  the  parallelism 
of  the  original,  which  is  thus  :  "  The  child,  a  hundred  years  old, 
shall  die ;  the  sinner,  a  hundred  years  old,  shall  be  accursed," 
i.  e.  as  I  take  it,  "  Such  shall  be  the  longevity,  that  he  who  dies 
at  100,  shall  be  regarded  as  a  mere  child,  nay,  as  being  cut  off 
prematurely  for  his  sins,  accursed."  Read  the  context.  N.  B. 
I  am  pretty  much  convinced  by  Dr.  Burnet's  work,  that  the  final 
conflagration  will  destroy  our  world,  only  as  the  deluge  did. 
Peter  intimates  that  the  present  earth  is  a  "  new  earth,"  in  rela- 
tion to  what  he  calls  the  "  world  that  then  was."     If  he  says  of 


258  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

the  present  world  that  it  shall  be  "  burnt  up,"  he  also  says  of 
the  antediluvian  world,  that  it  "perished."  And  he  adds  " Never- 
theless we  look  for  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth."  (2  Peter  iii.  13.) 
Read  Chalmers's  Sermon  on  the  New  Heavens  and  New  Earth. 
I  am  also  inclined  to  think  the  common  notions  of  the  Millennium 
as  inconsistent  with  the  Scriptures,  which  always  represent  the 
Judgment  as  bursting  suddenly  on  the  world  ;  pressing  this  with 
a  moral  bearing,  to  alarm  our  fears  ;  which  can  have  no  efFect, 
when  we  believe  in  an  interval  before  the  Judgment,  of  full  a 
thousand  years.  Do  not  regard  me  as  demented,  but  look  at 
these  two  subjects  in  the  light  of  mere  Scripture,  and  candidly 
sit  down  without  book,  and  write  down  your  answer  to  the 
following  question  :  On  what  clear  scriptural  grounds  do  I  en- 
tertain the  common  notion,  that  things  will  ripen  into  a  glorious 
period  of  just  a  thousand  years'? 

College  N.  J.,  November  17,  1837. 
Vide  several  of  my  rhyming   experiments  in  the  Newark 
Daily,  under  the  signature  of  Cleon.1     I  am  afraid  you  could  not 
get  the  stereotype  classics  [197  volumes,  Leipsic]  at  the  low 

1 1  insert  one  specimen. 

TIIE  ARM-CHAIK. 
Now  let  the  curtain  drop  ;  the  day 
With  mixing  cares  has  passed  away : 
The  grate  is  brilliant,  and  the  light 
From  shaded  lamps  shows  softly  bright. 
Wheel  round  the  table,  and  prepare 
The  spacious,  slumber-tempting  chair. 
But  yield  not  yet  to  slumber's  power ; 
Sacred  to  wisdom  be  the  hour. 
Here,  in  the  genial  warmth  reclining, 
Rest  and  activity  combining, 
The  wearied  frame  may  seek  repose 
While  the  rapt  soul  with  pleasure  glows. 
Spread  forth  the  books,  a  well-kept  store, 
Select,  though  few  ;  I  ask  no  more 
Than  these,  to  guide  my  flight  sublime, 
The  master-pieces  of  all  time. 
Through  these  while  musing  I  descry 
The  forms  of  sage  philosophy ; 
Great  ancients  come  in  shadowy  mien 
To  people  the  ideal  scene. 
I  soar  with  Plato  ;  or  I  fight 
The  battles  of  the  Stagirite. 
With  Xenophon  serene  I  flow, 
Or  cull  from  each,  with  Cicero. 
Or  if  blest  Poesy  invite 
To  mingle  in  her  mystic  rite, 


1833—1844.  259 

terms  at  which  they  are  furnished  to  us.  Neither  would  I  re- 
commend to  you  to  get  the  whole  set ;  there  are  many  of  them 
which  you  would  never  want.  The  course  which  I  have  pursued 
has  been  to  buy  about  seventy  volumes,  including  the  chief 
books  in  Greek,  and  in  Latin  prose,  and  then  I  have  the  whole 
of  the  Latin  poets  in  one  volume,  which  cost  me  five  dollars. 
Old  Tauchnitz,  the  great  Leipsic  publisher,  was  an  enemy  of 
evangelical  religion,  and  disinherited  his  son  Karl,  for  being  a 
pietist.  The  latter  became  a  Baptist  preacher  and  missionary  ; 
but  within  a  very  short  time  the  old  man  died  intestate,  and  the 
whole  of  his  vast  resources  and  establishment  has  fallen  to  his 
son,  who  is  sincerely  bent  upon  the  promotion  of  true  piety. 

I  hear  the  hoar)'  blind  man  sing 

Till  Troy-plains  with  the  war-clang  ring  ; 

Or  quaff  the  chaste  exuberance 

Of  tragic  Greeks  in  choral  dance. 

Then  Maro,  silver  bard,  beguiles, 

Or  love-sick  Ovid  spreads  his  wiles, 

Or  Flaccus  through  the  th}-rsus  smiles. 

Nor,  pedant,  would  I  all  despise 
What  moderns  have  of  great  or  wise  ; 
Dante,  tremendous  in  his  dreams  ; 
Or  Ariosto's  wayward  streams  ; 
Or  Tasso's  tale  of  knightly  fire, 
Or  Petrarch  weeping  o'er  the  lyre. 
Thy  page,  Cervantes,  shall  dispel 
The  vapours  from  their  haunted  cell ; 
And  keen  Le  Sage  and  gay  Moliere 
The  mask  from  every  passion  tear. 

But  who  shall  venture  to  rehearse 
The  mighty  band,  in  prose  or  verse, 
Of  mother  Britain,  and  fair  France, 
Whose  genius  might  the  soul  entrance  ? 
A  taste  of  these  might  well  beguile 
The  speeding  hours,  till  daylight  smile. 
But  limbs  grow  dull,  and  eyes  grow  dim, 
A  respite  now  for  eye  and  limb  : 
Stir  up  the  fire,  the  volume  close, 
A  moment  this  for  choice  repose. 
Safe  from  the  blast  of  rough  November, 
Silent  I  many  a  friend  remember, 
Whose  presence  might  the  midnight  brighten, 
When,  hark  ! — the  moment's  load  to  lighten, 
A  well-knowrn  knock — wide  flies  the  door — 
Of  musing  and  of  books  no  more  ; 
The  friend  of  many  a  year  drops  in, 
And  converse  grave,  or  jocund  din 
Completes  the  joy,  and  quells  the  care, 
Till,  satiate  e'en  with  richest  fare, 
I  nod  upon  the  elbow  chair. 


260  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Hengstenberg,    in    reviewing ,  ridicules   his  determining 

the  acceptation  of  a  word  in  a  certain  place,  by  counting  up  the 
passages  where  it  occurs  in  that  sense ;  but  says,  this  may  an- 
swer very  well  in  a  country  where  they  can  enumerate  to  a  frac- 
tion the  converted  and  the  half  converted.  In  the  Christian 
Observer  for  Feb.  1830,  p.  97,  is  a  piece  of  Mr.  Wolff's,  wherein 
he  saith,  "the  Son  of  Man  will  come  again  in  the  clouds  of 
heaven,  in  the  year  1847,  and  govern  in  person  as  man  and  God 
in  the  literal  city  of  Jerusalem.  ...  I,  Joseph  Wolff,  shall  see 
with  my  own  eyes,  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  their  glorified 
bodies,"  &e.  I  think  it  a  happy  interpretation  of  Wolff's,  where 
he  makes  the  word  yc^ca,  "generation,"  mean  the  Jewish  race: 
"  this  race  shall  not  pass  away  "  (t.  e.  be  merged  in  other  nations) 
until  all  these  things  be  accomplished.  Matt.  xxiv.  34.  He 
wishes  to  be  captured  by  the  Indians.  Professor  Henry  has  re- 
turned. In  England  he  was  caressed  like  a  brother,  everywhere, 
and  by  all  the  savans.  The  British  Association  passed  a  special 
vote  of  thanks  to  him,  and  three  other  foreigners.  Our  college 
was  never  so  full.  We  have  already  admitted  about  70. 
Among  these  are  two  room-mates  named  "  Cake  "  and  "  Pitch- 
er." Your  mention  of  Neshamony  reminds  me  of  the  tasteful 
change  of  that  euphonious  Indian  name  to  "  Hartsville  Cross- 
roads." So,  in  our  own  presbytery,  what  was  whilom  Assam- 
pink  is  now  "  Dutch  Neck."  We  have  a  new  and  handsome 
church  edifice.  While  it  was  building  the  negroes  worshipped 
apart,  in  a  little  place  of  their  own.  The  majority  of  the  pew- 
holders  wish  them  to  remain  as  a  separate  congregation.  By-the- 
bye,  we  are  said  to  have  a  larger  proportion  of  blacks  in  our 
population,  than  any  town  in  the  free  States.  If  they  come  back, 
they  will  take  up  about  half  the  gallery.  There  are  about  80 
black  communicants.  I  am  clear  that  in  a  church  of  Jesus 
Christ,  there  is  neither  black  nor  white ;  and  that  we  have  no 
right  to  consider  the  accident  of  colour  in  any  degree.  Yet  I 
think  the  blacks  very  unwise  in  insisting  on  such  a  privilege 
now.  Some  years  ago  there  would  not  have  been  the  slightest 
difficulty  in  admitting  them,  but  in  consequence  of  the  abolition 
movements  the  prejudice  of  the  lower  classes  of  whites  against 
the  blacks  has  become  exorbitant  and  inhuman.  We  have  a 
copy  of  the  celebrated  "  Oxford  (semi-papal)  Tracts."  One  of 
them  is  on  the  excellencies  of  the  Romish  Breviary ;  which,  by 
the  way,  i.  e.  the  Breviary,  I  am  now,  for  the  first  time,  reading. 
It  contains  some  delightful  prayers  and  hymns,  in  a  mass  of 
putrid  martyrology  and  idolatry.  There  is  something  graceful 
and  melodious  in  the  following  collect,  in  the  Christmas  service : 
"  Concede,  quaesumus,  omnipotent   Deus,  ut   nos    Unigeniti  tui 


1833— 1844.  261 

nova  per  camera  nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub  peceati  jugo  vetusta 
servitus  tenet.  Per  eundem  Dominum.  Amen."  There  is 
scarcely  an  Orthodox  Quaker  in  our  region  who  has  not  joined 
either  our  church  or  the  Episcopalian ;  mostly  the  latter.  I 
heard  Daniel  Webster  make  a  great  speech,  sub  dio,  in  Newark. 
The  gaoler  of  our  State's  Prison  is  a  pious  Methodist,  and  every 
Sabbath  enters  every  cell  and  talks  on  religion  with  each  pris- 
oner. Cottle  says  that  for  a  very  long  time  Coleridge  used  a 
pint  of  laudanum  a  day,  and  sometimes  even  a  quart. 

Princeton,  January  9,  1838. 

I  wish  you  and  yours  a  most  happy  new  year,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment  of  every  blessing  of  Providence  and  grace.  The  weather 
is  such  as  might  tempt  one  to  suspect  that  we  need  another  rec- 
tification of  our  calendar,  like  the  Julian  and  Gregorian.     The 

trial  of is  an  ecclesiastico-juridical  curiosity.     Never 

before  were  the  shades  of  guilt,  criminality,  and  guilt  "  without 
criminality  "  so  nicely  appreciated.  I  would  suggest  the  use  of 
decimal  fractions,  in  the  next  award  of  the  kind.  Or  rather  some 
negative  algebraical  quantities  must  have  been  employed  to  ren- 
der the  amount  of  such  verdicts  =  an  entire  acquittal. 

No  one  groans  more  than  I  under  the  abuses  of  extempore 
prayer.-  How  much  time  is  lost,  how  much  weariness  produced, 
by  periphrastic  introductions,  diffuse  dilutions,  and  vain  repeti- 
tions. Many  pulpit  prayers  are  largely  made  up  of  passages 
evidently  meant  to  impress  truth  on  the  auditor.  Whole  strains 
of  this  sort :  "  O  Lord,  may  sinners  feel  that  time  is  short ;  that 
this  is  the  only  season  for  repentance ;  and  that  unless  they  be- 
lieve, &c,  &c."  A  man  might  thus  tell  his  Maker  what  to  make 
sinners  feel  through  the  whole  extent  of  the  catechism  :  "  May 
wre  feel  that  our  chief  end  is  to  glorify  God  and  to  enjoy  him  for- 
ever." 1  I  nauseate  all  such  perversions.  Still  I  never  could 
submit  to  one  stereotype  form  for  every  day  of  my  life.  I 
should  be  pleased  to  have  a  few  forms,  varying,  we  may  say 
through  a  month,  expressing  those  things  which  we  are  to  pray 
for  always,  with  license  to  use  a  short  extemporaneous  prayer 

1  In  another  letter  he  had  made  the  following  criticism  on  a  prayer  in  a 
Sunday-school  book:  "The  prayer  at  the  end  labours  under  a  fault  very 
common — the  abuse  of  the  auxiliary  '  may.'  Compare  this  form  with  similar 
petitions  in  the  Psalms.  In  some  public  prayers  I  hear  the  petition  turned 
into  a  veritable  interrogation  by  the  awkward  u%e  of  '  may '  with  a  negative 
thus  '  May  we  not  find  this  an  unprofitable  meeting  !  (?) '  Direct  petition, 
in  the  supplicatory  imperative  is  best :  thus  '  create  within  me  a  clean  heart.' 
It  has  sometimes  occurred  to  me  that  the  length  of  prayers  is  greatly  in- 
creased by  the  pleonasms  of  mere  form,  as  '  Do  thou  grant,'  '  Do  thou  bless,' 
4  We  beseech,'  (fifty  times.) " 


262  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

besides  :  this  is  exactly  the  Lutheran  method.1  I  fear  we  shall 
get  into  trouble  with  John  Bull  about  this  rascally  Canada 
affair ;  especially  since  the  steamboat  business,  [burning  of  the 
Caroline.]  We  have  for  years  been  too  self-satisfied,  with  our 
peaceful  security.  has  been  here ;  he  is  very  full  of  in- 
formation about  the  adyta  of  the  English  Universities.  He  says 
their  professors,  as  a  general  rule,  do  nothing  at  all,  unless  they 
have  churches  ;  nor  are  they  expected  to  do  any  thing,  except  in 
the  way  of  book-making  and  general  influence ;  nor  do  they  re- 
ceive any  salaries,  except  a  mere  pittance.  He  visited  most  of 
the  great  chartered  schools.  By-the-bye,  he  is  the  most  erudite 
classical  scholar  within  my  acquaintance,  though  not  possessing 
an  ingenium  vegetum,  or  very  great  energy.  If  you  see,  some 
time  hence  in  the  Newark  paper,  a  rhyming  squib,  intituled 
"  American  Titles  of  Honour,"  and  signed  with  my  finals,  you 
may  know  where  it  comes  from.2     1  find  much  comfort  thus  far 

1  Every  one  who  has  heard  the  prayers  of  the  letter-writer  will  be  thank- 
ful that  he  did  not  avail  himself  of  a  privilege  which  is  not  denied  to  the 
conductors  of  the  public  worship  of  our  Church. 

2  [For  the  Newark  Daily  Advertiser.] 
AMEEICAN    TITLES    OF    HONOUE. 
The  lust  of  greatness  is  a  sturdy  stock,  , 

Which  springs  indigenous  in  every  soil ; 
Though  every  twig  and  spreading  branch  you  dock, 
The  trunk  puts  forth  new  shoots  to  mock  your  toil : 
So  when  our  sires,  with  democratic  zeal, 
Plucked  off  each  garter,  and  put  out  each  star, 
And,  mad  to  equalize  the  common  weal, 
On  quartered  shields  and  coronets  made  war, 
'Twas  but  the  lopping  of  the  hydra's  head, 
And  rage  for  honours  was  asleep,  not  dead. 

Roam  where  you  please  our  plain  republic  o'er, 

A  host  of  titled  worthies  you  shall  meet : 

Judges  and  Presidents  beset  your  door, 

And  Squires  and  Governors  walk  every  street. 

The  mode  spreads  bravely :  we  may  hope,  ere  long, 

To  leave  rude  "  Mister"  to  raw  lads  at  school, 

Till  every  yeoman  of  the  civic  throng 

Shall  have  his  trade  for  title  by  fair  rule  : 

Then  Stage-man  Stokes  shall  call  on  Lawyer  Lee, 

And  Barber  Boggs  ask  Butcher  Brown  to  tea. 

Captains,  once  <known  in  harness  on  the  field, 
Nosv  swarm  in  steamboats,  oyster-craft,  and  inns, 
"While  city  troops  their  bloodless  laurels  yield 
To  scores  of  Generals,  all  plumes  and  grins. 
The  civic,  crown,  too,  hath  its  grave  possessors, 
Doctors  in  Physick,  Law,  Divinity ; 


1833—1844.  263 

in  preaching  to  my  Africans.  The  house  is  crowded  by  decorous 
and  attentive  people,  and  it  seems  a  little  like  being  a  mission- 
ary. Then  one  can  enjoy  a  total  "  abandon,"  and  use  every 
mode  of  address  or  illustration,  without  the  dread  of  blundering. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  I  have  already  met  with  some  insult,  as 
the  preacher  to  the  blacks,  in  returning  from  their  place  of  wor- 
ship :  it  was  from  some  of  the  lowest  of  the  white  canaille.  One 
case  of  very  powerful  awakening  has  occurred  under  my  un- 
worthy labours.  Every  new  perusal  of  the  prophecies  brings 
me  more  and  more  to  the  conclusion,  that  commentators  have 
undertaken  to  explain  too  much  as  already  past.  Thus  the  39th 
and  40th  of  Ezekiel,  about  Gog  and  Magog,  seem  to  me  to  con- 
tain expressions  far  too  sublime  to  have  their  accomplishment 
in  the  invasions  of  Antiochus,  &c.  I  look  somewhat  confidently 
for  a  real  restoration  of  Israel  to  their  own  land.  Considering 
the  part  that  our  Continent  occupies  in  the  unfolding  history  of 
the  church  and  the  world,  might  not  one  judge  a  priori  that  it 
would  have  some  place  in  the  book  of  prophecy  %  Yet  I  do  not 
know  that  any  discovery  of  this  kind  has  been  made.    The  grand 

fault  of 's  style  I  cannot  otherwise  express  than  by  saying 

it  is  the  exact  antipodes  of  quaintness.  It  is  in  its  ultimatum  in 
Dr.  J.  P.  Wilson  and  Bishop  White.  It  arises,  I  suppose,  from 
a  dread  of  antithesis  and  conceited  balance  in  period,  and  the 
result  is  a  certain  approach  to  lameness  in  the  gait,  and  listless- 
ness  in  the  air,  of  his  periods. 

The  little  Swedish  translation  of  my  whisky  book  gives  me 
great  joy  and  encouragement.1 

Princeton,  March  ult.  1838. 

We  have  had  spring  and  winter  since  I  saw  you.     The  last 
spell  of  cold  has  been  especially  biting.     The  6th  No.  of  [Sir 

Bishops  and  Deacons,  Provosts  and  Professors, 
No  more  forego  their  title  than  their  fee. 
A  powdered  Count  is  teaching  us  to  dance, 
While  Marquises  are  plain  "  Monsieurs,"  in  France. 

Peace  reigns  on  every  hand,  yet  warlike  signs 
Hang  out  in  half  the  names  of  half  the  nation ; 
For  scarce  a  loafer  on  his  bulk  reclines 
Who  boasts  not  of  some  martial  appellation. 
Militia  Ensigns  keep  your  Cash  and  Journal, 
And  gay  lieutenants  kindly  cart  your  coal ; 
Your  next-door  tailor  is  a  whiskered  Colonel, 
And  Majors  count  your  ballots  at  the  poll. 
Till  oft  perplexed  by  doubting  claims  you  stare, 
Nor  well  can  choose  'twist  Adjutant  and  Mayor. 

S.  L.  R. 

1  "The  Glass  of  Whisky,"  one  of  the  series  of  "  The  Infant's  Library." 


264:  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN"   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Walter}  Scott's  Life  surpasses  all  in  interest — to  my  feelings — 
chiefly  because  it  has  so  much  of  his  diary,  and  relates  so  much 
about  his  afflictions.  I  lament  that  drinking  and  cursing  are 
henceforward  to  be  associated,  in  the  minds  of  the  young,  with 
such  a  genius  and  such  a  gentleman  ;  and  that  amid  all  his  sor- 
rows he  seems  to  have  received  not  one  ray  of  divine  light.  His 
diary  contains  some  grand  hints  about  modes  of  composition. 
We  have  a  most  promising  young  man  now  a  tutor  here,  for 
whom  I  wish  I  could  find  a  good  place.  His  name  is  Moffat ; 
once  a  shepherd's  boy  in  Glencree,  [Scotland.]  His  linguistical 
attainments  are  extraordinary,  in  languages    both  ancient  and 

modern.     He  is  B.  A.  of  our  college.1     Good  Joseph  W f, 

it  appears,  has  got  back  to  England.  The  wonder  is  how  a  man 
so  little  endowed  with  worldly  wisdom  can  make  his  way  at  all. 

When  he  came  here,  he  went  first  to 's,  where  he  lodged. 

That  evening  he  was  to  preach.     He  had  on  a  shirt  which  was 

absolutely  japanned  with  dirt.     said  to  him,  "  Mr.  W., 

as  you  expect  to  appear  in  public  to-night,  perhaps  you  would 
like  to  make  some  change  in  your  dress1?"  Mr.  W.  looked 
down,  surveying  his  filthy  raiment,  and  answered,  "  O  no,  I  be- 
lieve I  shall  need  nothing  of  that  kind."     After  a  suitable  delay, 

said  again,  "  Mr.  W.,  it  will  put  us  to  no  trouble  ;  your 

room  is  ready,  your  valise  there ;    you  will  find  water,  &c." 

W looked  hastily  in  the  glass,  and  said,  "  I  thank  you,  I 

think  I  shall  do  as  I  am."  became  alarmed  at  his  unseemli- 
ness, and  at  length  said,  "  Mr.  W.,  your  mind  is  so  occupied 
with  greater  things,  that  you  are  naturally  indifferent  about,  &c, 
&c. ;  let  me  suggest'  the  propriety  of  your  changing,  &c,  &c." 
Mr.  W.  went  up  stairs,  stayed  some  time,  and  came  down  pre- 
cisely in  statu  quo  !     ,  almost  baffled,  said  "  It  seems  to 

me,  Mr.  W.,  that  you  have  not  succeeded  in  changing  your  ap- 
parel." "  O  yes,  yes,"  said  W.,  "  have  I  not?  let  me  see ;  per- 
haps I  forgot  to  do  it.  Yes,  sure  enough,  I  was  thinking  of  some- 
thing else."      Up  he   goes   again,  and  finally  endues    a   white 

coloured  shirt.    On  coming  down  he  said  to  Mrs. ,  "  Madam, 

will  you  have  the  goodness  to  go  up,  and  pack  up  my  portman- 
teau 1  it  is  a  thing  I  never  could  do  in  my  life."  He  next  bor- 
rowed a  white  handkerchief  of ,  with  which  shortly  after 

he  dried  the  ink  of  a  very  blotted  sheet  which  he  had  written, 
saying,  "  This  I  learned  in  India — this  I  learned  in  India  !  "  If 
you  think  this  a  very  foolish  story,  remember  that  you  read  it 

1  The  catalogue  of  "  our  College  "  shows  that  places  have  been  found  for 
the  accomplished  tutor.  After  filling  classical  professorships  in  Lafayette 
College  and  Miami  University,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Moifat  has  had  in  the  College 
of  New  Jersey,  since  1852,  the  chair  of  Greek,  or  Latin,  with  History. 


1833—1844.  265 

on  All-Fools'  Day.  There  is  a  Dutch  adage  which  likeneth 
March  to  a  lion,  and  says,  "  he  shaketh  his  tail ;  "  from  at- 
mospheric appearances  he  is  minded  to  give  us  a  few  wags 
more  before  he  goes  out.  Eleven  days  more  will  complete  our 
long  term  :  I  can't  say  that  1  am  very  fond  of  vacations ;  I  have 
not  money  to  travel,  and  I  love  home  perhaps  too  much.  I  am 
afraid  Dr.  Ewing's  tune  will  not  enrich  him ;  yet  it  is  very  good, 
and  we  ought  to  encourage  every  issue  of  religious  music,  espe- 
cially from  the  music  stores.  In  point  of  harmony  it  is  exact 
and  technically  classical.  The  melody  is  scarcely  popular 
enough. 

Trenton,  May  11,  1838. 

I  came  hither  with  hen  and  chicks,  on  Tuesday  ;  but  getting 
wet  and  cold  on  the  way,  I  have  been  in  a  quasi  colic  for  some 
days.  Unless  I  run  down  to  see  you  on  Monday,  I  shall  expect 
to  be  here  until  the  17th. 

With  regard  to  's  dubitations  about  the  Girard  Col- 
lege, I  am  not  as  clear  as  1  could  desire.  The  two  grand  points 
strike  me  as  being  these  :  1.  Is  connexion  with  such  an  establish- 
ment right  %  2.  Is  it  likely  to  be  permanent  ?  Formerly  I  was 
inclined  to  say  No,  to  the  first ;  at  present,  I  am  undecided. 
There  is  very  great  force  in  the  suggestion  that  we  ought  not  to 
leave  this  engine  in  the  devil's  hands,  no  not  for  an  hour  ;  and 

that may  retire,  if  disappointed.     I  incline  to  say  to  him, 

Accept  the  offer.  It  is  a  wonderful  providence  that  a  machine 
contrived  against  religion  should  thus  be  put  within  the  direction 
of  Christian  men  :  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel  is  seemingly  turned 
into  foolishness.  You  can  tell,  better  than  I,  whether  the 
power  is  like  to  abide  in  the  same  hands,  and  whether  there  is  a 
probability  of 's  holding  the  place  for  a  number  of  years. 

Our  Jersey  folks  have  a  custom  of  uniting  in  clubs  for  the 
purchase  of  clams,  a  load  at  a  time,  thus  getting  them  at  whole- 
sale prices  :  these  are  called  clam-classes.  The  time  appears  to 
have  come,  when  the  spirit  of  the  age  demands  a  special  effort, 
for  the  formation  of  a  great  national  universal  clam-class ;  and 
a  convention  for  that  purpose  will  be  holden  on  the  31st  of 
June,  at  Little  Egg  Harbor.  The  Hon,  Mr,  Buckingham  (M.  P.) 
has  kindly  consented  to  appear  on  that  occasion,  when  odes  will 

be  sung  composed  for  the  occasion  by  Mrs. and .     It 

is  proposed  to  issue  a  paper  caljed  the  American  Clam  Reporter. 

Princeton,  July  5,  1838. 
Just  look  what  a  blot  that  is  !     But  this  is  nothing  "  inter 
amicos,"  and  as  Corporal  Nym  saith,  "  things  must  be  as  they 
vol.  i. — 12 


266  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IK   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

may."     So   two   New   Yorkers    (both  whilom  Philadelphians) 

have  gone  over  sea :  S and  P .     The  latter  promised  me 

not  to  chew  tobacco  in  "  the  presence."  Are  there  ten  men  in 
Philadelphia,  barring  schoolmasters,  who  know  that  the  penult 
[of  the  name  of  the  city]  is  long  1  A  friend  in  the  Sandwich 
Islands  writes,  that  forty  feet  square  will  support  a  native  all 
the  year  round.  I  gained  some  clearer  conceptions  from  his  say- 
ing, "  Each  of  the  islands  is  the  top  of  a  submarine  mountain." 
The  same  writer  (a  man  of  sense  and  veracity)  adds,  "  there  is 
probably  no  country,  small  or  great,  in  which  there  is  less  visible 
immorality,  in  proportion  to  the  population." 

I  am  reading  Prescott's  Ferdinand  and  Isabella.  There  is 
no  American  work  of  which,  as  it  regards  fame  of  letters,  I 
would  rather  be  the  author.  So  far  as  I  have  gone,  he  gives  the 
Papishes  their  own.  See,  in  the  May  Blackwood,  a  most  funny 
thing,  "  Father  Tom  and  the  Pope."  Dr.  [John]  Breckinridge 
has  determined  to  accept  his  appointment  as  general  agent  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  1  think  I  have  never 
suffered  so  little  from  heat  as  this  summer ;  yet  I  feel  that  the  last 
two  days  have  been  particularly  hot.  It  is  now  9  A.M.  and  in  my 
study  the  mercury  stands  at  81°  ;  yesterday,  in  a  hotter  place, 
but  shady,  it  was  at  noon  96°.  The  country  has,  however,  been  in 
beautiful  foliage  and  refreshed  with  many  little  rains.  "  The  9th 
Bridgewater  Treatise"  by  C.  Babbage,  is  a  fragment  of  wonder- 
ful genius.  By  recourse  to  the  "  Newark  Daily"  you  will  see  some 
able  papers,  by  a  great  political  economist,  on  Trades  Unions, 
[Charles  Quill.]  I  am  persuaded  that  it  is  our  duty  as  Christian 
patriots,  to  encourage  husbandry,  and  discourage  overgrown  manu- 
factures. God  has  spread  a  wide  country  before  us,  yet  thousands 
are  herding  in  our  factory  towns,  under  influences  ruinous  to  body 
and  soul.  These  bloated  establishments  invite  and  receive  some 
of  the  grandest  villains  of  the  old  country.  All  our  manu- 
facturing towns  are  in  an  abnormal  state.  The  policy  engendered 
in  these  communities  is  necessarily  agrarian;  and. the  human 
race  deteriorates,  physically.  I  feel  it  to  be  incumbent  on  my- 
self to  say  all  I  can  for  emigration  to  the  West ;  and  for  the 
same  reason  I  have  come  to  look  on  a  high  protective  Tariff  as 


Princeton,  July  30,  1838. 

There  is  some  difference  between  being  moved,  and  being 

fixed,  or  I  should  say  we  were  established  in  our  new  place.1 

I  believe  you  know  its  whereabout.     Every  object  is  painfully 

commemorative  of  its  late  beautiful  owner :  we  even  have  her 

1  The  house  which  had  been  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Breckinridge. 


1833—1844.  267 

flowers  ;  and  the  magnolia  which  stands  near  our  back-door,  it 
was  almost  the  last  of  her  worldly  deeds  to  have  planted.  The 
house  is  far  too  large  for  my  family  or  furniture ;  but  the  terms 
were  such  as  I  felt  no  right  to  decline,  especially  as  by  acceding 

to  them,  I  should  be  doing  all  I  could  for ,  and  at  the 

same  time  introduce  my  own  children  to  better  air,  amplei 
space,  and  goodlier  prospects.  The  walk  to  College,  in  the  hot 
season,  is  dreadful  even  to  my  imagination;  how  I  shall  endure 
it,  I  know  not :  but  I  am  somewhat  satisfied  that  I  have  come 
hither  without  self-seeking — and  the  Lord  will  provide. 

And  now  let  me  proceed  to  say,  my  dear  friend,  how  much 
happiness  you  will  give  us,  if  you  will  come  and  rusticate  with 
us.  If  you  will  become  uncivic  for  a  while,  so  far  as  to  forego 
Schuylkill  water,  butter,  baths,  trottoir,  and  omnibi,  and  com- 
mute the  same  for  sunrises,  sunsets,  dirt,  dust,  chickens,  corn, 
tomatoes,  prospects,  breezes,  sweat  and  disorder — you  may  find 
yourself  all  the  better.  I  give  you  my  first  invitation,  as  you 
are  my  earliest  friend,  (how  good  a  one,  let  our  biographers 
determine  :)  and  entertains  towards  you  precisely  anal- 
ogous tempers. 

Our  final  examination  begins  August  6th,  during  which 
I  shall  be  much  occupied,  for  about  ten  days.  We  have 
been  two  days  in  our  present  residence,  and  are  thus  far  well- 
pleased,  except  with  the  amazing  increase  of  housewifeship.  It 
is  something  of  a  job  to  keep  out  of  mischief  three  cats,  one 
dog,  forty  fowls,  and  mice  ad  libitum  ;  the  latter  having  declared 
independence  during  the  late  troubles  and  vacancy.  My  books 
I  have  not  yet  moved  ;  but  I  have  Wilberforce's  Life,  (5  vols.,) 
"  John  Murray,  Albemarle  Street,''  to  read  on  the  back-piazza, 
which  looks  to  the  sunsetting.1  The  drought  is  such  just  here, 
(for  around  our  village  showers  have  been  frequent,)  that  the 
pastures  are  like  a  sheaf  of  dry  straw ;  hence,  milk,  in  which  I 
expected  much  delectation,  is  scanty.  My  corn  is  tall,  but 
likely  to  bear  little;  potatoes  will  fail  utterly,  unless  it  rain ; 
tomato-vines  crisp  as  macaroons  ;  yet,  blessed  be  God,  we  have 
plenty  of  water  as  yet.  Some  recent  mortification  and  trials 
of  pride  have,  I  think,  done  me  good,  and  led  me  to  meditate  on 
my  undue  care  about  the  opinion  of  fellow-worms.  O  if  we 
could  more  crucify  that  old  man,  and  vivify  that  new ! 

A  call  from  yourself  and  boy,  would  be  apropos  at  any 
moment ;  when  you  bring  the  rest,  you  had  better  come  after 
our  examination,  which  (to  all  intents)  ends  August  15th.  In 
Doth  these  statements  I  use  absolute  frankness,  meaning  you 
and  yours  to  take  my  invitation  in  the  rustic  and  old-time  sense, 

1  He  reviewed  this  work  in  the  Repertory,  October,  1838, 


268  WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

without  discount.  Many  thanks  for  English  papers.  They  are 
always  treats.     I  suffer  from  Anglomanie. 

Princeton,  July  30,  183S. 

Hortation  seems  to  me  to  be  the  pulpit-error  of  the  age, 
which  has  emasculated  the  church.1 

Of  Charles  Quill  as  followeth  :  I  never  arranged  the  topics 
for  publication,  and  so  far  as  I  remember,  never  dreamed  of 
such  a  thing  until  it  was  suggested  by  some  one.  I  am  indifferent 
about  it  now.  I  will  give  anybody  the  right  of  a  first  edition 
for  fifty  copies,  provided  that  it  be  printed  under  typographical 
inspection  of  yourself,  J.  A.  A.,  or  myself.  No  book  of  mine, 
with  my  consent,  shall  be  clad  in  the  dirty  shirt  of  [Noah] 
Websterism.  Wilberforce's  Diary,  from  the  extracts  given, 
must  have  been  honest  indeed.  It  is  new  to  have  the  private 
exercises  of  a  great  statesman,  (bosom  friend  of  the  greatest 
minister  England  ever  had,)  while  in  the  very  heat  of  parlia- 
mentary debate.  I  think  him  from  this  reading  (of  two  vol- 
umes) a  greater  and  a  better  man  than  I  supposed,  but  how 
narrow  a  churchman,  how  ignorant  an  anti-Calvinist !     Perhaps 

he  gets  better.     I   regard  the  last  volume  of  the as  a 

religious  imposture : has  crammed  the  garbage  of  craniology 

down  our  throats  under  cover  of  Paul  and  Peter's  milk  and 
meat.  We  are  disgraced  by  the  special  pleading  of  [the  Pres- 
byterian Church  case  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania.] 
I  am  sure  we  are  right,  but  I  am  afraid  God  means  to  strip  us 
of  our  worldly  goods. 

In  this  matter  of  preaching,  with  which  I  began,  I  feel  quite 
earnest,  as  believing  that  most  of  my  earlier  sermons  were  con- 
structed on  a  wrong  principle.  I  would  be  plain,  but  O,  I  wish 
I  had  fed  my  hearers  with  more  truth,  and  given  them  less 
harangue. 

Addison  and  I  are  taking  lessons  in  barking,  howling,  and 
ventriloquism  from  an  elocutionist  named  Bronson,  and  who 
with  much  stuff  has  also  certain  discoveries  on  which  I  thought  I 
myself  had  hit — see  last  Repertory2 — but  which  he  carries  out  so 

1  In  a  postscript  to  this  sentence,  dated  August  4,  he  adds  :  "  Yesterday 
I  heard  my  father  preach  to  our  students  on  Eccl.  xii.  1,  a  text  which  I  had 
handled  a  few  weeks  previous  before  the  same  hearers.  I  was  never  more 
humbled,  nor  more  struck  with  my  own  past  fault  in  this  line.  My  discourse 
was  all  appeal ;  his  was  all  argument,  even  bare  and  quite  dialectic  in  places. 
My  sermon  was  like  a  flash  in  the  pan,  and  his  like  a  ball  lodged,  lodged 
where  to  work  afterwards." 

2  He  refers  to  his  own  review  of  Gardiner's  "  Music  of  Nature,"  in  the 
July  Repertory. 


1833—1844.  269 

as  to  convince  me  that  the  Laryngitis  (erroneously  called  Bron- 
chitis) is  preventable. 

Charlotte  Co.,  Va.,  October  13,  1838. 

By  the  blessing  of  God  we  had  a  very  prosperous  journey 
hither,  escaping  all  bad  weather  and  mishaps.  Unless  a  letter 
miscarry,  you  will  read  something  from  me  in  Kinney's  paper.1 

The  associations  of  this  region  make  me  full  ten  years 
younger,  especially  as  I  have  to  be  several  hours  of  every  day 
on  horseback,  which  has  always  had  a  very  exhilarating  effect  on 
me.  The  two  contiguous  plantations  of  Carrington  and  Mrs. 
Legrand  contain  about  6,000  acres,  and  afford  abundant  rides 
and  walks  without  entering  a  public  road.  The  little  village 
has  greatly  improved,  having  new  Baptist  and  Presbyterian 
churches,  since  my  day  ;  also  a  large  girls'  school  and  a 
respectable  boys'  ditto.  The  drought  in  this  country  almost 
destroyed  many  of  the  crops,  especially  the  most  indispensable, 
viz.,  corn.  Late  profuse  rains  have  made  the  country  very 
green,  but  are  too  late.     The  tobacco  crop,  though  short,  will  be 

answerably  high  priced.     will  make  200  dollars'  worth 

of  that  article  on  one  little  island  of  less  than  two  acres.  I 
write  this  before  breakfast,  having  had  a  happy  stroll,  this  lovely 
frosty  morning,  over  a  most  picturesque  portion  of  the  estate. 
Flocks  of  sheep  on  an  almost  boundless  green,  unenclosed,  have 
a  patriarchal  look  ;  and  at  this  hour  I  can  scarcely  go  abroad 
without  hearing  the  mocking-bird.  I  do  not  remember,  in  my 
former  residences  here  to  have  observed  that  this  fowl  sang  in 
the  autumn.  Such,  however,  is  the  undeniable  fact.  I  think  1 
find  the  intelligence  and  refinement  of  this  land  altogether  against 
Van  Buren  ;  and  even  on  the  Abolition  Question,  there  prevails 
a  moderation  much  in  advance  of  the  temper  I  witnessed  less 
than  three  years  ago.  In  the  Holy  War,  there  is  active  skir- 
mishing hereabout.  Those  party  lines  which,  with  us,  have  been 
drawn  for  years,  are  now  only  in  the  process  of  demarcation 
here.  The  consequence  is  feud  on  feud,  u  bellum  plusquam  ci- 
vile ; "  house  against  house,  mother  against  daughter,  &c,  &c. 
The  Old  School  are  about  four  to  one.     But  vide  Papers. 

Charlotte  Court  House,  Virginia,  October  19,  1838. 
This  is  a  mighty  rainy  day.     More  rain  here  in  two  weeks 
of  October,  than  during  all  the  summer.     The  promising  prices 
of  wheat  set  our  planters  at  sowing.     Mr.  Carrington  is  just 

1  He  sent  several  travelling  letters  to  the  "Newark  Advertiser"  during 
his  absence. 


270  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

putting  100  acres  in  wheat.  The  mulberry  mania  is  rife. 
Serious  talk  of  exchanging  tobacco  for  silk  cultivation.  The 
lithograph  of  Childs,  from  a  painting  by  Harding,  is  said  to  give 
the  best  idea  of  Randolph.  R.  affected  to  be  a  Cato  in  his 
frugality.  Though  he  laid,  out  thousands  on  his  sixty  horses, 
his  stud  being  often  worth  perhaps  $30,000,  and  had  all  his  per- 
sonal apparel  from  London,  he  lived  in  a  mean  house  and  never 
would  allow  a  carpet  to  be  on  his  floors.  The  will  last  estab 
lished  by  the  Court  of  Appeals  emancipates  the  negroes,  but  by 
a  law  of  Virginia,  repealed  however  last  year,  any  one,  not  privy 
to  the  proceedings  in  the  court  of  probate,  may,  within  ten  years, 
bring  a  suit  in  Chancery,  to  try  the  issue  "  devisavit  vel  non 

devisavit."     has  availed  himself  of  this,  and  hung  up 

more    than   300   negroes   in   a   distant    Chancery.      Yesterday 

,  a  lawyer  of  great  eminence,  and,  next  to  Judge  Lee, 

Randolph's  most  confidential  actuary,  told  me,  that  in  every  will 
and  every  important  codicil,  Randolph  evinced  the  great  concern 
he  had  for  his  servants.  They  adored  him  as  almost  above  the 
human  standard,  and  preferred  being  his  slaves  to  being  free. 
It  is  perhaps  (after  all  our  abstractions)  better  for  these  negroes, 
as  a  set,  that  they  are  not  freed.  I  say  this  seriously,  founding 
my  judgment  on  the  following  striking  fact :  Richard  and  John 
Randolph  were  brothers,  and  divided  between  them  the  estate  of 
their  father.  Each  took  a  moiety  of  the  slaves.  Richard  set  his 
free  :  John  retained  his  on  the  estates.  Col.  Madison  published 
the  history  of  the  former  moiety  and  their  offspring.  They 
have  almost  become  extinct ;  those  who  remain  are  wandering 
and  drunken  thieves,  degraded  below  the  level  of  humanity,  and 
beyond  the  reach  of  Gospel  means.  The  slaves  of  Roanoke  are 
the  descendants  of  the  other  moiety.  They  are  nearly  four  hun- 
dred, and  though  not  free,  are  sleek,  fat,  healthy,  happy,  and 
many  of  them  to  all  appearance  ripe  for  heaven.  These  I  know 
to  be  facts,  and  they  are  worth  more  to  me  than  a  volume  of 
dissertations  on  the  right  to  freedom.  At  the  same  time,  every- 
body here  considers  it  highly  inequitable  that  these  people  are 
kept  from  the  benefits  intended  by  their  master. 

You  know  [the  late  William]  Maxwell,  and  that  he  is  made 
President  of  Hampden  Sidney  College.  Father  Comfort  [of 
Kingston]  is  here  at  present  with  his  son  David. 

I  am  somewhat  disposed  to  reconsider  the  expressions  of  my 
last  letter  touching  the  temper  of  the  Church  controversy  here. 
Since  I  have  seen  ministers,  and  heard  from  Synod,  I  think  there 
is  prospect  of  pacification.  The  new  school  are  about  1  to  5,  or 
at  most  1  to  4.  They  are  scattered,  divided,  in  some  cases  differ, 
ing  from  us  by  the  merest  shade,  and  disheartened.     They  are 


1833—184:4.  271 

moreover,  generally,  mistaken  good  men.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  Old  Schoolmen  are  more  and  more  for  moderation,  the 
oscillatory  pendulum  is  making  shorter  and  shorter  arcs.  I 
augur  good  for  Virginia.  There  is  really  no  ground  for  dissen- 
sion apart  from  the  quarrel  of  churches  afar  off. 

Yours  of  Oct.  11  (postmark  12)  got  here  on  the  16th.  I  am 
obliged  to  you  for  your  concern  for  the  goosequills  ;  but  I  am 
not  sure  that  I  know  what  you  mean.  I  have  said,  in  one  place 
and  another,  something  fitted  to  direct  the  mechanic  in  his  read- 
ing, and  I  have  purposely  avoided  being  more  explicit,  lest  I 
should  do  more  harm  than  good,  by  discouraging  beginners,  &c. 
Away  from  home,  I  cannot  enterprise  the  thing  now;  but  if 
there  be  time  when  I  get  to  Philadelphia  I  will  consult  about  it. 
There  has  been  no  publication  of  the  evidence  in  Randolph's 
case.  Every  thing  came  out  on  the  trials ;  a  necessary  conse- 
quence of  the  intricate  suits,  in  which  each  expectant  was  by 
turn  induced  to  prove  J.  R.  insane. 

The  manners  and  customs  here  are  not  the  best  for  an 
invalid.  A  visit  of  relations,  some  20  in  number,  horses, 
coaches,  retinue,  &c,  lasts,  at  least,  one  day,  sometimes  a  week. 

Where  one  comes  17  miles,  as did,  to  see  us,  it  is  out  of 

the  question  to  make  a  morning  call.  And  when,  in  turn,  we 
go  to  see  some  of  our  kin,  the  solemnities  of  an  old-time  cere- 
monious dinner  are  any  thing  but  reviving  to  a  queasy  stomach. 
It  is  more  of  a  paradise  to  Henry,  [his  son.]  He  has  the  run  of 
miles,  if  he  so  pleases,  with  ample  attendance.  Every  half  hour 
"  Plenry  and  his  Bearer  "  appear  with  peaches,  or  figs,  or  chin- 
quepins,  or  'simmons,  or  sweet  potatoes  "  roast  with  fire ;  "  or 
he  is  in  chase  of  a  peacock,  or  picking  cotton  out  of  the  pod,  or 
learning  to  talk  "  nigger."  One  of  Mrs.  Le  Grand's  black  girls, 
let.  14,  said  more  than  once  to  my  wife,  with  a  face  of  great  im 
portunity — "  Miss  Betsy,  do  pray  ax  missus  to  gi'  me  to  ye." 
There  seems  to  be  a  vague  impression  (grossly  incorrect  by-the- 
bye)  on  the  minds  of  these  creatures,  that  they  shall  be  happier 
and  have  less  care  by  removal  northward. 

1  have,  as  a  general  plan,  conversed  particularly  and  point- 
edly about  religion,  with  every  negro  whom  I  could  get  alone, 
in  walks,  rides,  &c.  I  have  been  tenderly  affected  in  so  doing. 
Many  seem  to  me  to  be  genuine  saints.  Many  show  that  they 
have  been  seekers  for  years  on  years,  but  have  never  been  di- 
rected, privately,  by  any  competent  person.  In  every  case  they 
are  as  perfectly  accessible  as  my  Henry.     Even  where  they  are 

wicked,  they  listen,  and  their  conscience  is  prompt.    The 

Antinomianism  is  the  rock  on  which  thousands  are  wrecked. 
The  scene  we  saw  in  Locust  street  [a  religious  excitement]  is 


2T2  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

acted  at  every  meeting.  Yet  even  among  these,  I  am  sure, 
Christ  hath  his  sheep.  A  hundred  lay  missionaries  might  now 
go  into  this  field  and  convert  thousands.  They  ought  to  be 
Southern  men,  and  the  South  ought  to  furnish  them  forthwith 
I  am  so  filled  with  this,  that  I  try  to  introduce  the  theme  in 
every  circle.  Mrs.  Le  Grand  lodges  and  boards  a  good  Episco- 
palian (a  Connecticut  man,  but  twenty  years  in  Va.)  awaiting  or- 
ders, for  this  business  among  her  slaves.  He  has  this  moment  re- 
turned, on  foot  and  through  a  smart  rain,  from  the  overseer's  house 
two  miles  off,  where  he  instructed  a  group  of  fifteen  last  night. 
Now  it  is  my  deliberate  belief,  that  more  of  these  slaves  are  likely 
to  go  to  heaven,  than  of  an  equal  number  of  servants  of  pious  peo- 
ple in  our  Middle  States ;  and  such  being  the  hopefulness  of  the 
work,  how  earnestly  ought  Christians  to  engage  in  it !  Thou- 
sands might  be  got  to  attend  public  preaching,  as  hundreds  now 
do.  The  law  (thanks  to  the  meddling  of  anti-slavery  societies) 
forbids  schools,  and  public  teaching  to  read ;  it  was  not  so  when 
1  lived  here  :  but  I  hold  it  to  be  our  business  to  save  their  sauls  ; 
and  however  criminal  slavery  may  be,  I  see  with  my  eyes  that 
God  has  so  overruled  it,  as  that  the  slaves  are  more  open  to 
Gospel  truth  than  any  human  beings  on  the  globe.  They  are,  I 
know,  under  temptations  to  hypocrisy  :  but  grant  they  are  pre- 
tending more  than  they  feel,  one  has  nevertheless  the  chance  to 
lodge  truth  in  their  minds.  The  instances  of  this  are  affecting. 
In  one  short  walk  yesterday,  I  had  talks  with  two  men.  One 
was  loading  his  wagon  with  billets  of  wood,  in  a  clearing  of  the 
forest.  As  he  hung  over  the  side  of  the  wagon,  his  face  beamed 
with  the  expression  of  sincere  and  intense  emotion.  He  declared 
he  had  "  long,  long,  yes  for  many  years,  desired  to  have  true 
religion.  Yes,"  said  he,  "  master,  true  religion — that  sort  of 
religion  which  will  do  when  I  lie  on  my  death-bed."  I  read 
over  and  over  to  him  Matt.  v.  6,  commenting,  &c.  This  occurs 
daily,  and  this  is  easy  work,  and  work  which  anybody  may  per- 
form. This  is,  moreover,  the  best  preparative  for  freedom.  I 
find  your  journal  highly  prized  here ;  occasionally  have  something 
which  may  do  to  read  aloud  to  slaves.  The  Episcopalians  (who 
have  never  caught  the  itch  of  abolition)  are  doing  something  in 
this  line.  I  preached  twice  last  Sunday,  and  twice  the  Sunday 
before,  and  have  attended  two  prayer  meetings.  There  is  an 
extraordinary  supineness  here  as  to  the  doing  of  good.  The 
most  that  I  see  going  on  is  in  the  Sunday  School.  The  Epis- 
copal clergy  hereabouts  are  all  evangelical  and  hard-working 
men.  John  Clark,  who  preaches  nearest  here,  cannot,  I  suppose, 
make  the  circuit  of  his  preaching-places  without  riding  sixty 
miles. 


1833—1844.  273 

Princeton,  November  26,  1838. 

Well — here  we  are,  but  in  a  mighty  cold  house.  We  have 
not  yet  broken  in  our  stoves,  &c,  to  any  sort  of  availableness. 
My  little  affairs  went  on  well  during  my  absence,  and  my  little 
garden  crops  exceeded  expectation.  College  is  very  full,  and 
becoming  fuller.  Look  about  you,  and  tell  me  whether  you  see 
a  good  English  edition  of  all  Cowper's  works  :  also  has  Sparks 
issued  Franklin's  ?  Since  you  spoke  to  me  about  Wilberforce, 
I  have  been  told  that has  talked  about  doing  an  abridg- 
ment.    This  will  prevent  my  moving  in  it.1 

I  wait  to  see  the  fate  of  my  Quills,  before  I  attempt  a  similar 
series  for  City  Clerks,  &c.  Any  and  every  hint  you  can  memo- 
randum about  this  topic,  will  be  of  great  value  to  me.  You  are 
in  the  midst  of  such  youth — know  their  haunts,  tastes,  tempta- 
tions, &c.  I  have  a  book  opened  for  materials,  and  will  enter 
every  thing  as  it  comes  to  hand.  Any  scraps  from  your  scissors 
will  be  in  place.  Henry  James  has  re-gone  to  England.  He 
and  H.  Walsh,  and  Piatt,  all  once  together  in  the  Seminary, 
have  become  Sandemanians,  and  joined  the  Scotch  Baptists,  in 
New  York,  a  little  sect,  headed  by  Buchanan,  H.  B.  M.  Consul. 
They  have  no  preaching,  but  assemble  on  Sundays,  when  the 
"  elders  "  and  others  expound  and  pray.  James  has  issued  a 
tract  which  I  will  try  to  keep  for  you,  intituled  "  The  Gospel 
Good  News  to  Sinners,"  and  Walsh  another,  "  The  True  Grace 
of  God."  These  are  in  many  points  quite  good,  and  their  chief 
mistake  is  that  they  have  found  out  something.  All  they  say 
about  the  object  of  faith  is  just  what  Russell  says,  and  just  what 
1  say  myself.2     But  they  add  other  things. 

I  spent  an  hour  this  morning  with  good  old  Mr.  [Samuel] 
Bayard.  He  showed  me  letters  from  W.  Pitt,  Lord  Erskine, 
Lord  Lansdowne,  and  Sir  John  Sinclair :  the  latter  being  a 
stringent  request  for  the  recipe  for  cornbread  and  buckwheat 
cakes.  Also  several  letters  from  Wilberforce.  From  one  of 
these,  lying  before  me,  (Beckenham  Kent,  11  Jan.  1826,)  I  copy 
what  follows  :  keep  the  extract  for  use  some  day  :  "  I  wish  you 
had  added  some  particulars  both  of  your  own  personal  and  family 
circumstances,  and  of  any  of  the  religious  and  benevolent  insti- 
tutions, or  any  other  particulars  in  your  Country,  in  the  con- 
cerns of  which  I  take  a  warm  interest.  The  growing  connexion 
between  our  two  Countries  that  is  formed  by  your  common  pro- 

1  An  abridgment  of  Wilberforce's  biography  was  made  by  Caspar  Morris, 
M.D.,  of  Philadelphia,  and  published  in  1839. 

2  Russell's  "  Letters,"  see  a  previous  page.  In  a  subsequent  letter  he 
writes  :  "  What  Russell  says  on  faith  is  just  what  my  labouring  soul  long 
ago  rested  on  as  the  ark  on  Ararat." 

VOL.   I.— 12* 


274  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN    PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

secution  of  beneficent  undertakings,  is  a  subject  of  solid  enjoy 
ment  to  my  mind ;  and  I  cannot  but  persuade  myself  that  the 
mutual  Esteem  and  Regard  which  will  arise  out  of  this- connexion, 
will  tend  to  destroy  the  effect  of  those  malignant  endeavours, 
which  in  both  Countries,  I  fear,  are  still  made,  to  alienate  from 
each  other  the  affections  of  their  respective  members.  Surely  it 
would  be  littleness  of  mind  as  well  as  a  want  of  true  principle 
that  could  render  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States  disposed  to  feel  otherwise  towards  each  other,  than  as 
brethren,  descended  from  one  common  stock,  bound  together  by 
a  common  language,  and  by  Institutions  of  at  least  a  congenial 
spirit.  I  will  even  indulge  the  hope,  that  in  this  instance,  the 
hostilities  that  have  been  carried  on,  by  confirming  in  each  a 
respect  for  the  other,  may  produce  the  effect  which  is  sometimes 
seen  to  result  from  temporary  differences  in  private  life,  of  pro- 
viding for  the  solid  maintenance  of  future  friendship.  Let  it  be 
the  endeavour  of  all  good  men  to  confirm  and  augment  these 
kind  dispositions.  Such,  I  am  sure,  is  the  spirit  with  which  I  am 
actuated,  and  1  doubt  not  it  is  felt  by  the  correspondent  whom  1 
am  now  addressing." 

Princeton,  November  30,  1838. 
An  old  Baptist  preacher  used  to  visit  Mrs.  ,  dur- 
ing her  last  husband's  life,  and  pray  for  "  the  head  and 
headers  "  of  the  family.  The  preface  to  Bush's  Genesis,  which 
I  have  read  in  proof,  contains  some  very  remarkable  facts  con- 
cerning the  text  of  the  English  Version.  Altogether,  it  is  a  com- 
prehensive  and  valuable  performance.  I  have  before  me  a  beau- 
tiful English  MS.  on  vellum :  a  religious  treatise,  chiefly  on 
the  Creed.  I  have  not  read  it  fully,  so  as  to  make  up  my  mind, 
but  it  cannot  be  later  than  A.D.  1400.  It  has  sodeyn — clepid — ■ 
goostli  (spiritual) — ben  (are) — clerkis — honde — scullen  (should) — 
thilke  (those) — pepil — covellse,  &c/  I  am  deep  in  grubbing 
among  German  metaphysics,  to  write  an  article  for  the  Reper- 
tory, against  the  attempts  to  introduce  their  poison  among  us.1 

is  doing  his  little  all  to  bring  in  Cousin,  which  will 

bring  in  Schelling,  which  will  bring  in  Atheism,  which  will  bring 
in  the  devil.  It  is  affecting  to  see  that  10 — 20  Turks  have, 
without  a  preacher,  been  awakened  by  GoodelPs  version  of  the 

1  This  became  the  paper  (65  pages)  on  Trayiscenclentalism  in  the  number 
for  January,  1839.  One  part  of  the  argument  (reviewing  Cousin)  was  pre- 
pared by  the  late  Professor  A.  B.  Dod.  The  entire  paper,  with  parts  of  the 
article  on  "  The  Latest  form  of  Infidelity,"  by  another  hand,  in  the  Keper- 
tory  of  18-tO,  was,  upon  request,  permitted  to  be  reprinted  in  a  pamphlet 
at  Boston. 


1833—1844.  275 

"  Dairyman's  Daughter."  The  more  I  read  of  human  philoso- 
phy, the  more  I  prize  the  childlike  spirit ;  the  more  I  love  the 
book  of  books.  Like  Goliath's  sword,  "  there  is  none  like  it." 
Why  are  we  not  more  devoted  to  the  study  of  it  ?  Can  we  do  a 
better  work  than  to  get  people  to  read  it  ? 

Princeton,  December  25,  1838. 

I  wish  you  a  merry  Christmas,  though  merry  or  unmerry  it 
is  now  nearly  over.  MelvilFs  Sermons  have  been  a  great  treat 
to  me  ;  read  some  of  them  by  all  means.  [Dr.]  Skinner's  book1 
is  very  fine.  I  am  astonished  at  the  crystalline  purity  of  his  dic- 
tion ;  he  lacks  nothing  but  tenderness.  Another  volume  of  [Paul] 
Henry's  Life  of  Calvin  [in  German]  :  he  has  raked  together 
1,200  autograph  letters  of  Calvin.2 

[After  some  comments  on  the  sin  of  what  he  calls  the  "  De- 
mas-ism  "  of  ministers.]  This  matter  in  a  kind  and  affectionate 
way  ought  to  be  agitated  among  all  who  think  aright  upon  it 
until  some  nucleus  of  amended  opinion  be  formed.  Get  Dr. 
[David]  Magie's  late  tract  on  Support  of  Ministry.3  How 
honourable  to  his  Presbytery  that  not  one  of  their  twenty-two 
ministers  does  any  thing  but  preach  ;  no  schools  ;  no  farms.  O 
si  sic  omnes  !  Really,  I  know  no  topic  more  momentous.  Just 
imagine  our  thousand  preachers  all  devoted,  all  labouring,  even 
as  some  of  them  do  !  My  conscience  is  much  exercised  about 
this  matter,  as  a  personal  case.    [ an  ex-missionary]  has  been 

1  The  "  Religion  of  the  Bible,"  and  "  Aids  to  Preaching  and  Hearing," 
by  Dr.  Skinner,  both  appeared  in  1839,  and  were  reviewed  in  the  Repertory, 
January,  1841. 

2  Mr.  Alexander  wrote  the  full  abstract  of  the  successive  volumes,  which 
appeared  in  the  Repertory  for  January,  183*7,  and  July,  1839.  Another 
writer  furnished  the  conclusion  in  April,  1848. 

3  "An  Address  of  the  Presbytery  of  Elizabethtown  to  the  Churches 
under  its  care,"  on  the  "  claims  of  the  Gospel  Ministry  to  an  adequate  sup- 
port." This  tract  was  the  text  of  a  standard  treatise  on  the  whole  subject 
in  the  Repertory  of  April,  1839,  which  bears  the  marks  of  Mr.  Alexander's 
style  of  opinions,  although,  as  in  numerous  other  instances,  I  cannot  posi- 
tively identify  it.  In  that  article  the  sentiments  of  the  letter  as  to  the 
secular  employments  of  some  ministers  are  duly  qualified :  ex.  gr.  "  It 
cannot  be  denied  that  throughout  our  land  an  alarming  portion  of  the  clergy 
are  withdrawn  from  their  appropriate  duties  by  the  necessity  of  providing 
for  their  own  support.  Who  are  to  blame  for  this  ?  Those  who  create  this 
necessity,  or  those  who  submit  to  it?  The  remedy  of  this  evil,  perhaps  the 
greatest  which  now  afflicts  our  Church,  can  only  be  provided  by  the  people. 
If  they  force  their  pastors  to  choose  between  working  or  starving,  they 
must  expect  them  to.  work,  to  engage  in  the  business  of  the  world,  and 
more  or  less,  alas  !  to  imbibe  its  spirit ;  for  the  ministers,  at  least, 

"The  -world's  infections  ;  few  bring  back  at  evo, 
Immaculate,  the  manners  of  the  morn." 


276  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IK   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

vilely  used  by ,  who  took  a  spite  at  the  missionaries,  as 

most  visitors  do,  who  consort  with  Sanballat,  Tobiah,  and  the 
other  foreign  residents.  Quere.  If  the  late  change  of  opinion 
among  7,000  savages,  in  those  isles,  [Sandwich,]  were  any  but 
a  religious  change,  would  not  the  Avorld  ring  with  it  1 

Among  many  commentators  whom  I  have  to  consult,  I  find 
none  like  Calvin — he  oftenest  beards  the  real  difficulty,  and 
oftenest  knocks  it  down,  and  drags  it  out.  Look  at  Nordheimer's 
Grammatical  Analysis,  for  a  specimen  of-unmatchable  American 
printing.     Eespects  and  affections. 

Princeton,  January  23,  1839. 

If  you  have  not  read  "  Lane's  Modern  Egypt,"  in  the  series 
of  "  Entertaining  Knowledge,"  you  have  a  great  treat  before  you. 
No  book,  not  even  Burckhardt's,  has  given  me  so  minute  an  ac- 
quaintance with  Islam,  &c.  I  mean  to  concoct  some  of  the  bib- 
lical memoranda  for  your  S.  S.  Journal.1  When  you  seem  to 
attribute  some  of  the  evil  reports  concerning  ministers  to  their 
worldliness,  or  rather  hint  that  by  living  holier  lives  they  will 
have  more  chance  of  escape,  I  must  dissent ;  however  pure  men 
may  be,  Satan  will  cause  his  children  to  "  say  all  manner  of  evil 
against  "  them. 

I  am  unfeigncdly  friendly  to  the  American  Board,  [Foreign 
Missions,]  but  I  never  felt  that  in  giving  one  mite,  I  bound  my- 
self to  give  a  second  ;  and  now  that  we  have  a  board  of  our  own, 
I  do  not  expect  to  give  another  penny  to  the  former  while  I  live. 
I  have  no  feeling  of  duty  towards  this  excellent  body  ;  while  to 
our  own  church-boards  I  feel  bound,  as  likely  to  draw  out  the 
contributions  of  thousands  who  would  not  otherwise  contribute. 

The  new  measures  you  propose.,  for  filling  the Church, 

are  certainly  innocent  and  I  believe  politic.  Why  might  not  the 
elder 8  of  a  church  sign  a  card  of  invitation  to  the  canaille,  to 
come  in  1  Methinks  no  work  of  the  age  is  more  important  than 
the  getting  the  mob  of  our  cities  in  contact  with  Gospel-truth. 

I  write  at  a  hand-gallop.  I  have  preached  five  times  in  eight 
days,  lectured  four  times,  examined  a  class,  made  a  Tract  speech, 
and  heard  seven  recitations.     I  am  therefore  pushed  hard.2 

Princeton,  March  21,  1839. 
I  have  felt  anxious  for  a  week  or  more  about  your  family, 
and  not  the  less  so,  since  your  note  by  my  father.     I  sincerely 

1  This  was  done  in  a  series  of  articles  entitled  '<  The  Bible  Illustrated 
from  Egypt." 

2  It  may  be  mentioned  here  that  during  the  term  of  his  Professorship, 
Mr.  Alexander  preached,  on  an  average,  sixty  times  each  year. 


1833—1844.  277 

hope  you  may  be  carried  through  this  trial  without  a  be- 
reavement ;  but  if  not — I  have  nothing  I  can  say  but  to  recom- 
mend to  you  absolute  and  filial  submission  :  I  hope  you  know 
its  necessity  and  its  virtue ;  and  I  doubt  not  a  moment  the  trial 
is  meant  to  go  a  certain  length  towards  slaying  the  body  of  sin 
in  you  and  .  In  the  ordinary  course  of  gracious  disci- 
pline nothing  seems  to  kill  sin  in  us  so  surely  as  these  stripes. 
May  they  be  few  and  light ! 

Princeton,  April  9,  1839. 
I  have  not  for  some  days  written  to  you,  being  doubtful  in 
what  strain  I  should  address  you,  as  I  could  hear  nothing  about 
your  child,  and  it  is  only  this  hour  that  I  have  learned  that  it  has 
pleased  God  to  take  her  away  from  you.  Let  me  assure  you, 
that  my  wife  and  I  sorrow  with  you,  as  knowing  in  some  meas- 
ure the  heart  of  bereaved  parents.  In  such  times  one  can  only 
say  "  It  is  the  Lord."  Here  is  our  stay  in  every  affliction. 
"  The  Lord  reigneth."  "  It  is  well."  It  has  fallen  to  your  lot  to 
have  a  number  of  family  afflictions,  and  no  doubt  they  have  been, 
whether  you  know  it  or  not,  among  your  greatest  blessings. 
No  one  can  rejoice  in  such  strokes,  in  themselves  considered ; 
but  when  viewing  them  in  connexion  with  great  grace  vouch- 
safed along  with  them,  we  may  "  glory  in  tribulation  also."  The 
stroke  must  be  heaviest,  as  it  is  most  unwonted,  to  the  afflicted 
mother.  Here,  if  anywhere,  "  the  heart  knoweth  its  own  bit- 
terness ;  "  and  I  would  not  intermeddle ;  but  even  here  grace 
does  often  so  soothe  the  agonized  heart,  as  to  bring  joy  out  of  the 
midst  of  grief.  Our  dear  children  are  not  lost,  but  sent  before. 
They  await  our  coming,  and  perhaps  rejoice,  not  merely  as 
redeemed  creatures,  but  as  ours  ;  as  bone  of  our  bone,  and  flesh 
of  our  flesh.  Probably  they  know  more  of  us,  than  we  of  them. 
Certainly  they  know  more  of  Christ.  You  are  familiar  with  the 
expressions  of  Jeremy  Taylor  and  Leighton,  concerning  the  loss 
of  children  :  they  are  both  touching,  but  Taylor's  the  most  so  ; 
for  he  had  many  children,  and  all  his  sons  died  before  him,  while 
Leighton  was  a  bachelor.  "  No  man  can  tell  "  (says  Taylor)  "  but 
he  that  loves  his  children,  how  many  delicious  accents  make  a 
man's  heart  dance  in  the  pretty  conversation  of  those  dear 
pledges — their  childishness,  their  stammering,  their  little  angers, 
their  innocence,  their  imperfections,  their  necessities,  are  so  many 
little  emanations  of  joy  and  comfort,  to  him  that  delights  in  their 
person  and  society."  I  trust  that  Mrs.  Hall  and  yourself  will 
be  enabled  to  receive  just  that  measure  and  kind  of  benefit  which 
it  seems  to  be  the  Master's  will  to  communicate. 


278  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN    TRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Princeton,  April  25,  1839. 
Of  course  there  has  been  very  great  concern  about  the  church 
case.1  In  a  spiritual  point  of  view  I  cannot  see  that  the  Old 
School  have  lost  much.  At  the  same  time  it  is  undeniably  a 
grievous  chastisement ;  and  the  difficulty  of  knowing  what  to  do 
is  extreme.  Some,  I  hear,  are  strongly  in  favour  of  going  back, 
rescinding  the  exscinding  acts,  &c,  and  taking  the  chance  of  ruling 
in  the  joint  body.  I  cannot  see  this  to  be  proper,  as  it  would 
establish  a  portentous  precedent  touching  religious  liberty  and 
ecclesiastical  independence.  It  would  concede  to  the  civil  power 
the  authority  to  determine,  not  only  what  relates  to  our  cor- 
porate privileges,  in  which  I  grant  them  absolute  sway,  but  what 
is  purely  ecclesiastical ;  viz.,  to  say  that  A  B  and  C  (whom  we, 
by  regular  church  acts,  have  put  out  of  the  church)  are  a  part 
of  the  church.  This  point  I  cannot  yield.  We  do  not  seriously 
believe  that  the  New  School  men  have  been  anxious  to  get  the 
property  ;  especially  we  believe  they  would,  if  they  could,  leave 
Princeton  property,  &c,  in  its  former  hands.  There  would  be 
an  odium  attached  to  any  sudden  change.  Princeton  funds  can- 
not be  employed  anywhere  but  here — and  here  the  New  School 
do  not  want  a  Seminary.  It  can  cost  them  little  therefore  to  be 
generous  ;  but  how  to  effect  this  is  the  question.  They  cannot 
make  us  a  title  ;  nor  can  we  comfortably  sit  down  in  their  pos- 
sessions, as  incumbents  by  mere  sufferance.  Some  have  sup- 
posed that  the  New  School  might  consent  to  an  amicable  separa- 
tion, even  now,  and  unite  with  us  in  applying  to  the  Legislature 
to  have  the  succession  continued  in  two  branches. 

Princeton,  May  1,  1839. 
I  went  to  our  Presbytery  last  week  at  Lambertville.  J.  A. 
A.  was  ordained.  I  came  home  via  Trenton.  There  I  attended 
for  several  days  the  Methodist  Annual  Conference  for  this  State: 
about  120  ministers.  A  highly  respectable  body.  Bishops 
Waugh  and  Hedding  presided  by  turns.  I  was  much  pleased 
with  almost  every  thing  they  did,  and  with  their  business  ways; 
great  promptness  and  affection  ;  nothing  carping  or  disputatious. 
Nothing  surprised  or  amused  me  more  than  the  rigid  scrutiny 
to  which  each  minister's  character  is  subjected  annually.  The 
whole  list  is  gone  through  regularly,  each  name  called,  and  tes- 
timony taken  as  to  the  faithfulness,  competency,  and  even  health 
of  every  man.     They  had  a  great  gun  from  Illinois,  called  Cav- 

1  The  verdict  of  the  jury  in  Pennsylvania,  in  favour  of  the  New  School 
section  of  the  Church,  afterwards  reversed,  on  the  points  of  law,  by  the 
Supreme  Court. 


1833—1844.  279 

anagh.  [Rev.  J.  P.]  Durbin  and  [N.]  Bangs  arc  there.  They 
sit  more  than  a  week.  Mr.  Yeomans  lays  the  corner  stone  or 
his  new  church  to-morrow ;  100  feet  by  62.  I  was  introduced  to 
[J.  J.]  Gurney  the  other  day,  and  was  charmed  with  his  per- 
sonel.  Dr.  [John]  Breckinridge  arrived  here  yesterday,  being, 
to  a  day,  the  time  fixed  months  ago.  He  says  he  has  never 
failed  to  meet  his  most  distant  appointments,  except  when  he  has 
been  thrown  out  by  the  rest  of  the  Sabbath.  He  averaged  50 
miles  a  day  for  nine  months.  My  father  is  writing  a  history  of  > 
African  Colonization.  I  never  saw  the  country  look  more  beau- 
tiful than  it  does  after  the  late  showers.  By  reference  to  my 
book  I  find  the  season  two  weeks,  at  least,  earlier  than  the  last. 
The  Clericus  multioaulis 1  increases  in  this  State.  H.  P.  Good- 
rich is  to  be  President  of  Marion  College,  vice  W.  S.  Potts,  re- 
stored to  St.  Louis. 

May  14. — A  chasm  of  nearly  two  weeks.  I  have  in  the 
meanwhile  been  overrun  with  our  spring  visiters,  examinations, 
gardening  operations,  and  incommoded  by  a  very  painful  affec- 
tion of  the  throat,  which  still  continues  :  it  is  a  muscular  or 
spasmodic  something  about  the  door  of  the  stomach,  very  chok- 
ing and  uncomfortable.  College  opens  on  the  16th.  I  think  we 
shall  number  250.  An  old  Church  of  England  missionary  from 
Ceylon  is  here. 

Mr.  Perkins  says  nothing  to  me  about  a  3d  ed.  of  Quill.  I 
have  feared  that  his  expectations  were  disappointed  about  the  2d. 
If  so,  he  may  be  somewhat  brightened  by  the  following  extract 
of  a  letter  to  me  from  Prof.  Bush  of  New  York  :  "  I  met  to-day 
one  of  our  most  intelligent,  most  wealthy,  and  most  useful  citi- 
zens (a  mechanic)  with  a  bundle  of  books  under  his  arm,  (here  I 
omit  sundry  bits  of  blarney,)  and  which  were  a  part  of  near  a 
hundred  copies  that  he  had  purchased  for  gratuitous  distribution 
among  the  different  classes  of  operatives  in  the  city" — "  had  no 
doubt  that  thousands  of  them  might  be  sold  every  year  in  this 
city  among  the  class  for  whom  they  are  designed."     Pye  Smith 

seems  to  outstrip  even  his  great  co-eval in  the  race  to 

wards  neology.  They  say  [Rev.  E.  N.]  Kirk  has  quite  repris- 
tinated  the  old  Spa  Fields  (Lady  Huntingdon's)  Chapel  in 
London ;  I  see  one  of  his  sermons  in  the  "  Pulpit."  The  people 
from  America  who  go  over  to  help  the  French  Protestants  are 
guilty  of  one  unpardonable  error,  in  my  judgment.  Instead  of 
aiming  to  quicken  and  raise  the  old  Protestant  Church,  which 
still  exists,  and  has  government  patronage,  they  attempt  little 
independent,  or  secession  bodies,  which  not  unnaturally  excite 

1  Speculations  in  the  mulberry-tree  for  raising  silkworms. 


280  WHILE   PKOFESSOK   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

the  suspicion  as  well  of  the  government  as  of  the  other  Protes- 
tants. The  creed  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  France  is  as  sound 
as  ever,  and  as  a  proof  of  what  we  might  hope,  by  going  to  work 
patiently  and  judiciously,  the  government  have  placed  at  Mon- 
tauban  Seminary  two  orthodox  professors,  viz.,  de  Felice  and 
Adolphe  Monod.  Several  thousand  U.  S.  troops  are  to  be  in 
camp  at  Trenton,  during  the  summer.1 

Princeton,  June  10,  1839. 
A  more  lovely  season  I  have  not  known.  Our  fields,  groves, 
and  gardens  are  one  tissue  of  green  ;  and  for  a  day  or  two  past 
the  air  has  been  fraught  with  the  richest  odours.  Some  of  our 
little  copses  near  the  brook  are  paradisiacal  in  their  look,  smell, 
and  coolness.  In  my  garden  I  have  found  great  benefit  to  my 
health,  and  many  fascinations.  With  the  little  interval  for 
prayers  and  breakfast  I  usually  work  in  it  from  5^  to  S£  o'clock. 
From  a  space  as  big  as  your  front  parlour,  we  have  picked  42 
quarts  of  strawberries,  chiefly  hautboys,  and  the  season  is  not 
half  done.  Of  these  15  quarts  in  one  day.  For  some  reason 
they  are  exceeding  sour.  I  wish  you  were  here  to  partake  of 
them,  for  we  have  to  disperse  the  greater  part  among  our  neigh- 
bours. Other  garden  truck,  with  me,  is  rather  backward.  I 
little  expected  thatyow  would  ever  have  occasion  to  conflict  with 
.  He  is  so  rabid  a  man,  that,  except  where  one's  con- 
science should  make  pertinacity  a  duty,  I  should  use  all  lawful 
means  to  avoid  encountering  him.  His  strategy  is  that  of  In- 
dian warfare.     I  have  looked  over 's  book ;  prettily  got 

up,  and  neat  in  style,  but  very  much  what  a  "  smart  young 
lady "  would  have  produced  on  the  same  topic.  It  has  some 
places  absolutely  puling.  There  are  three  things  totally  want- 
ing :  1st.  Exposition  of  Scripture.  2d.  Theological  discussion  of 
any  thing  about  his  subject  which  lies  under  the  mere  surface. 
3d.  Evangelical  unction  or  spirituality.  And  I  fear  some  parts 
are  (what  Gilbert  Stuart  said  of  Sir  J.  Reynolds's  Lectures  on 
Painting)  "  a  beautiful  apology  for  bad  practice."  Gurney  has 
been  here.  I  heard  him  twice,  and  twice  companied  with  him. 
I  think  him  a  good  and  even  a  great  man.  Very  affable,  instruc- 
tive, and  orthodox.     One  of  his  sermons  was  a  poetico-mystical 

1  Soon  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  its  writer's  first-born  child  died,  after 
years  of  suffering  with  congenital  hydrocephalus.  "  To  you  "  (wrote  his 
father)  "  I  may  say,  with  hope  of  being  credited,  it  is  a  loss  to  part  with 
even  so  distressed  a  child.  His  little  bird-like  voice  was  the  first  morning 
sound  we  used  to  hear.  The  Lord  has  done  well  and  mercifully  to  us,  and 
especially  to  him."  To  the  Sunday  School  Journal  of  this  year  he  gave  two 
numbers  on  "  Scriptural  Account  of  Suffering  Parents." 


1833—1844.  281 

rhapsody  of  the  most  exquisite  kind ;  it  was  really  quite  Platonic. 
I  sigh  to  be  a  pastor,  instead  of  a  professor:  Qui  Jit  Mcecenas,  etc. 

Princeton,  June  28,  1839. 

I  do  not  think  a  more  favourable  opening  for  Christian  effort 
is  anywhere  offered  at  this  time  than  at  the  encampment  near 
Trenton  :  and  my  sole  object  is  to  get  you  to  exert  yourself  a 
little  in  Philadelphia  on  this  behalf.  I  am  told  there  are  some 
pious  men  among  the  officers,  but  who  they  are  I  know  not. 
There  are  about  a  thousand  souls  there  perpetually  in  camp  ; 
the  number  will  be  doubled  in  a  few  days.  Many  of  these,  I 
suppose,  have  not  had  the  gospel  for  years  ;  and,  after  the  dis- 
solution of  the  Camp  of  Instruction,  many  of  them  will  go  away 
to  die  in  the  remotest  parts  of  our  frontier.  In  walking  through 
the  camp  on  Tuesday,  I  was  shocked  with  the  unaccountable 
prevalence  of  cursing  and  swearing.  If  the  Swearer's  Prayer, 
and  similar  papers,  could  be  distributed  among  them,  the  hap- 
piest effects  might  ensue.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  time  for  read- 
ing ;  and  some  plan  for  a  weekly  distribution  of  Tracts  would 
be  truly  promising.  A  large  portion  of  these  ought  to  be  in 
German,  as  there  are  several  Germans  in  every  company.  In 
this,  and  every  other  method,  the  approach  ought  to  be  made 
very  carefully  through  the  officers,  who  seem  to  be  gentlemen 
of  the  highest  breeding.  No  man  can  fail  to  be  struck  with  the 
bearing  of  such  officers  as  General  Eustis,  Col.  Fanning,  (who 
lost  an  arm  at  Chippewa,)  Major  Ringgold,  &c,  &c. 

The  Quartermaster  General  has  erected  a  pulpit,  and  the 
way  is  open  for  public  services  on  Sunday  ;  but  as  there  is  no 
regular  official  provision  for  this,  there  is  danger  that  persons 
will  occupy  it  who  are  not  the  most  likely  to  do  good :  1  do  not 
here  refer  to  sect,  or  theological  opinion,  but  to  pulpit  talent. 
I  do  not  think  an  impressive  extempore  speaker  could  find  a 
better  audience. 

To  prevent  sectarian  alarm,  I  wish  you  could  enlist  in  this 
one  or  two  evangelical  Episcopalians ;  and  get  a  few  dollars' 
worth  of  German  tracts  put  into  the  hands  of  some  person  who 
would  see  that  they  are  distributed.  Especially,  if  you  could  in 
any  way  gain  access  to  some  of  the  officers,  much  might  with 
the  blessing  of  God  be  accomplished.  We  fear  to  be  too  prom- 
inent in  this  matter  in  Princeton,  but  various  means  have  been 
taken  to  let  the  officers  know  that  we  would  furnish  any  amount 
of  preaching.  Mr.  Starr,  the  Episcopal  minister  of  Trenton, 
would  be  an  excellent  point  cTappui  for  any  endeavours.  Cannot 
you  find  some  layman  of  zeal  and  address  and  knowledge  of 
men,  who  could  spend  a  day  a  week  in  Trenton  for  such  a  cause? 


282  WHILE   PKOFESSOB   LN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

I  attended  the  funeral  of  a  dragoon  in  the  camp.  Music,  pro- 
cession, flags,  horse  led  as  mourner,  but  not  one  word  of  service, 
nor  any  intimation  that  the  thing  they  were  burying  had  a  sou]  j 
all  the  nonchalance  of  a  drill.  Such  a  book  as  "  Narrative  of  a 
Soldier,"  edited  by  Dr.  Wardlaw,  and  once  reprinted  in  this 
country,  would  be  likely  to  make  impression.  I  have  seldom 
felt  more  moved  in  behalf  of  any  set  of  men  ;  and  as  I  cannot  do 
much,  if  any  thing,  in  proper  person,  I  trust  I  shall  not  fail  to  get 
your  strenuous  aid.  Take  a  friend  and  run  up  for  a  few  hours 
to  the  camp.  The  selection  is  admirable ;  the  beau-ideal  of  a 
summer  encampment :  a  most  extensive  plain,  skirted  by  a 
young  forest,  in  which  the  tents  are  arranged  with  much  taste. 
The  cleanliness,  regularity,  and  silence  are  exemplary.  It  is 
favourable  for  religious  effort,  that  intemperance  is  rigidly  ex- 
cluded. I  believe  there  is  not  a  drop  of  intoxicating  liquor.  It 
occurs  to  me  that  a  serious  Methodist  might  accomplish  great 
things  there.  When  I  look  at  these  men,  and  remember  how 
much  was  done  among  soldiers  by  Wesley,  WThitefield,  and 
others,  I  am  convinced  that  he  who  should  be  blessed  so  far  as 
to  institute  successful  measures  for  labouring  among  them,  would 
save  souls,  hide  multitudes  of  sins,  and  furnish  delightful  recol- 
lections for  life. 

Princeton,  July  3,  1839. 

It   is   impossible  for  either or  myself  to  undertake 

what  you  propose,  in  the  present  state  of  our  engagements.  In- 
deed, I  consider  the  week-day  work  in  camp  almost  as  important 
as  the  preaching.  I  regret  that  we  have  no  one  to  nominate. 
The  person  ought  to  be  one  of  the  "  workers,"  who  could  go  in 

and  out  of  tent  or  hospital  as would  do ;    not  however 

that  I  recommend  him.  This  facility  of  talk  with  rank  and  file. 
I  should  reckon  a  main  matter.  Some  active,  zealous,  affectionate 
Episcopalian,  of  whatever  kind  otherwise,  would  encounter  least 
prejudice,  yet  great  talent  or  eloquence  would  not  be  thrown 
away.  The  work  is  so  important  that  even  a  settled  clergyman 
might  lay  his  account  with  taking  this  for  a  summer  retreat ;  and 
a  lovelier  one  it  would  be  hard  to  find.  I  should  feel  an  emotion 
of  more  than  common  joy,  if  I  could  hear  that  Dr.  Tyng,  Mr. 
Suddards,  and  a  few  such  men,  had  made  an  arrangement  to  give 
sermons. 

Just  look  at  it :  for  the  first  time  in  our  day — perhaps  for 
the  last — the  United  States  Army  is  present  (at  least  represent- 
atively) at  one  place,  quite  accessible,  in  a  favourable  season, 
hard  by  hundreds  of  ministers,  and  thousands  of  Christians. 
The  conversion  of  two  or  three  officers  might  give  a  direction  to 


1833—1844.  283 

the  future  history  of  our  military  men.     I  was  pleased  to  see  a 
Bible  openly  laid  out  in  the  tent  of  a  captain. 

It  is  a  question  with  me  whether  the  safest  way  is  to  move 
the  Secretary  at  War  to  make  a  regular  appointment.  Such  a 
motion  might  frustrate  our  plan.  We  know  not  what  influences 
may  be  working  in  high  places.  The  incumbent  might  be  a 
Pharisee,  a  Catholic,  a  Socinian,  or  a  petif-maitre  in  black,  like 
,  who  lately  sent  us  a  dancing-master  with  a  letter  of  in- 
troduction. Besides,  there  might  be  some  show  of  resistance 
from  the  staff.  But  if  the  officers  could  once  hear  such  a  man 
as  Dr.  Tyng,  Mr.  Boardman,  Mr.  Sucldards,  or  Dr.  Breckin- 
ridge, they  would  be  anxious  for  more.  But  in  whatever  way 
the  thing  is  accomplished,  it  ought' to  be  done  speedily.  I  am 
told  there  are  more  than  fifty  on  the  sick  list,  and  there  will  be 
both  sickness  and  death  before  the  end  of  August.  Even  while 
the  other  matter  is  in  suspense,  there  should  be  a  real  working, 
stirring  layman  sent  up  with  Bibles  and  Tracts,  both  German 
and  English.  A  few  German  hymn  books  might  be  well.  If  I 
seem  to  press  unduly  in  this  matter,  let  me  plead  that  the  king's 
business  requireth  haste ;  and  my  conviction  that  if  you  or  I 
could  get  this  ball  fairly  rolling,  it  would  be  worth  more  than 
any  six  months'  preaching  we  are  likely  to  do.  May  the  weak 
effort  have  Divine  guidance  and  success  ! 

Princeton,  August  15,  1839. 

I  should  like  to  advise  with  you  a  little  about  the  sequel  to 
the  American  Mechanic,  which  I  have  been  preparing,  ["the 
Working  Man."]  The  plan  is  just  the  same,  but  I  have  pitched 
the  tone  of  it  two  or  three  degrees  higher,  as  to  style,  allusion, 
&c.  Still  I  wish  it  to  be  a  book  for  the  working  classes.1  1 
feel  encouraged  to  bestow  such  little  labours  as  I  may  be  able  to 
put  forth,  more  and  more  on  the  working  classes,  the  rather  be 
cause  they  are  the  great  object  of  the  infidels,  socialists,  agrarians. 
Owenites,  Wrightites,  and  diabolians  generally. 

If  you  want  to  read  a  splendid  piece  of  dialectical  wit,  take 
hold  of  the  review  of  Gladstone  in  the  last  Edinburgh  Review ; 
.t  cuts  up  apostolical  succession  irretrievably.  Wonderful  news 
from  Bengal.  I  can't  find  the  places  on  my  maps.  It  is  worth 
notice,  that  the  only  very  great  success  of  the  word,  just  now,  is 
in  that  very  field  which  sundry  decry  ;  viz.,  Foreign  Missions. 
Grant  that  seven-tenths  of  the  baptized,  there  and  in  the  Sand- 
wich isles,  are  deceivers  or  deceived,  the  case  is  still  as  good  as 

1  Three  editions  of  the  American  Mechanic,  in  book-form,  had  appeared. 
"  The  Working  Man"  was  not,  like  its  predecessor,  first  published  in  a 
newspaper. 


284  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

that  of  most  of  the  nations  which  were  converted  to  Christianity 
under  the  later  empire :  yet  these  nations  are  now  nominally 
Christian.  It  is  an  infinite  blessing  to  abolish  idolatry.  I  still 
have  it  in  purpose  to  write  "  The  Apprentice  "  for  the  Union, 
and  have  the  plan  already  laid  out. 

Princeton,  October  3,  1839. 
Our  meeting  of  Presbytery  at  Cranbury  was  the  fullest  one 
in  17  years — 27  bishops  and  17  elders  ;  a  truly  pleasant  and 
edifying  meeting.  I  hope  we  all  received  benefit.  All  our 
churches,  except  six,  have  either  built  fine  new  edifices,  or  wholly 
re-modelled  the  old  ones  ;  and  one  of  the  six  is  about  to  do  the 
same.  In  some  of  our  congregations  the  use  of  intoxicating 
drink  is  almost  at  an  end.  One  pastor  said  that  almost  all  his 
youth  had  committed  the  Gospel  of  John.  I  found  at  Presby- 
tery that  among  our  pastors  the  current  is  setting  very  strong 
against  the  use  of  Question  Books.  Nicholas  Biddle  was  at  our 
Commencement,  and  showed  much  interest.  Our  Museum  room 
with  post-chambers,  &c,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  college  rooms 
I  have  ever  seen.  The  alligator,  now  in  it,  has  not  eaten  any 
thing  for  six  months,  and  is  nevertheless  quite  lively,  though  by 
no  means  amiable.  I  have  been  u  sounded  "  about  the  presi- 
dentship of  the  Newark  (Del.)  College.  "Ancient  Manuscript," 
signed  A.  in  New  York  Observer  is  from  your  humble  servant. 
Dr.  Green  said  in  his  address  to  the  Seminary  Students,  "  As  to 
mustaches  and  all  whiskers,  let  us  leave  them  to  the  goats  and 

the  dandies  ;  "  and  then  he  called  on ,  who  was  "  bearded 

like  a  pard,"  to  make  the  concluding  prayer.  On  Saturday,  I 
saw  the  closing  service  of  the  U.  S.  troops  at  Camp  Washington, 
[Trenton,]  by  Gens.  Scott  and  Poinsett.  As  a  "  sight "  it  sur- 
passed any  thing  I  have  seen.  The  evolutions  and  firing  of 
the  light  artillery  were  wonderful ;  cannons  flying  about  at  a 
gallop.  The  large  body  of  dragoons  were  so  black  and  stalwart, 
with  their  long-bayoneted  carbines,  that  when  in  solid  column 
they  might  be  taken  for  knights  of  the  middle  ages.  I  have 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  Baxter's  style,  which  is  not  at  all 
obsolete  now,  is  the  best  extant,  in  respect  to  clearness,  Saxon 
purity,  vivacity,  directness,  strength,  and  pungency  ;  it  is  not 
always  elegant,  or  concise,  or  tender,  or  melodious.  His  "  Dy- 
ing Thoughts  "  is  a  great  book  :  I  mean,  as  he  wrote  it,  vide  vol. 
18  of  his  works.  Dr.  John  Breckinridge  is  in  Kentucky.  It  oc- 
curs to  me  to  say  of  him,  that  I  never  saw  him  idle  or  lounging 
a  moment,  nor  ever  diverted  to  minor  matters  or  levity ;  I  never 
saw  in  him  the  slightest  tendency  to  worldliness ;  I  never  saw 
him  in  any  company,  even   of  the  most  fashionable  political 


1833—1844.  285 

grandee,  where  he  did  not  take  a  high  religious  stand,  and  avow- 
high  Christian  opinions,  with  an  air  of  conscious  superiority ; 
and  I  never  detected  him  in  any  sort  of  self-pleasing  or  shrinking 
from  sacrifices  or  hard  duty.  I  know  no  minister  whose  private 
intercourse  is  so  purely  and  zealously  religious.  I  think  this  way 
of  reading  verse  about  at  [family]  prayers  is  a  shocking  abuse. 
To  my  ear  also  it  destroys  the  sense.  I  have  no  notion  of  turn- 
ing family  worship  into  a  Madam's  school. 

November  27,  1839. 

You  see  a  man  may  come  to  the  degradation  of  writing  on 
ruled  paper,  for  lack  of  better.  I  have  such  a  dislike  to  doing 
things  "  on  compulsion,"  that  I  have  half  a  mind  to  write  betwixt 
the  lines  ;  but  I  content  myself  with  merely  entering  my  pro- 
test, and  reserving  all  the  rights  of  irregularity.  A  dozen  at 
least  of  our  small  mechanics  have  burnt  their  fingers  with  the 
mulberry-speculation ;  some  to  the  tune  of  thousands  :  another 
proof  of  the  folly  of  making  haste  to  be  rich  out  of  one's  proper 
calling.  Trees  bought  at  20  to  30  cents  are  selling  (if  sold  at 
all)  at  2  mills  apiece.  This  day  I  have  seen  a  handbill  adver- 
tisement of  a  great  vendue  of  stock,  &c,  on  the  farm  of  a  licen- 
tiate of  our  Presbytery  ;  a  thousand-dollar  bull,  Scunbo,  pedigree 
vaunted,  references  to  the  "  Herd  Book,"  &c,  also  GO  odd  calves. 
A  few  weeks  ago  I  saw  in  the  common  papers  attestations  to  the 
worth  of  an  English  bull,  by  an  eminent  bishop  of Pres- 
bytery. Perpend  the  following  remarkable  passage  of  the 
Apocrypha,  viz.,  Ecclesiasticus  xxxviii.  25 :  "  How  can  he  get 
wisdom  that  holdeth  the  plough,  and  that  glorieth  in  the  goad, 
that  driveth  oxen,  and  is  occupied  in  their  labours,  and  whose 
talk  is  of  bullocks  ?  "  Read  the  whole.  By-the-bye,  the  said 
Ecclesiasticus  might  be  often  quoted,  as  we  quote  other  unin- 
spired productions.  Read  some  sublime  passages  in  chapter  50. 
Qu.  Might  not  you  surprise  some  readers  of  the  Journal  by 
quotations  from  this  book,  as  from  an  old  Jewish  wrork  1  The 
accession  to  the  Seminary  (near  50)  is  greater  than  on  any  oc- 
casion, but  two,  since  its  foundation.  This  is  very  cheering, 
considering  the  division  of  church,  and  the  nearness  of  the  New 
York  Seminary.  You  will  see  I  am  aboard  of  the  Apprentices 
again  in  the  Newark  Daily.  Some  of  the  views  expressed  are 
favorite  ones  with  me,  and  have  been  produced  in  some  measure 
by  a  number  of  facts  of  a  nature  which  1  cannot  make  public. 

O  how  I  should  rejoice  to  see  a  paper  set  up  in  Philadelphia, 
on  the  following  principles  :  [1.]  Size:  A  little  bigger  than  the 
Sunday  School  Journal.  [2.]  Time:  Weekly.  [3.]  Looks: 
Beautiful  type,  with  as  little  variety  as  to  type  or  leads  as  pos« 


286  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

sible.  [4.]  Church  Connexion:  none.  [5.]  Doctrine:  Evan- 
gelical, but  not  committed  to  anything ;  yet  admitting  all  we 
believe.  [6.]  Disputes:  =  0.  [7.]  Worldly  News:  =  0,  but 
not  bound  to  exclude  items.  [8.]  Contents:  1.  News  of  Christ's 
kingdom  ;  a  resume  and  coup  d'oeil  of  the  field  of  missions  ;  sel- 
dom giving  long  journals,  but  sketches  of  the  real  good  done  by 
all  sects  ;  revivals.  2.  Experimental  and  Practical  Religion, 
not  excluding  Biblical  Interpretation  and  Saving  Doctrine ; 
chiefly,  however,  the  former. 

Is  not  this  a  good  notion  ?  Or  perhaps  you  would  rather 
say  16  pp.  8vo,  so  as  to  bind.  I  solemnly  believe  such  a  paper 
would  honour  Christ  more  than  any  publication  known  to  me  in 
the  world. 

I  was  called  the  other  day  to  see  a  dying  man  several  miles 
out  in  the  country.  It  was  a  wretched  hovel  of  a  place,  remind- 
ing me  of  some  of  Crabbe's  inimitable  descriptions.  Neither  the 
sick  man  nor  any  of  his  household  could  read,  and  they  were  as 
ignorant  as  heathen.  The  front  door  of  the  house  was  unhinged, 
and  merely  lying  up  against  the  posts.  We  need  such  a  district- 
ing of  all  our  neighbourhoods  as  should  infallibly  bring  every 
such  place  under  inspection.  This  work  has  been  tolerably  well 
done  around  here,  but  this  man  has  been  almost  always  drunk 
until  he  was  seized  with  consumption.  I  wish  in  my  soul  that 
all  the  alcohol  could  be  annihilated.  Every  day  exposes  to 
view  more  and  more  its  horrific,  soul-destroying  power.  I  am 
ready  to  go  "full-chisel"  for  the  15-gallon  law.  These  coal- 
stoves  will  let  out  the  gas  (or  gaz,  as  you  elegantly  call  it  in  the 
city,  and  nowhere  else,  I  suppose,  on  earth)  in  certain  states  of 
weather,  so  that  I  am  almost  inclined  to  revert  to  wood  fires.  I 
had  a  piece  of  genuine  Irish  peat  lately  presented  to  me. 

Princeton,  December  9,  1839. 
We  have  a  Sciot  (or  Chian)  here  a-lecturing.  He  wears 
a  red  cap  and  a  capote,  and  is  a  smart  fellow  :  name,  Castanis. 
Apropos  de  Journaux,  the  worst  thing  your  Board  ever  did  for 
S.  S.  J.,  was  to  destroy  its  weekly  character,  [making  it  semi- 
monthly.] The  interval  at  which  it  now  appears  is  next  to  the 
cycle  of  the  moon,  and  is  representable  only  by  the  equation 

T=tt-\-s/  \  7r-|-Bl     . J  A  [•     Its  arrival  is  always  unexpected, 

a  mere  windfall.  A  sheet,  by  a  given  mail,  however  small  it 
be,  is  looked  for.  Again — say  what  we  will,  the  title  hurts  it, 
except  with  Sunday  School  folk.  I  never  read  a  number  of  it, 
without  perceiving  its  value,  yet  I  don't  find  myself  looking  out 
for  it.     I  therefore  believe  that  just  such  a  sheet,  weekly,  with- 


1833—1844:.  287 

cut  reference  to  any  association  or  enterprise,  would  go  down 
nicely.  Only  the  leading  character  should  be  News  ;  but  news 
of  the  Kingdom.  The  Seminary  has  112,  and  additions  every 
week  ;  among  these  additions  only  one  is  from  a  New  England 
College.  By  a  prolepsis  of  a  week,  1  preached  the  semi-eenturial 
sermon  at  Freehold.1  What  an  ugly  thing  State  policy  is,  when 
it  leads  such  a  power  as  England  to  prop  such  a  power  as 
Turkey.  I  believe  it  to  be  all  in  vain,  and  that  the  book  of 
Prophecy  has  doomed  that  empire  to  a  curse.  Eli  Smith  gave 
me  new  views  of  the  exhaustion  of  the  empire,  and  Lamartine 
lately  said  Turkey  was  perishing  for  want  of  Turks.  Think  of 
a  million  Russians  going  over  to  the  Greek  Church  from  the 
Romish,  and  Nicholas  backing  his  father-in-law  of  Prussia  about 
the  mixed  marriages.  In  lately  reading  the  epistles  to  the 
Thessalonians,  without  note  or  comment,  I  have  been  driven 
almost  irresistibly  into  the  opinion,  which  I  long  rejected,  that 
the  Papal  Power  in  some  way  is  the  Man  of  Sin ;  I  say  "  in 
some  way  "  because  I  know  not  yet  whether  it  is  the  Pope  as  an 
individual,  or  the  abstract  Pope,  or  the  collective  Church.  The 
Jewish  letters  of  those  Scotchmen  [in  the  London  "  Record  "] 
are  very  interesting ;  they  quote  Scripture  after  a  different 
fashion  from  our  Yankees — always  excepting  Goodell.  Our  old 
friend  Mr.  [Samuel]  Bayard,  now  in  his  73d  year,  is  one  of  the 
most  pleasing  specimens  of  religious  serenity  and  hope  that  I 
have  seen.  He  is  tottering  over  the  grave,  but  his  inward  man 
is  renewed  day  by  day.2 

I  have  heard,  and  have  observed,  that  almost  all  the  New 
England  ministers  have  a  trick  of  often  sinking,  or  bending  the 
knees,  while  preaching,  the  body  being  erect.  This  "  squat," 
whether  taught  in  the  course  of  Sacred  Rhetoric  or  not,  arises,  I 
think,  from  the  necessity  of  bringing  the  eye  near  to  the  MS., 
at  times,  and  the  desire  to  do  this  without  leaning  over ;  make 
the  experiment  yourself,  and  observe  it  strikingly  set  forth  in 

and .     It  is  plain  from  1   Cor.  xiv.  35,  that  any 

man  might  ask  questions  in  the  church  ;  indeed,  that  chapter 
shows  their  assemblies  to  have  been  much  less  starched  than 
ours.  Do  you  know  what  Usher  is  derived  from  ?  From  Huis- 
sier  French,  and  that  from  Ostiarius.     Take  a  leisurely  course 

1  The  General  Assembly  appointed  December  8,  1S39,  for  the  commem- 
oration of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  that  body  :  Mr. 
Alexander's  text  was  Ezekiel  xxxvi.  3*7,  38. 

2  Mr.  Bayard  was  an  eld^r  in  the  Princeton  church,  and  the  author  of 
"  Letters  on  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,"  a  new  edition  of  which  was 
made  the  text  of  an  article  on  the  subject,  by  Mr.  Alexander,  in  the  Reper- 
tory of  January,  1840. 


288  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

through  Plutarch,  and  you  will  find  some  unmatchable  picking 
for  the  Journal.     I  find  this  odious  verse-about  way  of  reading 

at  prayers  growing  into  use  among  our  ministers.     At I 

was  between  a  booby  with  a  cold  in  his  head,  who  shouted  like 
a  clam-man,  and  snuffled  like  a  distempered  horse,  and  a  Miss, 
whose  words  were  scarce  audible.  I  hold  it  to  be  essential  to 
the  due  performance  of  that  duty  that  the  Scriptures  should  be 
well  read,  as  well  as  possible,  and  therefore  by  one  person.  In 
the  other  case,  the  brats  are  all  the  while  counting  on  ahead  to 
see  what  verse  will  come  to  them,  or  losing  the  place  and  read- 
ing the  wrong  one,  while  mamma  is  finding  the  place  for  Tom, 
and  Sally  and  Joe  are  fighting  for  the  bigger  share  of  the  book 
they  are  daubing  and  dog-earing  between  them.  I  set  a  higher 
value  every  day  on  this  ordinance,  and  in  a  plain  familiar  way 
have  expounded  the  New  Testament  regularly  (only  in  the 
mornings)  as  far  as  2  Cor.  v.,  always  studying  the  passage  as 
laboriously  as  1  can,  and  sometimes  some  hours.  And  I  believe 
there  is  no  portion  of  the  Scriptures  with  which  I  am  so  well 
acquainted,  and  no  preparation  for  preaching  that  is  so  useful  to 
me.  I  have  a  notion  to  re-read  my  five  volumes  of  Luther's 
Letters,  and  to  translate  such  short  letters  and  extracts,  chrono- 
logice,  as  would  suit  the  Journal.1 

Princeton,  December  21,  1839. 
What  tragedies  we  have  in  our  banks — failures,  peculation, 
robbery,  suicide  !  For  some  years  I  have  had  the  fact  forced  on 
my  observation,  that  a  large  proportion  of  felones-de-se  are  made 
desperate  by  pecuniary  embarrassment.  It  is  horrible  to  con- 
template the  temptations  to  fraud,  held  out  by  banks  to  those 
without  and  within  them.  Borrowing,  which  should  be,  and  in 
a  healthful  state  is  a  dernier  resort,  is  now  a  substantive  part  of 
worldly  business.  Endorsing,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  is  a  de- 
liberate promise  to  pay  that  which  one  knows  he  cannot  pay  : 
the  contingency,  in  my  view,  does  not  alter  the  morality  of  the 
transaction.  When  we  say  of  our  extensive  Credit  System,  that 
it  is  necessary  to  our  great  operations,  we  should  first  show  that 
our  operations  are  not  too  great.  A  ruinous  amount  of  steam 
is  necessary  to  speed  of  100  miles  an  hour ;  but  this  speed  is 
too  great.  I  do  not  see  that  the  overtrading  of  the  mass  is  less 
culpable  than  the  overtrading  of  an  individual.  Is  it  not  plain, 
that  the  aggregate  of  liabilities  (that  is,  of  obligation  to  pay)  in 
our  country,  nay  in  the  commercial  world,  is  greater  than  the 
aggregate  ability  of  the  promisors  1     The  moral  influence  of  the 

1  This  was  done  for  several  successive  months  in  1839-40. 


1833—1844.  289 

Credit  System  strikes  me  as  one  of  the  most  malign  influences 
to  which  our  country  is  subjected.  I  have  near  me  a  (black) 
parishioner,  not  long  for  this  world,  a  young  woman,  whose 
case  will,  I  think,  some  day,  make  an  interesting  article  for 
the  S.  S.  Journal,  or  for  a  book,  as  showing  the  value  of  Sunday 
School  texts  and  especially  hymns,  on  a  dying  bed.1  We,  who 
pretend  to  be  refined  folks,  greatly  undervalue  hymns  and  psalms. 
Now  I  have  often  observed,  that,  from  the  natural  fondness  of 
the  common  mind,  and  the  Infant  mind,  for  metre  and  rhyme, 
the  great  body  of  theology  and  experience  in  the  lower  classes  is 
preserved  in  the  shape  of  hymns.  They  read  the  psalm-book,  they 
repeat  and  sing  the  verses,  &c.  Hence  we  should  not  neglect 
sacred  song,  I  mean  the  plain  sort,  with  our  children  and 
scholars. 

My  present  feeling  is  that  I  will  write  no  more  irreligious 
books.  Life  is  short.  The  great  work  is  to  save  souls.  All 
our  economical,  political,  and  literary  reformations  are  mere 
adjusting  of  the  outer  twig ;  religion  changes  the  sap  of  root 
and  trunk.  This  I  never  felt  more  than  now.  I  see  that  when 
a  people  "become  godly,  all  the  rest  follows.  In  the  same  con- 
nexion I  see  the  value  of  preaching.  Let  me  earnestly  exhort 
you,  on  the  strength  of  my  own  sad  experience,  not  to  allow 
yourself  to  trust  to  a  flow  of  extempore  thought  and  expression 
in  the  pulpit,  but  to  labour  every  sermon,  however  obscure  or 
ignorant  the  auditory  may  be.  Drs.  Skinner  and  Spring  have 
proved  what  can  be  done  by  devoting  all  one's  soul  to  the  simple 
work  of  sermon  making.     I  wish  I  had  done  something  of  the 

kind.     has  made  a  few  days'  visit  here.     He  says  the 

Taylorites  have  had  a  number  of  successive  meetings  of  Asso- 
ciations to  censure  the  East  Windsor  and  Pastoral  Union  folks, 
but  they  "  blessed  them  altogether."  Num.  xxiii.  2.  I  am 
reading  the  Oxford  Tracts,  and  am  struck— 1,  with  the  exquisite 
simplicity  of  the  English  style ;  2,  the  strange  absence  of  logical 
power ;  3,  the  dangerous  fascination  of  the  monkish  piety. 
The  two  most  fashionable  American  tailors  in  Paris,  partners, 
are  named  Cutter  &  Tryon,  We  have  in  College  Cattell  &  Colt, 
(contiguous  on  the  roll,)  Burnet  &  Coofcus,  (ditto,)  Cake  & 
Pitcher,  (room-mates,)  Nabb  &  Tabb,  (room-mates,)  Nixon  & 
jfiixon,  Sturgeon  and  three  Whaleys.  Could  not  your  Pennsyl- 
vania Secretary  Mr.  Skunk  send  us  a  son  ?  For  the  pronuncia 
tion  of  my  name,  take  the  following  couplets  from  Crabbe,  a 
sound  authority  in  my  view  : 

1  His  "  Notices  of  a  Coloured  Sunday  Scholar  lately  deceased,"  appeared 
in  the  Journal  July  1,  1840. 
YOL,  I, — 13 


290  WHILE   PROFESSOR   EST   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

"  The  plan  was  specious,  for  the  mind  of  James, 
Accorded  duly  with  his  uncle's  schemes." 

"  For  now  no  crazed  fanatic's  frantic  dreams, 
Seemed  vile  as  James's  conduct,  or  as  James." 

Princeton,  January  18,  1840. 
If  you  want  an  exquisite  morsel  for  a  column  of  the  Journal, 
see  a  piece  of  Jean  Paul  (Riehter)'s,  admirably  translated  in 
"  Christian  Observer "  for  1835,  April.  It  is  a  gem.  And 
while  you  have  the  volume  in  hand,  cull  a  child's  hymn  from 
p.  502.  I  do  not  know  a  book  from  which  there  is  more  to  be 
sifted  for  a  periodical  than  the  back  volumes  of  the  "  Christian 
Observer."  I  think  Dr.  Bache's  Report  on  Education  in  Europe, 
a  noble  work.  Spend  an  hour  in  digesting  some  of  his  state- 
ments about  religion,  viz. :  In  what  countries  does  it  form  a  part 
of  education  1  is  it  regarded  as  a  substantive,  integral  part  of 
the  course  ?  how  taught  %  how  much  time  %  with  what  relation  to 
the  Bible?  &c.  Being  a  teacher,  and  a  dilletante-one,  I  was 
really  kept  awake  by  the  book  one  night.  It  will  do  immense 
good,  I  believe,  collaterally.  I  am  hard  at  work  upofi  another 
story-book  for  the  Union,  if  it  do  not  grow  too  big.  It  is  not 
about  children,  or  in  the  Childese  language,  for  I  am  getting 
skeptical  about  that.  I  find  my  babes  more  interested  about 
GOLIATH,  than  about  the  tiniest  infant  in  monosyllables. 
I'll    not    tell    you    the   title,   for   fear   you   steal    it,   as   some 

swindler  has  done  Mr.  P 's.     Tell  the  said  P.  that  I'm  not 

the  first  man  who  hung  back  from  the  penitentiary  ;  and  that  I 
agree  that  he's  twice  as  much  at  home  there  as  I  could  be.  So 
I  must  wait  a  while  to  qualify  myself  [to  discuss  the  solitary 
system.]  On  the  17th,  at  7  P.  M.,  the  mercury  here  was  — 8°. 
Dr.  Demme  [of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  Philadelphia] 
has  kindly  sent  me  a  copy  of  his  Sermon  before  the  Synod. 
It  is  really  an  excellent  and  even  eloquent  production,  so  as  to 
surprise  me  very  much.  We  have  really  few  men  among  us  who 
can  preach  as  effective  a  discourse  in  English.  It  is  faithful  and 
warm,  and  has  some  original  turns  of  Scripture  quotation.  I 
can't  say  how  well  the  production  may  look  in  a  version,  espe- 
cially by  the  author  himself,  as  his  German  style  is  very  racy 
and  idiomatic.     The  following  statement  came  to  me,  as  from 

:     The  German  atheism  (pantheism  or  Emersonism  or 

Carlyle-ism)  makes  fearful  progress  in  Boston,  so  that  there  are 
not  a  few  who  are  willing  to  say  (I  pray  that  I  may  not  sin  in 

writing  it)  that  Deus  est  "  a  great ;  "     This  is  a  deceiver 

and  anti-Christ.  Such  is  the  career  and  tendency  of  Unitarian- 
ism.  Read  1  John  ii.  23.  Query :  why  may  not  Job  be  ope 
of  the  books  which  Noah  had  in  his  littje  library  in  the  ark  ? 


1833—1844.  291 

There  is  no  notice  of  any  thing  postdiluvian  1  The  expressions 
in  i.  6  sound  emfe-diluvian.  Behemoth  and  Leviathan  are  with 
difficulty  brought  under  any  of  the  Linnean  mammalia.  The 
length  of  the  speeches,  of  the  mourning,  of  the  feasts,  and  the 
increase  of  Job's  family  at  the  close,  are  very  much  like  the 
incidents  of  a  sexcentenarian  life.  Faber  or  Bush  would  give 
$50  for  the  patent  right  to  so  beautiful  a  hypothesis.  The  poor 
man  (in  the  house  where  none  could  read)  is  no  more ;  I  hope 

well  for  him. (on  dit)  is  a  great  admirer  of  Carlyle  ! 

I  confess  I  like  not  these  changes  from  what and  Mines, 

&c,  once  were,  (i.  e.)  revival-men,  however  rash,  to  the  decor- 
ous, lady-like,  semi-high-churchism  and  semi-Oxonianism  which 
converts  souls  in  silk  gloves.  The  fancy-lecturers  I  don't  like 
at  all ;  this  saves  no  souls.  Time  is  short.  I  don't,  moreover, 
like  this  perpetual  reproduction  of  the  old  controversy.     I  don't 

like 's  doctrine  (v.  N.  Y.  Evang.)  that  enemies  are  never 

to  be  forgiven  (till  they  repent,  i.  e.)  while  they  are  such.  I 
don't  like  "  fine  "  preaching,  or  preachers  ;  and  (lest  you  should 
think  I  like  any  thing)  let  me  add,  I  don't  like  myself,  or  my  past 
or  present  ways,  especially  my  having  made  so  much  of  preparing 
as  scarcely  to  have  begun  to  work ;  my  having  laboured  so  much 
indirectly  when  I  might  have  done  the  same  directly  ;  my  having 
set  the  soul's  salvation  too  far  off.  O  if  we  could  live  one  real 
year  of  effective  gospel  service,  we  might  be  willing  to  depart. 
Preaching  Christ  is  the  best,  hardest,  sweetest  work,  on  this 
side  of  beholding  him.  I  trust  we  shall  do  both.  Blessings  on 
vour  family,  and  may  they  see  the  "  salvation  of  Israel."  Comp. 
Ps.  lix.  35,  3G,  and  liii.  6. 

Aeolic  Castle,  Princeton,  Feb.  11,  1840. 

As  to ,  (the  man  hanged  at  St.  Louis,)  I  remember 

him  well ;  but  how  little  can  we  rely  on  even  dying  confessions ! 
how  hard  to  get  the  truth  of  a  Popish  martyrdom  in  China, 
when  a  murderer's  execution  in  Missouri  cannot  be  given  cor- 
rectly.       was  indeed  a  Sunday  School  scholar;  but — 1, 

his  father  was  one  of  the  vilest  drunkards  in  our  place,  and  died 
such ;  2,  his  younger  brother  (said  to  be  crazed  of  grief )  is  crazy 
a  potu  ;  3,  his  uncle  has  been,  to  my  knowledge,  a  wretched  sot 
for  twenty  years  ;  and  4,  his  "  godly  mother  "  has,  I  am  told, 
been  tipsy  (as  often  before)  since  her  son  wTas  hanged.  The 
paper  does  not  state  that  his  repentings  were  all  poured  into  the 
auricle  of  a  Romish  priest. 

Mr. 's  complaints  are  sickly.     I  should  be  glad  to  see 

him  very  often,  but  he  must  come  to  me,  as  life  is  too  short  for 
us  busy  folks  to  make  calls.     Out  of  at  least  twenty  similarly 


292  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

situated  men  here,  I  never  visit  one  without  business.  And  he 
who  will  count  up  the  sheets  I  write  in  a  week,  not  to  mention 
College  and  even  pastoral  cares,  will  not  wonder.  I  shall  never- 
theless take  means  to  show  him  that  he  will  be  welcome  at  all 
times.  I  rejoice  to  meet  Christian  friends  and  never  grudge  the 
time,  but  the  man  who  wants  to  see  me  must  take  the  trouble 

to  come  in.     I  see  there  is  a  bill  before  the legislature  to  dis- 

charter [a  Seminary  wThere  young  men  and  women  were  re- 
ceived as  scholars.]  I  wonder  the  grand  inquest  has  let  them 
alone.  Such  mingling  of  boys  and  girls  is  giving  a  bribe  to  Belial. 
I  could  state  cases  enough  of  the  evil  of  such  propinquity. 

Fkiday,  Feb.  14,  1840. 
In  regard  to  what  I  proposed  respecting  pieces  on  "  Commit- 
ting Verses  to  Memory,"  (pray  why  donrt  some  of  the  word- 
mongers  make  a  simple  verb  to  express  this  daily-used  idea  ? 
memorize  is  awful,  yet  almost  necessary,)  I  am  not  so  fit  as  you 
think ;  because,  to  say  truth,  I  am  not  so  whole-hearted  in  my 
attachment  to  the  present  mode  of  question-teaching,  as  I  might 
be  ;  and  he  who  takes  up  the  cudgel  for  you  ought  to  be  so.  I 
am  ready  enough  to  write  something  on  the  getting-by-heart 
portion  of  the  subject.  After  next  Monday,  however,  I  have  a 
new  class,  on  a  new  and  difficult  book,  (Juvenal,)  and  shall  have 
no  time  except  "  nights," — therefore  don't  look  for  much  from 
me.  1  have  an  interesting  book  about  Iceland,  from  which  I 
may  perhaps  get  you  something  for  Journal.  Bush  concluded 
his  lectures  here  last  evening  ;  they  have  not  been  as  full  of  mat- 
ter as  they  ought  to  have  been.     His  phraseology  comes  next  to 

's.      He  prayed  about  the  "  unconsuming  naphtha  which 

lighted  the  war-fires  on  a  thousand  mountains ;"  and  said  on  one 
occasion,  "  we  are  now  ready  to  make  our  inquisitorial  entree 
into  the  chambers  of  the  Apocalypse."  In  all  this,  however,  he 
displays  a  power  of  diction  and  harmony  of  phrase  which  is  total 

ly  absent  in .     I  wish  I  was  a  Quaker !     I  mean  I  wish  I 

could  carry  off  things  with   the  equanimity  which   they  seem 

to  enjoy.     Tell  Mr.  P that  he  certainly  errs  in  thinking  I 

have  any  special  hints  touching  the  objects  of  his  embassy, 
[a  visit  to  Great  Britain.]  Every  thing  which  I  could  say  has 
doubtless  occurred  to  him  a  hundred  times.  Of  proper  Sunday 
school  teaching,  I  have  a  notion  that  they  have  very  little  to 
teach  us  in  Britain.  But  much  may  be  picked  up,  especially  in 
the  "  Guid  Town,"  as  to  the  operation  of  Gall's  and  of  Wood's 
plans,  and  the  methods  of  scriptural  instruction  adopted  in  the 
common  schools.  If  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union  had  the  means,  and 
saw  the  thing  in  its  true  light,  they  would  lose  no  time  in  having 


1833—184:4.  293 

an  agent  to  do  what  Dr.  Bachc  has  done ;  I  mean  in  reference  to 
religious  instruction.  Bache's  book  has  suggested  many  in- 
quiries to  me,  especially  about  the" simultaneous"  system.  By- 
the-bye,  no  book  which  I  have  read  for  ten  years  has  given  me 
so  much  food  for  thought,  or  suggested  so  many  plans,  as  that 
same  report  to  the  Girard  College :  it  is  to  Victor  Cousin's,  what 
the  elevation  of  an  edifice  is  to  the  plan,  or  what  the  bill  of  fare  is 

to  the  dinner.    Tell  Mr.  P ,  that  by  topographical  cuts  I  mean 

views  of  places,  scenery,  plans,  maps,  &c. ;  by  archceological,  every 
depiction  of  biblical  or  Oriental  houses,  men,  animals,  modes 
of  life,  every  thing,  in  short,  which  could  interest  a  reader  of  a 
book  of  Antiquities  ;  cuts,  in  short,  generically  like  those  in  the 
Bible  Dictionary.  I  won't  tell  you  what  I  mean  by  the  emble- 
matical. Antiquities  can  be  taught  only  by  pictures.  With  a 
good  supply  of  such  we  might  go  on  with  small  numbers,  which 
at  length  wrould  grow  into  quite  a  volume.  I  feel  a  strong  lean- 
ing towards  a  work  of  the  kind  myself.  Wouldn't  it  be  good  for 
us  if  wre  had  a  fair  and  full  answer  to  the  following  queries,  from 
every  country  in  Europe  ?  "  What  class  of  books  is  at  this 
moment  most  decidedly  popular  and  effective  with  the  common 
mind — fiction,  prose,  or  poetry  ?  in  what  form — style  1  with  what 
embellishment'?  how  brought  within  their  reach  ] "  Of  course 
we  ought  to  feel  the  World's  pulse  with  all  the  fingers  we  can  lay 
on  its  wrist.  (!)     There's  a  figure  for  ye  ! 

We  are  all  of  us  in  danger  of  undervaluing  the  importance 
of  our  posts,  and  our  means  of  usefulness.  I  make  this  re- 
mark in  order  to  introduce  another,  viz.,  that  I  should  "  deeply  " 
regret  any  change  of  an  ordinary  kind,  which  should  re- 
move  you   from   the   S.   S.   U.      You    know   very   wrell    that 

the  publishing  crank   is  turned   by   yourself  and   P ;    in 

a  sort,  therefore,  you  have  control  of  the  juvenile  literature 
of  increasing  thousands.  You  know  the  delicacy  of  the  post, 
you  know  how  slight  a  straw  laid  over  your  rails  would  (hear  ! 
hear  !)  turn  the  locomotive  off  the  track.  (Cheers.)  Again, 
I  can  conceive  of  no  situation  in  which  you  could  possibly  set  so 
much  truth  a-running  over  our  wTicked  nation  as  this.  Lastly,  I 
don't  know  what  I  should  do  with  my  superabundant  material, 
and  superfluity  of  wisdom,  if  I  did  not  shower  it  over  the  infant 
mind  through  the  wratering-pot  of  your  publications.  Next  to 
lastly;.  I  sincerely  hope  that  by  conciliating  measures  on  the 
part  of  the  Union,  it  may  act  a  mediatory  part  between  several 
conflicting  parties,  and  connect  together  the  peaceable  men  of  all. 
Did  you  ever  get  fully  possessed  with  the  notion  that  it  was 
Saturday  on  a  Friday  %  such  is  my  condition  now,  and  it  is  like 
nothing  so  much  as  getting  one's  head  turned  on  board  a  vessel. 


294  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Yesterday  I  examined  Betsey  Stockton's1  school  ;  I  wish  I 
knew  of  a  white  school  where  religion  was  so  faithfully  in- 
culcated. Perhaps  the  great  revivals  in  the  Sandwich  Isles  are 
meant  to  prepare  the  way  for  persecutions :  if  so,  we  may  expect 
to  see  a  new  stature  of  Christians.  I  wish  you  would  in  some 
shape  or  other  call  the  attention  of  some  Low  Churchman  to 
Daille's  celebrated  work  de  Usu  Patrum.  Look  at  Bayle,  art. 
Daille.  I  never  read  such  a  piece  of  annihilating  argument.  I 
can't  imagine  an  impartial  mind  to  feel  the  Oxford  Tracts  as 
weighing  a  grain  after  such  a  book.  The  author's  original  was 
in  French,  entitled  du  Vrai  usage  des  Peres.  It  exists  in  Latin 
also.  The  English  version,  though  excellent,  is  rather  antiquated, 
having  appeared  in  1675.  As  nobody,  nowadays,  could  write 
the  book,  so  nobody  can  answer  it.  I  am  amazed  that  it  has 
not  been  mentioned  on  the  Low  Church  side :  but  indeed,  from 
the  nature  of  the  issue,  the  patristical  erudition  (how  I  hate  the 
Latin  part  of  our  language,  but  what  can  a  man  do  1)  is  chiefly  on 
the  Oxford  side.  That  is  a  noble  letter  of  blessed  old  Bp.  White, 
in  the  Episcopal  Recorder,  a  man  worthier  of  saintship  than  half 
the  saints,  even  of  the  "  first  four  Councils :"  a  few  like  that 
would  drive  the  nail.  As  it  is,  I  confidently  expect  the  Oxford 
Tracts  to  split  the  Church,  and  that  by  a  vast  majority  on  the 
wrong  side.  N.  B.  To  preserve  the  point  of  a  metallic  pen 
(which  I  can't  use  to  any  advantage)  a  good  way  is  to  have  a  lit- 
tle vessel  of  very  fine  shot  by  your  inkstand  into  which  to  stick 
the  pen  after  wiping;  it  prevents  both  rust  and  warping.  I 
lately  mentioned  to  you  the  case  of  a  black  girl  who  seemed  to 
be  dying.  She  is  convalescent,  but  is  in  a  very  strange  condition, 
for  she  wonH  get  well ;  that  is  literally  the  state  of  the  case.  She 
insists  upon  dying — wants  to  go  to  heaven — yet  is  free  from 
disease,  eats  mince-pie,  gains  some  flesh,  &c.  She  will  lie  all 
day  in  one  posture,  and  will  not  sit  up.  She  evidently  thinks 
the  desire  of  death  good  per  se.  My  visits  to  her  are  now  offen- 
sive I  think.  Dod  is  ill  in  bed  with  a  fever ;  he  has  carried  your 
plan  of  going  without  an  overcoat  to  the  extreme ;  he  always 
looked  as  if  he  was  trying  not  to  shiver.  The  hot  room  he  has, 
to  be  sure,  been  guilty  of :  so  have  not  I.  Lest  you  should  mis- 
take my  meaning  about  the  book  I  have  on  the  anvil  for  you, 
observe  what  follows.  The  subject  is,  The  Best  Way  of  Doing 
Good.  The  form,  a  grave  story ;  just  enough  to  support  the 
dialogue.  There  is  a  young  Christian  of  wealth  and  education 
introduced,  as  trying  to  do  good  in  a  certain  neighbourhood,  and 
his  experience  is  divided  into  three  stages,  in  which  he  attempts 

1  A  coloured  woman,  who  had  accompanied  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Stewart's  family 
to  the  Sandwich  Islands  mission. 


1833—1844:.  295 


I.  Doing  good  to  metis  bodies, — by  giving  money,  helping  poor, 
feeding  beggars,  &c,  &c.  II.  Doing  good  to  metis  minds, — 
which  he  undertakes  from  a  belief,  derived  from  the  foregoing 
experiment,  that  popular  ignorance  is  the  grand  source  of  evil. 
III.  Doing  good  to  metis  souls, — the  best  way  of  accomplishing 
the  other  two,  illustrated  by  the  effects  of  true  piety  in  a  bad 
neighbourhood.1 

Princeton,  Feb.  26,  1840. 

The  following  is  verbatim  from  a  letter  of  Oct.  26,  from 
Peter  Harris,  the  African  Prince,  who  is  now  at  Monrovia,  to  a 
negro  here.  It  describes  a  native  dinner.  You  will  admit  that 
the  "  sir  "ring  is  ultra-American  :  "  They  had  great  dinner  that 
day,  sir.  Well,  sir,  they  had  two  washbowl  full  of  rice,  and 
the  other  bowl  full  of  chicken  soup,  head  and  all  in  the  bowl,  sir. 
The  way  them  Missionaries  eat  that  rice  and  the  soup — it  Mas  the 
sin  !  They  set  on  the  ground,  sir,  with  country-mat  spread  on 
the  ground  :  they  did  not  set  on  the  chair,  sir ;  they  set  on  the 
ground.  They  did  not  have  any  knifes  or  forks  when  they  was 
eating  that  rice,  sir,  and  they  only  had  three  spoon.  The  way 
them  five  men  eat  that  rice  with  three  spoon,  I  tell  you,  the  first 
man  take  his  spoonfull  of  rice  in  his  mouth,  then  he  hand  the 
spoon  to  next  man  ;  so  on  till  it  get  round." 

I  send  herewith,  if  possible, 's  penultimate  publication. 

I  hope  you  will  carefully  read  it.  He  has  been  here,  and  is  as 
strongly  fixed  in  his  opinions  as  if  he  were  inspired.  Sandeman 
is  not  now  his  leader,  but  the  late  John  Walker  of  Ireland,  for- 
merly a  church  clergyman  and  fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Dub- 
lin. I  have  been  reading  this  Walker,  who  is  a  reasoner  of  sin- 
gular power.  The  sect  in  Ireland  is  called  "  Separatists."  They 
hold  that  Faith  is  Belief;  that  the  corrupt  nature  is  never  less 
corrupt  in  this  world ;  that  baptism  is  to  be  administered  only 
to  proselytes ;  that  Christians  are  to  hold  no  fellowship  in  any 
religious  exercise  with  any  but  themselves ;  and  that  they  are 
the  only  true  believers.  [After  mentioning  some  instances  of 
false  preaching  of  which  he  had  heard,  the  letter  proceeds.] 
Such  a  gospel  as  this  is  very  unlike  the  New  Testament.  In- 
deed, I  am  getting  to  "test"  systems  a  good  deal  by  the  way  I 
feel  in  going  right  from  them  to  the  pure  word  of  God.  More 
and  more  am  I  afraid  of  the  best  human  compositions  on  religion  : 
some  are  nearer,  and  some  further ;  but  all  the  streams  have  an 

1  This  work  appeared  in  1844,  under  the  title  of  "Good,  Better,  Best ; 
or,  The  Three  Ways  of  making  a  Happy  World."  Pp.  321.  It  was  re- 
published in  London,  in  1856,  with  an  Introduction  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Cand- 
lish,  of  Edinburgh. 


296  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

earthly  taste  from  the  soil  they  run  through.  In  connexion  with 
what  you  say  about  the  Eucharist,  I  have  some  notions  about  the 
other  sacraments,  (as  we  call  them.)  Do  we  not,  in  our  squabbles 
about  the  amount  of  water,  &c,  lose  sight  of  one  great  intent  of 
the  ordinance'?  viz.,  the  public  avowal  of  any  person  as  a  leader, 
or  as  worthy  of  being  accredited.  In  this  sense  proselytes  were 
baptized  long  before  Christ.  And  I  believe  the  word  is  often 
used  chiefly  in  this  sense,  just  as  we  use  subscription.  Thus 
Christ  was  himself  baptized:  i.  e.  he  acknowledged  John's  mis- 
sion. So  Mark  xvi.  16,  He  that  believeth,  and  is  baptized,  &c. 
Compare  Rom.  vi.  3,  "baptized,"  cis  Xpio-Tov  lyo-ow,  1  Cor.  i.  13, 
"  were  ye  baptized,"  ctsro  ovofxa  UavXov',  1  Cor.  i.  1"5, 1  Cor.  x.  2, 
"  baptized,"  ets  tou  Miovarjv.  Not  that  I  doubt  the  symbolical 
meaning,  but  I  see  great  force  in  such  passages  when  viewed  in 
immediate  connexion  with  the  idea  of  "  yielding  oneself  a  disci- 
ple." The  Oxford  notions  on  these  subjects  have  never  made  one 
sore  place  in  my  whole  surface  :  most  errors  do,  until  I  am 
armed  afresh  by  the  study  of  the  questions.  The  attempt  of  the 
Tracts  to  throw  a  venerable  mystic  halo  about  the  pedigree  of. 
their  Nag's  Head  Succession  is  really  farcical. 

Princeton,  March  21,  1840. 
[After  declining  an  appointment  to  preach  the  annual  sermon 
for  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  in  May.]  It  is  with 
much  pain  that  I  bring  myself  to  say  the  aforesaid.  But  I  am 
sincere  in  it.  I  am  conscious  of  no  special  ability  on  set  occa- 
sions ;  1  sutler  distresses,  which  to  many  would  be  inconceivable, 
while  such  an  engagement  is  pending.  The  season  also  is  one 
when  I  wish  not  to  lade  myself  with  labour.  Next  week  I  have 
to  preach  the  ordination  sermon  of  a  foreign  missionary  [ Wm. 
H.  McAuley,  at  Kingston,  March  25.]  The  week  after  is  our 
examination.  Then  the  vacation,  in  which  I  ought  to  go  to  Vir- 
ginia. I  see  by  the  New  Orleans  papers  that  [Rev.  John]  Breck- 
inridge is  abused  as  making  many  converts,  producing  excite- 
ment, thinning  theatres,  &c.  Good  sign.  Rose  (the  black 
girl)  died  last  night  in  great  peace  and  holy  joy.  Though  there 
is  not  much  to  quote,  I  never  attended  a  more  satisfactory  death- 
bed, (I  take  in  two  or  three  months.)  There  are  here  two  young 
men,  not  long  in  their  majority,  the  sole  relics  of  a  respectable 
Quaker  family.  They  are  farmers,  and  educated,  and  both  totter- 
ing over  the  grave  with  consumption.  The  best  is,  they  are 
lovely  Christians,  full  of  heavenly  hope ;  now  members  of  Mr. 
Hare's  church,  but  bred  Quakers.  A  grand  book  might  be 
made  (for  the  English  market)  out  of  a  full  and  fair  account  of 
the  New  Harmony  (Owenite)  Institute  in  the  West.     Say  and 


1833—1844.  291 

McCulloch,  and  some  other  men,  could  tell  some  good  stories  of 
Socialism.  It  would  sell  in  England  and  do  much  to  cripple 
Owen.     1  am  and  we  are  thine  and  yourn,     J.  W.  A.  &  Co. 

Princeton,  March  31,  1840. 
Have  you  arrived  at  that  stage  of  ministerial  experience  at 
which  one  receives  anonymous  letters^telling  him  to  preach  this, 
or  preach  that  ?  I  got  one  to-day  ;  I  suppose  from  a  woman,  as 
every  other  word  was  underscored.  After  the  acquittal  of 
Wood,  [for  murder  of  daughter  on  plea  of  insanity,]  I  suppose 
insane  murderers  will  increase  in  Pennsylvania.  Such  things, 
no  doubt,  go  into  the  account  of  national  sins.  I  hope  there  is  a 
change  working  among  the  Africans  of  this  vicinity,  and  they 
are  very  numerous,  in  regard  to  the  Colonization  Society.  Their 
prejudices  have  been  mighty,  but  since  Peter  Harris  writes  to 
them  about  Africa,  they  have  to  admit  some  things  which  they 
once  denied.  Two  of  the  best  educated  among  them  are  going 
to  take  the  African  Repository,  and  one  of  these  is  willing  to  go 
out  and  see  for  himself.  My  father,  who  has  this  more  at  heart 
than  any  thing  in  the  world,  is  writing  a  series  in  the  Newark 
paper.  He  has  had  a  large  history  of  Colonization  ready  for  the 
press  more  than  a  year.  He  regards  the  experiment  as  tried, 
and  the  foundation  as  firmly  laid,  and  thinks  repression  (as  to 
emigration)  is  more  necessary  than  stimulation.  I  perceive 
Buxton  founds  his  last  hope  on  the  colonizing  plan,  and  you  may 
see  by  the  "  Record  "  that  a  new  paper  is  set  up  in  London, 
called  "  The  African  Colonizer."  Do  you  know  that  we  have  a 
whole  family  of  pure  Malays  living  here  ?  They  were  brought 
here  by  Van  Polanen,  a  Dutch  gentleman,  who  was  governor  of 
Batavia.  The  children  are  all  grown.  Let  me  say  something 
to  you  about  Facts.  One  authentic  fact  is  a  great  thing.  There 
is  a  life  and  power  in  fact,  which  is  not  in  fiction.  They  are 
more  striking  than  fiction.  In  reading  a  book,  you  find  your- 
self suddenly  arrested  by  certain  statements,  just  as  in  hearing 
the  noises  of  children  you  are  perhaps  little  moved  till  the 
sounds  form  themselves  into  a  tune.  These  passages  we  often 
find  to  be  facts  The  best  characters  in  Scott's  Novels  and 
Crabbe's  Poems,  care  from  real  life.  In  religious  things,  no 
genuine  record  of  a  soul's  history,  or  of  any  segment  of  it,  is  un- 
important. God's  way  of  working  is  always  marked  and  self- 
consistent.  In  a  real  history,  I  care  not  of  what,  the  parts  hang 
together  in  a  definite  relation  like  the  limbs  in  a  human  body,  or 
the  features  in  a  face ;  the  connexion  in  a  fiction  is  often  forced 
and  sometimes  impossible.  Corollary.  1.  We  ought  to  keep 
an  eye  open  perpetually  for  religious  facts.     2.  We  ought  to 


298  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN    PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

record  them.  3.  We  ought  to  record  them  with  great  care,  in 
cases  where  the  enormity  of  the  transaction,  or  some  delicacy 
of  circumstance,  absolutely  forbids  their  publication  at  'present. 
These  are  the  very  facts  which  are  often  most  striking  and  valu- 
able. Lay  them  by,  and  a  year  or  two  hence,  they  may  b6 
brought  out  with  much  force.  4.  Ministers  ought  to  keep  a 
record  of  "  cases  "  in  their  pastoral  practice.  That  they  do  not, 
either  mentally  or  verbally,  argues  a  certain  skepticism  as  to  the 
reality  or  moment  of  the  exercises.  These  thoughts  have  come 
on  me  with  increased  impression  within  a  short  time ;  and  as  I 
have  lost  some  fifteen  years'  use  of  them,  I  give  them  over  to 
you.  I  think  more  of  [Dr.  E.  D.]  Griffin's  sermons  than  I  ex- 
pected. They  have  that  sort  of  power  which  arises  from  the 
extirpation  of  superfluous  words,  in  a  very  remarkable  degree. 
In  most  cases  I  like  the  doctrine ;  always  bearing  in  mind  that 
they  are  avowedly  awakening  sermons.  We  have  two  Chero- 
kees  in  College.  One  of  them  I  taught  eight  weeks,  without 
knowing  that  he  had  any  thing  of  the  red-man  about  him.  As 
you  are  not  near  enough  to  me  to  give  me  your  old  coats,  you 
may  give  me  old  notions  instead ;  as  an  encouragement,  here  are 
some  of  mine  :  The  Power  of  Christian  Love  is  a  great  subject. 
"  Love  is  Power,"  was  Dr.  J.  H.  Rice's  motto.  "  Light  and 
Love  "  is  Justin  Edwards's.  In  managing  my  children,  in  rebuk- 
ing my  servants,  in  quelling  refractory  boys,  in  every  thing  great 
and  small,  I  find  that  want  of  love  causes  failure.  Often,  for  the 
moment,  every  thing  seems  against  this ;  but  events  always 
bring  me  back  to  it.  I  hope  I  have  more  disposition  to  yield 
and  give  up  even  rights,  for  love's  sake  ;  but  we  are  dreadfully 
infested  in  the  church  with  a  sort  of  feudal  honour,  which  raises 
itself  by  the  side  of  Christian  principle.  For  example  :  I  am 
insulted.  Christianity  says  Suffer  it ;  Chivalry  says  Resent  it ; 
at  least  shew  that  you  feel  it.  How  common  in  fashionable  (?  ? !) 
Christian  intercourse,  and  among  ministers  in  ecclesiastical 
bodies.  After  an  hour  or  two  in  such  scenes,  how  like  springs 
in  the  Zahara  is  it  to  read  a  chapter  or  two  of  the  Life  of  Christ ! 
As  I  grow  older  as  a  parent,  my  views  are  changing  fast  as  to 
the  degree  of  conformity  to  the  world  which  we  should  allow  in 
our  children.  I  am  horror-struck  to  count  up  the  profligate 
children  of  pious  persons  and  even  ministers.  The  door  at 
which  those  influences  enter,  which  countervail  parental  instruc- 
tion and  example,  I  am  persuaded,  is  yielding  to  the  ways  of  good 
society.  By  dress,  books,  and  amusements,  an  atmosphere  is 
formed  which  is  not  that  of  Christianity.  More  than  ever  do  I 
feel  that  our  families  must  stand  in  a  kind  but  determined  oppo- 
sition to  the  fashions  of  the  world,  breasting  the  waves,  like  the 


1833—1844:.  299 

Eddystone  Light  House.  And  I  have  found  nothing  yet  which 
requires  more  courage  and  independence  than  to  rise  even  a  tittle, 
but  decidedly,  above  the  par  of  the  religious  world  around  us. 
Surely  the  way  in  which  we  commonly  go  on  is  not  that  way  of 
self-denial  and  sacrifice  and  cross-bearing  which  the  New  Testa- 
ment talks  of:  "  then  is  the  offence  of  the  Cross  ceased."  Our 
slender  influence  on  the  circle  of  our  friends  is  often  to  be  traced 
to  our  leaving  so  little  difference  between  us.  I  plead  guilty  to 
every  count.  I  am  at  a  great  loss  what  to  do  about  the  Tem- 
perance Question.  My  sole  difficulty  is  Pledge  or  no  Pledge. 
As  to  the  Wine  Question,  it  has  long  seemed  to  me  frivolous  to 
stand  over  the  corpses  of  a  thousand  drunkards  asking  whether 
their  brandy  had  water  or  wine  in  it.  I  am  made  up  in  mind 
and  conscience  to  avoid  the  means  of  drunkenness  in  my  family. 
On  this  I  have  acted  some  months.  "We  have  dozens  of  young 
men  in  and  about  Princeton  who  are  drunk  every  little  while, 
and  always  on  wine.  Our  students  commonly  begin  on  malt- 
liquors.  But  I  am  not  so  clear  as  to  the  Pledge.  1  do  not  see 
my  way  plain  as  to  taking  the  high  ground  respecting  morals, 
which  some  do.  And  I  abhor  as  hell  the  doctrine  that  our 
blessed  and  omniscient  Saviour  can  be  conceived  to  have  made 
wine  ignorantly.  That  the  wine  he  made  was  intoxicating,  I 
believe  as  fully  as  I  do  that  he  made  it.  Our  students  need  an 
example.  I  am  really  at  a  loss.  We  need  divine  direction  at 
every  step,and  for  want  of  seeking  it,  and  waiting  for  His  counsel, 
(Ps.  cvi.  13,)  we  so  often  rush  into  errors. 

Princeton,  Monday  after  Palm  Sunday,  and  Feast  of  ) 
St.  Hermengild  Martyr,  10th  of  Nisan,  5600.      \ 

My  edition  of  Luther's  Letters  contains  2324,  and  has  no 
Index  of  names ;  I  may  therefore  err  in  some  slight  degree.  I 
find  14  letters  to  Jerome  Weller,  and  have  looked  through  them. 
In  no  one  do  I  find  any  thing  resembling  the  advice  about  concu- 
binage. The  other  matters  are,  no  doubt,  those  which  occur  in 
the  letter  of  Nov.  6,  1530,  in  number  1322.  Luther  is  advising 
Weller  about  a  dreadful  hypochondria  and  despair,  which  is  the 
subject  of  several  letters. '  His  words  are  as  follows :  "  Et 
quoties  istis  cogitationibus  te  vexaverit  Diabolus,  illice  qucere 
confab ulationem  hominum,  aut  largius  bibe,  aut  jocare,  nugare 
aut  aliquid  hilarius  facito.  Est  nonnunquam  largius  bibendum, 
atque  adeo  peccatum  aliquod  faciendum  in  odium  et  contemtum 
diaboli,  ne  quid  loci  relinquamus  illi,  ut  conscientiam  nobis 
faciat  de  rebus  levissimis,  alioqui  vincimur,  si  nimis  anxie 
curaverimus  ne  quid  peccemus.  Proinde,  si  quando  dicet 
Diabolus,  noli  bibere,  tu  sic  fac  illi  respondeas :  atqui  ab  earn 


300  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON"   COLLEGE. 

eausam  maxime  bibam,  quod  tu  prohibes,  atque  adeo  largius  in 
nomine  Jesu  Christi  bibam.  Sic  semper  contraria  facienda  sunt 
eorum,  quae  Satan  vetat.  Quid  causae  aliud  esse  censes,  quod 
ego  sic  meracius  bibam,  liberius  confabuler,  commesser  ssepius, 
quam  ut  ludam  Diabolum  ac  vexem,  qui  me  vexare  et  ludere 
paraverat.  Utinam  possem  aliquid  insigne  peccati  designare 
modo  ad  eludendum  Diabolum,  ut  intelligeret,  me  nullum  pecca- 
tum  agnoscere  ac  me  nullius  peccati  mihi  esse  conseium.  Om- 
nino  totus  decalogus  amovendus  est  nobis  ex  oculis  et  animo, 
nobis,  inquam  quos  sic  petit  ac  vescat  Diabolus."  [Dr.  Martin 
Luther's  Briefe,  u.  s.  w.,  ed.  De  Wette,  Berlin,  1827,  vol.  iv.,  p. 
188.]  I  ought  to  say  that  I  have  found  nothing  approaching  to  the 
ignorant  rashness  of  this  in  any  other  part  of  his  correspond- 
ence. 

While  Ave  are  upon  casuistry,  I  wish  to  make  a  stricture  on 
your  canon,  that  "  a  man  ought  not  to  write  and  publish  aught 
which  he  would  not  say  ore  tenusP  I  think  I  once  before  said, 
and  I  still  think,  that  the  rule  is  unsound.  It  should  read  thus  : 
"  which  he  might  not  lawfully  say  ore  tenus.V  Our  duty,  it 
strikes  me,  is  in  no  degree  dependent  on  our  willingness  to  do 
this  or  that.  One  man  may  be  uncharitable  in  boldly  saying  one 
thing,  and  another  man  may  be  uncharitable  in  timidly  with- 
holding another  thing. would  say  many  a  thing  which 

neither  you  nor  I  would  utter.  Many  a  man  would  say  to  an- 
other's face,  what  he  would  not  print.  I  have  known  the  grossest 
calumnies  justified  by  people's  adding,  "  I  say  nothing  behind  his 
back  which  I  would  not  say  before  his  face ;  "  it  was  so,  but  it 
only  proved  that  effrontery  wras  added  to  injustice.  The  true 
question  should  be,  I  think,  "  Is  it  a  duty  to  the  public  to  say  so 
and  so  1  is  it  true  ?  can  it  be  said  charitably  %  "  In  point  of  fact, 
no  doubt  most  of  the  hard  things  said  are  uncharitable. 

I  think  exactly  as  you  do  about  [Rev.  John]  Newton's  Letters 
and  Conversation ;  his  other  works  seem  to  me  of  little  value  in 
comparison.  We  have  had  a  very  interesting  visit  from  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Lang  of  the  "  Kirk,"  from  Sydney,  New  South  Wales. 
Very  heavy  in  the  pulpit,  but  amazingly  interesting  in  private. 
He  has  had  an  Odyssey  of  voyages  for  that  colony,  and  its 
religious  interests.  I  am  struek  and  fired  with  the  greatness  of 
the  field.  I  wish  you  may  talk  with  him.  What  an  opening 
for  Sunday  School  Books  !  Free  colonists  are  pouring  in,  from 
the  better  class  of  Scotch  and  Irish  Presbyterians.  Last  year 
15,000  went  out.  Sydney  has  30,000  inhabitants,  and  is  a  very 
beautiful  city.  He  thinks  New  Zealand  will  certainly  be  colo- 
nized by  England,  and  be  a  great  Austral  Britain.  See  how 
analogous  to  Great  Britain  it  is  on    the   globe,  antipodal,  insu 


1833—1844.  301 

lar,  &c.  My  mind  expands  when  1  look  at  the  mighty  conquests 
of  our  language.  If  we  could  only  pour  in  the  gospel  with  this 
tide  of  conquest  and  colonization  !  Since,  in  our  day,  God  so 
signally  blesses  colonies  for  the  spread  of  civilization,  ought  we 
not  to  follow  the  lead  of  Providence,  and  strike  in  as  much  as 
possible  with  the  divine  plan  1  The  hope  of  great  effects  is 
more  reasonable  from  such  efforts  than  from  insulated  assaults  on 
the  mass  of  heathenism.  It  is  the  difference  between  firing  a 
ball  against  a  walled  town,  and  entering  a  great  breach  with  a 
victorous  army.  Fact  34.  An  alligator  lived  more  than  six 
months  in  our  Museum  with  nothing  but  cold  water  ;  mention  to 
the  Temp.  Society,  before  Lent  is  out.  Fact  35.  We  have  had 
several  sorts  of  common  snakes,  domiciliated  for  days  together, 
in  our  yard,  and  I  and  my  child  have  handled  them  freely  with- 
out being  hurt.  We  dedicated  our  [Presbyterian]  new  African 
meeting-house  yesterday.  A  pleasant  "  season,"  and  really  de- 
lightful singing.  Eli  Smith  is  here  ;  he  strikes  me,  as  on  former 
occasions,  as  a  man  of  the  first  class  of  minds,  always  direct, 
clear,  and  decided  in  what  he  utters. 


Princeton,  May  4,  1840. 
I  have  been  endeavouring  to  attend  to  a  little  direct  minis- 
terial duty  this  vacation,  at  Cranbury,  Freehold,  and  Trenton, 
whence  1  am  this  day  returned.     At  Cranbury  they  now  have 
two  new  church  buildings.     At  Freehold  I  found  a  very  pleasant 

state  of  things.     declares  to  me  that  he  does  not  know 

of  a  man,  or  woman,  or  child,  (of  suitable  age,)  whom  he  has  not 
recently  talked  to  in  the  most  direct  manner  on  the  state  of  his 
or  her  soul ;  generally  with  prayer,  and,  in  some  instances, 
repeatedly.  About  40  are  hopeful  converts,  and  the  place  is 
small.  There  is  also  a  revival  in  Mr.  Webster's  church,  Middle- 
town  Point,  another  feeble  church,  but  greatly  strengthened  by 
the  awakening  of  the  leading  men  in  the  town.     Also  a  strug- 


gling little  congregation  at  Upper  Freehold  [Betts's]  has  had  a 
similar  ingathering.  And  the  old  [Tennent]  Church  of  Free- 
hold, has  added  perhaps  40 — 50.  In  all  these  places  the  work 
is  going  on  in  as  healthful  a  way  as  I  have  ever  yet  seen,  though 
not  without  some  things  which  make  me  indulge  painful  scruples 
as  to  the  plan  of  perpetual  meetings.  Mr.  Yeomans  has  done 
wonders  in  Trenton,  as  to  temporalities.  I  do  not  suppose  $20,- 
000  were  ever  laid  out  more  for  the  adorning  of  a  city,  than  in 
the  New  Presbyterian  church  there.  Internally  it  is  certainly 
the  pleasantest  place  of  worship  I  ever  was  in.  A  new  organ 
has  just  been  installed,  and  Dr.  Ewing  is  the  organist.     It  is 


302  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

worthy  of  note  that  within  two  years  the  following  churches  in 
our  Presbytery  have  erected  new  and  convenient  churches,  viz., 
Trenton,  New  Brunswick,  Cranbury  (2),  Freehold,  Princeton, 
Dutch  Neck,  Nottingham ;  Bound  Brook  a  little  before  this 
period  built  anew,  and  Ewing,  Pennington,  and  Allentown,  have 
turned  their  old  edifices  inside  out.  Our  meeting  of  Presbytery 
was  a  very  pleasing  one,  and  excited  good  hopes.  The  Mor- 
mons, however,  are  making  serious  progress  within  our  bounds. 
At  Thorn's  River  they  have  about  40  converts,  quite  substantial 
people.  They  profess  to  speak  with  tongues,  and  to  work 
miracles,  believe  in  baptismal  regeneration  and  immersion — are 
high-church,  as  thinking  none  salvable  but  themselves — hold  to 
the  divine  legation  of  Joe  Smith,  who  has  been  in  Monmouth. 
They  make  much  use  of  singing.  It  is  a  dangerous  feature  of 
their  system,  that  they  talk  almost  always  in  secret  with  one 
another,  about  their  peculiarities,  and  not  to  the  uninitiated. 
Their  chief  man  at  present  is  named  Rigdon.  Their  chief  book 
is  the  "  Book  of  Mormon,"  which  I  have  seen.  They  also  have 
"  The  Warning  Voice,"  by  one  Winchester,  who  has  been  in 
Philadelphia.  Some  of  their  books  they  are  said  to  conceal  very 
carefully.  They  always  clip  at  night.  I  dined  at  a  house  where 
I  met  an  old  lady  named  Cubberly,  who  had  been  with  me  to  a 
long  service,  in  a  heavy  rain,  at  the  age  of  91.  Her  descendants, 
she  said,  are  170.  The  Seminary  examination  begins  to-day. 
I  am  (on  dit)  unanimously  called  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Hanover  [or  College  Church]  Prince  Edward  County,  Virginia. 
1  think  as  you  do  of  Davies.  The  completest  life  I  know  of,  is  in 
Dr.  J.  H.  Rice's  Lit.  and  Evang.  Magazine.  With  a  little  prun- 
ing, I  think  his  sermons  are  perhaps  the  best  extant ;  and  even 
the  exuberance  would  scarcely  be  felt  in  an  impassioned  speaker 
such  as  he  was.  Everywhere  in  Virginia  he  has  left  his  track 
in  the  conversion  of  leading  men  and  women,  whose  children 
and  grandchildren  remain.  Read  the  Life  of  Rev.  Devereux 
Jarratt,  an  Episcopal  minister ;  it  contains  much  interesting 
about   Davies.     See   also    GillieJs    Collections,  a   book  which, 


of  Publication]  ought  to  publish, 
as  a  pastor,]  which,  after  all,  I 


somewhat  abridged,  the  Board 

has  no  family-talent, 

am  repentant  enough  to  think  at  least  half  "the  matter.  What 
he  attempts  he  carries  through,  but  he  attempts  nothing  warm. 
I  think  a  large  portion  of  our  churches  are  in  a  good  state  of 
preparation  for  awakening  measures,  especially  in  the  county  of 
Monmouth  ;  which,  by  marl,  is  becoming  the  richest,  after  having 
been  the  poorest  county  in  New  Jersey.  Our  county  of  Mercer 
has  just  erected  a  court-house  in  South-Trenton ;  which,  I  sup- 
pose, is  equalled  by  no  similar  county  building  (out  of  great 


1833—1844.  303 

cities)  in  America.  It  is  a  beautiful  Ionic  building,  and  costs 
$50,000. 

Princeton,  May  5,  1840. 

It  is,  perhaps,  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  that  I  have,  as  yet, 
no  official  and  incontestable  evidence  of  the  call  I  mentioned,  to 
Prince  Edward.  It  is  a  good  living,  and  in  the  choice  part  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  College  and  Seminary  always  form  part  of  the  con- 
gregation. I  am  in  pain  to  know  what  is  my  duty.  I  have 
always  sat  in  my  present  chair  with  a  feeling  that  it  was  right 
only  as  a  refuge  during  ill-health.  At  present,  through  great 
mercy,  I  am  perhaps  only  for  a  short  interval,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  best  health  I  have  had  since  I  left  College.  I  think  I  can 
say,  ex  animo,  I  wish  to  go  where  I  may  most  fully  exhaust  my 
talents,  quantulacunque  sint,  in  the  service  of  Christ.  It  may 
seem  strange  to  you,  that  no  invitation  has  shaken  me  more.1 

Meekness  seems  in  many  minds  to  be  confounded  with 
imbecility,  indecision,  or  fear ;  and  I  own  that,  in  point  of  fact, 
it  too  seldom  escapes  some  measure  of  pusillanimity  ;  but  if 
we  could  have  the  magnanimous  love  of  Christ,  or  of  Paul, 
or  of  John — how  it  would  attract,  and  govern  ! 

I  am  inclined  to  hope  that  the  Assembly  will  be  conservative. 
Such  seems  to  me  the  natural  tendency  of  things.  As  no  great 
church-crisis  exists,  many  Presbyteries  will  feel  free  to  send 
moderate  men,  whom  they  have  respected  all  along,  but  whom 
they  durst  not  send  during  the  conflict. 

The  cold  of  this  day  threatens  to  bring  on  a  frost,  which  will 
perhaps  destroy  our  fruit,  and  nip  my  bunch-beans.  I  have 
begun  to  take  my  usual  pleasures  in  the  garden,  an  enjoyment 
discovered  by  me  too  late,  but  one  which  grows  in  my  esteem. 

's  daughter,  aged  5  years,  reads  every  book  which  a  girl 

of  16  would  do,  tales  and  novels  included.  She  is  quite  forward 
in  French.  I  am  drivelling  this  stuff  out  after  10  at  night :  I 
had  better  prepare  my  head  and  heart  for  the  pillow,  so  "  manum 
de  tabula."     Good  night. 

Prvnceton,  June  4,  1840. 
I  think  I  would  rather  write  Baxter's  English,  than  any  I 
know,  though  I  would  not  wish  to  write  always- what  he  has 
done.  He  well  describes  his  own  style :  "  May  I  speak  perti- 
nently, plainly,  piercingly,  and  somewhat  properly,  I  have 
enough."  (Premonition  to  Saints'  Rest.)  He  was  not  afraid 
of  idioms,  the  real  strength  and  glory  of  a  language,  and  espe- 

1  The  call  was  declined. 


304  WHILE   PROFESSOR   LN    PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

cially  of  ours.  The  quality  of  plain,  straightforward,  market- 
English  is  rare  in  books.  It  is  somewhat  dangerous  for  us  cis- 
atlantics  to  attempt,  for  in  becoming  idiomatic  we  become 
provincial,  witness  Finney.  But  read  Bunyan,  Fuller,  Swift, 
Cobbet,  Hare,  ["  Sermons  to  a  Country  Congregation,"  1838,] 
and  you  will  see  what  I  mean.  This  was,  after  all,  what  was 
meant  by  Attic  Greek  as  distinguished  from  the  kolvtj  SioAcktos: 
and  Attic  salt  was  the  very  sort  of  wit  which  circulated  among 
Athenian  hucksters,  and  which  we  find  in  Fuller  and  Charles 
Lamb.  There  was  great  wisdom  in  making  the  speech  of  the 
people  the  standard  of  good  Greek,  and  great  advantage  in 
being  so  small  a  State.  If  you  have  never  done  it,  don't  fail  to 
read  the  "  Rest,"  the  "  Call,"  and  the  "  Gildas  Salvianus,"  as  he 
wrote  them,  and  free  from  the  emasculations  of  Methodist 
abridgers,  and  do  it  in  Duncan's  impression,  London,  23  vols., 
1830.  It  would  be  a  good  notion  to  excerpt  and  reprint  some 
of  the  noble  passages  of  the  "  Saints'  Rest "  which  have  been 
omitted  in  the  abridgment.  With  all  my  admiration  of  Baxter's 
parenetic  writings,  I  must  say  that  he  seems  to  me  never  to 
get  upon  a  doctrinal  point  without  doing  mischief.  Except  in  the 
schoolmen,  (whom  he  greatly  studied,)  I  have  never  seen  such 
subtilty  of  distinctions.  For  a  good  specimen  (as  I  suppose) 
of  his  pulpit  prayers,  see  his  "  Dying  Thoughts,"  vol.  18,  p.  413 
and  seq.  As  you  seem  to  have  acquired  a  little  interest  in 
Samuel  Davies,  (whose  name  was  always  pronounced  Davis,)  I 
will  add  these  items  :  I  was  told  by  Mrs.  Dr.  J.  Woodhull, 
daughter  of  Gilbert  Tennent,  that  he  was  very  attentive  to  his 
dress,  so  as  to  excite  much  observation,  and  always  had  a  ring 
on  his  finger,  and  a  gold-headed  cane.  I  was  told  the  same  thing 
by  an  aunt  of  my  father's.  My  mother  has  heard  it  said  in  her 
father's  house,  that  Mr.  Davies  used  to  say  that  he  wore  this 
ring  to  remind  him  of  eternity — without  beginning  and  without 
end.  I  have  a  MS.  journal  of  Col.  James  Gordon,  of  Lancaster 
co.,  Va.,  who  married  Gen.  [and  President]  Harrison's  aunt,  and 
whose  daughter  Dr.  Waddel  married.  The  names  of  Davies, 
Whitefield,  and  Waddel,  often  occur  on  the  same  page,  and  the 
places,  and  times,  and  texts  of  all  their  preachings  are  given. 
The  amount  of  labours  performed  by  Va.  ministers  in  that  day 
was  amazing-.  You  remember  the  affecting  remarks  of  Davies 
about  his  little  ones ;  several  of  them  lived  ungodly.  In  his 
manuscript  journal  he  complains  of  great  harshness  and  jealousy 
on  the  part  of  Gilbert  Tennent,  while  they  were  in  England. 
Do  not  fail  to  get  hold  of  the  life  of  Devereux  Jarratt.  It  will 
give  you  a  lively  idea  of  those  times.  I  know  very  well  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Jarratt's,  and  my  father  knew  the  man  him- 


1833— 1844:.  305 

self.  He  was  "  a  speckled  bird  "  among  the  Churchmen  of 
that  day. 

Princeton,  June  10,  1840. 

The  religious  prospects  of  the  University  of  Virginia  are. 

really  encouraging.     I  have  lately  visited  Mrs. who  is  on 

her  death-bed  with  consumption  ;  I  could  scarcely  keep  from 
envying  her.     When  I    see  a  Christian  die    I    lose  my  fears. 

It  is  grand  impolicy  in to   print  any  of  his  sermons. 

"  It  is  as  easy  to  paint  fire  (says  old  Gurnall)  with  the  heat, 
as  with  pen  and  ink  to  commit  that  to  paper  which  occurs 
in  preaching.  There  is  as  much  difference  between  a  sermon 
in  the  pulpit,  and  printed  in  a  book,  as  between  milk  in  the 
warm  breast,  and  in  a    sucking-bottle."       It   may   not  be  so 

with  such  preachers  as or ,  whose  discourses  have 

sometimes  been  preached  in  the  pulpit,  then  delivered  at  a  com- 
mencement, then  published  in  the ,  and  then  issued  as  the 

Preface  to  a  work.  In  my  notion  a  sermon  is  a  sermon,  and 
nothing  else ;  if  you  make  it  with  any  thing  ulterior  in  view, 
you  destroy  it  as  a  sermon.  It  is  death  to  a  good  sermon,  as  to 
a  good  love-letter,  to  publish  it.  It  is  dead  beer,  sour  cham- 
pagne,, cold  coffee,  an  effete  cigar,  a  daguerrotype  portrait. 

I  have  lately  re-read  Southey's  Thalaba ;  it  is  certainly  a 
wonderful  poem,  though  the  freshness  and  simplicity  of  the  first 
two  cantos  are  not  sustained. 

I  beg  to  be  presented  to and  your  amiable  babes, 

and  am,  with  all  the  et  ceteras, 

Yours  and  theirs. 

Princeton,  June  22,  1840. 
I  have  many  independent  sources  of  evidence  showing  that 
evangelical  religion  is  greatly  advancing  in  Virginia  under  the 
labours  of  Episcopalians.  Most  of  their  clergy  are  good  and 
hard-working  men.  The  Alexandria  Seminary  has  been  a  great 
blessing  to  them.  As  to  God  forbid  l  I  know  of  no  case  such  as 
you  ask  about ;  it  is,  however,  hazardous  to  assert  a  negative.  I 
have  looked  at  the  Hebrew  of  all  the  places  mentioned  by 
Cruden,  and  the  word  is  uniformly  nV^Vh  literally  ad  pro/ana, 
"  i.  e.  (says  Gesenius)  absit,  vox  detestantis."  Respecting  the 
New  Testament  phrase  by  all  means  read  what  Dr.  Hodge 
says  on  Romans  iii.  4.  "  The  Scriptures,"  says  he,  "  do  not 
authorize  such  a  use  of  the  name  of  God,"  &c     An  expurgated 

1  The  translation  of  [x-q  yevoiro  in  our  version. 


306  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

edition  of  Jeremy  Taylor's  Holy  Living  and  Dying  would  be 
one  of  the  loveliest  books  in  the  language.  I  mean  such  expur- 
gation as  Howard  Malcom  has  effected  in  Law's  Serious  Call. 
We  cannot  set  too  many  such  books  afloat.  Some  of  the  Psalms 
of  David  might  be  rendered  into  blank,  verse,  with  better  effect 
than  in  rhyme.  Such  a  one  is  the  ISth.  De  Wette's  German 
translation  of  them  makes  many  passages  more  clear  by  ex- 
changing future  tenses  for  present  or  past.     Anagram  by ; 

Old  Tippecanoe = People  can  do  it.  Every  year  I  am  more  and 
more  surprised,  in  tracing  the  course  of  our  College  Alumni,  to 
see  how  many  thoughtless,  wild,  and  even  wicked  young  men, 
(especially  of  the  South,)  who  have  left  us  without  any  sign 
of  good,  become  true  Christians  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  at 
home.  Even  of  cases  which  I  know,  I  think  I  could  enumerate 
thirty  or  forty.  This  is  really  encouraging,  and  ought  to  be 
mentioned  as  an  offset  to  the  real  and  imaginary  dangers  and 
evils  of  a  public  education.  I  seriously  think,  after  some  inquiry, 
that  where  one  piously-bred  boy  is  corrupted,  five  neglected 
receive  the  seeds  of  divine  truth.  If  we  were  faithful,  how 
many  such   instances  would  there  be !     What  an  amount  of 

rhetorical   passion  infuses  into  his  speeches  :    I   don't 

know  any  of  our  orators  who  ventures  upon  so  much,  nor  any 
of  our  agents  who  has  kept  alive  his  enthusiasm  so  long  for  one 
cause.  It  is  pleasing  to  observe  how  hired  agents  become  devoted 
to  a  single  charity  heart  and  soul,  and  then  equally  devoted  to 

another.     I  am  not  at  all  pleased  with 's  Critique.     It  is 

full  of  the  slang  of  the  pseudo-German  school,  even  to  such 
words  as  Stand-point,  (Stanclpunkt :)  why  not  call  a  glove  a 
Hand-shoe,  (Hand-schuh,)  as  the  Germans  do  1  I  am  more  and 
more  convinced  that  no  man  need  regret  the  extremest  ignorance 
of  every  German  metaphysician  that  has  written. 

I  have  just  opened  the  Eecord  of  May  13,  which  contains 
Packard's  speech.  He  seems  to  have  been  well  received,  with 
the  exception  of  the  usual  blackguardism  of  the  next  speaker 
about  slavery.  If  I  should  ever  speak  on  British  Boards,  I  think 
that  I  would  forestall  that  by  blazing  away  beforehand  against 
the  British  for  having  introduced  slavery  among  us,  and  kept  up 
the  slave-trade  so  many  years.  It  is  plain  that  the  report  of  the 
"  worthy  gentleman's  "  speech  is  defective  in  the  extreme.  The 
bones  of  old  Boney  [in  Paris]  will  be  as  really  adored  as  ever  any 
relics  were.  The  simiotigre,  as  Alfieri  called  the  French,  will 
make  a  wonderful  work  over  them.  I  doubt  whether  France  con- 
tains in  it  as  honest  a  man  as  Wellington ;  but  I  confess  to  a 
violent  antipathy  to  the  great  nation.  Except  from  necessity, 
they  seem  to  me  to  be  the  same  people  they  were  during  the 


1833—1844.  307 

Revolution.  What  a  blessing  it  is  to  belong  to  the  Teutonic 
race  !  The  more  I  sec  of  the  black-eyed  races  of  the  South  of 
Europe,  the  less  I  respect  them.  Next  to  Britain  I  would  live 
in  Prussia.  Last  year  we  had  90  quarts  of  strawberries  ;  this 
year  not  nine,  the  season  being  just  done.  The  last  article  of 
the  Edinburgh  Review  for  April  on  the  "  State  of  Parties  "  is 
fine  reading — no  doubt  by  "  Tom  "  Macaulay.  It  is  very  unjust, 
however,  in  many  particulars.  I  see  the  General  Assembly  of 
Scotland  have  gone  very  strongly  against  Lord  Aberdeen's  Bill ; 
no  doubt  rightly,  but,  I  apprehend,  to  the  ruin  of  their  estab- 
lishment. I  am  much  struck  with  the  tone  of  piety  which 
pervades  Dr.  Chalmers's  writings  on  the  subject.  I  am  not 
without  reasons  for  thinking  that  the  last  sermon  I  preached  to 
the  blacks  was  the  means  of  awakening  the  only  white  person 
present.  Strange  are  the  ways  of  Providence  !  I  think  it  is 
too  much  our  way  to  rank  modern  philosophers  who  reject  the 
Gospel,  with  ancient  sages  who  did  not  know  it.  But  if  Plato 
is  in  hell — how  far  nearer  absence  of  pain  must  he  be  than 
Gibbon  !  the  former  having  almost  guessed  at  truth  without 
revelation,  the  latter,  after  a  perfect  education  in  it,  having  re- 
jected it !  The  grand  error  of  free-thinkers,  and  that  which,  I 
think,  should  be  pressed  home  upon  them,  is  their  obstinate  per- 
sistency in  going  blindfold  when  a  light  from  heaven  is  offered 
to  them.  Suppose  a  man  should  profess  to  doubt  all  the  acknowl- 
edged principles  of  chemistry  and  blow  himself  up,  by  going  into 
a  foul  mine,  when  a  thousand  safety-lamps  had  been  offered  to 
him.  Our  minds  are  too  often  disposed  to  regard  that  as  venial, 
which  God  regards  as  heinous.  Perhaps  the  very  rejection  of 
such  a  book  as  the  Bible,  even  without  a  word  of  external  evi- 
dence, is  proof  positive  of  enmity  to  God.  Pride  of  under- 
standing ruins  learned  men  by  hundreds  and  thousands ;  it  is 
destroying,  I  fear,  all  the  philosophers  of  Germany.  To  become 
as  little  children  is  a  great  attainment.  May  it  be  ours  !  It 
evidently  means  a  great  deal.  Especially  it  means  faith :  what 
is  credulity  in  our  babe,  towards  us,  is  faith  in  us,  towards 
God.  After  this  page  of  homily,  I  allow  you  to  have  a  recess 
for  a  few  minutes.  Look  at  that  hard  place,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  5. 
De  Wette  translates,  and  as  I  think  in  exact  accordance  with  the 
Hebrew :  "  Yea,  and  is  not  my  house  so,  before  God  %  "  &c, 
&c,  &c.  "  Yea,  all  my  salvation  and  all  my  desire,  will  he  not 
make  it  grow  %  "  In  verse  17  of  the  same  chap.,  and  in  1  Chr. 
xi.  19,  the  phrase  is  not  equivalent  to  our  "  God-forbid,"  but 
rather  (1)  "  Be  it  far  from  me,  Jehovah  !  "  (2)  "  Be  it  far  from 
me,  from  God."     Some  little  chronological  tables  might  with 


308  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

advantage   be   dispersed    over   a  Bible ;    some  light  from   the 
following  neglected  relationships  :  viz. : 

Jesse 

I 

I  I  I 

Abigail  DAVID  Zeruiah 


Amasa  Joab  Asahel  Abishai 

A  few  self-made  charts  of  this  kind  tracing  out  the  relations 
mentioned  in  Scripture,  would,  by  degrees,  enlarge  and  distinct-ify 
(we  need  a  word)  a  man's  historical  knowledge  of  Scripture. 
Half  the  readers  do  not  know  whether  Zeruiah  was  male  or 
female. 

Princeton,  July  1,  1840. 
Bishop  Chase  (in  the  "Record")  talks  of  moneys  "  rising  of'' 
so  many  dollars  !  Show  me  an  English  authority  for  "  over  ten 
thousand  dollars  ! "  Yet  Walter  Scott  says,  "  I  have  done  a 
monstrous  sight  of  work,"  (Diary,  July  13,  1826;)  this  I  thought 
a  Philadelphianism.  "  Leave  me  alone,"  I  never  heard  but  in 
your  town  ;  it  is  a  German  idiom  exact  ;  "  Lassen  mich  alleinr 

We  have  had  a  visit  from ,  who  is  zealous  about  a  prize 

tract  just  from  England,  which  demonstrates  that  the  Scripture 
wine  was  not  intoxicating.  He  says  Louis  Philippe  told  him 
he  would  gladly  sign  the  teetotal  pledge,  but  that,  he  feared  his 
subjects  would  say  he  was  a  fool.  That  is  the  thing  they  will 
never  say  of  him,  even  if  they  shed  his  blood  on  Napoleon's 
ashes.  I  do  not  much  expect  to  be  at  Trenton  ;  we  expect  to 
have  a  Colonization  effort  here  on  that  day.  The  iron  is  now 
hot,  and  the  Buxton  influence  should  be  driven  forwards  with  all 
power  while  it  lasts.  My  mind  has  run  very  much  lately  on 
Colonization  (in  general)  as  God's  means  of  civilizing  and 
Christianizing  the  world,  and  on  the  part  which  the  Anglo-Saxon 
race  is  taking.  From 's  letters,  as  from  the  British  pa- 
pers, I  see  how  far  worse,  after  all,  the  spirit  of  party  is  in  Eng- 
land than  here.  How  it  is  embittered  by  politics,  by  the  Estab- 
lishment, by  the  feeling  of  rank,  and  by  the  admitted  heats  and 
outbreaks  of  the  platform !  Would  it  be  possible  for  any 
American  Committee  or  Board  to  treat  any  accredited  British 
agent  as  every  American  ditto  is  treated  there,  by  some  or 
other  of  them  1     I  trow  not. 


1833—1844.  309 

Give   my   kindest  regards  to and  the  rest   of  your 

wliite  family,  as  they  say  in  Virginia,  to  distinguish  from  a 
man's  black  ditto,  which  is  sometimes  quite  patriarchal. 

I  am,  was,  have  been,  had  been,  shall  be,  &c,  through  all  the 
tenses,  Yours. 

Princeton,  July  22,  1840. 

I  enclose  with  this  the  MS.  of  Lame  John.1  It  was  begun 
under  the  title  of  Lame  Jack,  which  I  greatly  prefer,  but  the  re 
semblance  to  Miss  Edgeworth's  Lame  Jervas,  and  Capt.  Mar 
ryat's  Poor  Jack,  made  me  fear  to  add  a  third  great  work  of 
the  sort. 

No  book  of  mine  has  less  plot  or  less  fiction.  Almost  every 
page  is  a  copy  of  scenes  and  incidents  under  my  eye  at  the  time 
of  writing,  or  remembered  by  me.  If  I  do  not  err,  this  copying 
of  real  life  will  interest  young  readers. 

Believe  me  very  respectfully,  Yours  and  Theirs,  (sc.  the  un- 
known Committee,  which  is  not  unlike  the  Chambre  Lntrouvable 
of  the  French  Revolution,)  and  am,  et  cetera, 

James  Alaxandrew, 
as  my  carpenter  spells  the  name. 

Princeton,  July,  1840. 

Bishops  abound.  Last  Sunday  we  had  Samuel  Michigan, 
yestreen  Levi  North  Carolina,  next  week  we  are  to  have  Charles 
Ohio.  The  fourth  passed  without  any  thing  very  remarkable, 
except  a  Colonization  meeting  at  which  Capt.  Stockton  spoke  and 
Langdon  Cheves  attended.  The  Captain  is  admirable  in  elocu- 
tion and  gesture.  A  knifegrinder  from  Worcestershire,  speaking 
to  me  yesterday  of  the  sects  in  this  country,  said  literatim :  "  you 
seem  to  have  a  great  many  of  the  Prispeterians,  and  also  of  the 
Priscotarians."  Our  blackberry  woman  has  come  to  an  estate 
in  France;  name  Ancillon  :  we  have  eaten  her  dewberries  within 
the  week.  A  girl  applied  to  us  as  child's  nurse  a  week  or  two 
ago  ;  last  week  she  fell  out  of  a  tree  and"  was  killed.  Tell  me, 
if  you  know,  who  the  Mr.  Peter  is,  who  translated  Schiller's 
William  Tell,  lately  published  by  Perkins.2 

So  far  as  I  know  there  is  no  book  in  defence  of  Christianity 
extant  in  French,  of  a  kind  to  meet  French  infidels,  and  be  cir- 
culated in  France  where  the  need  is  greatest.  My  father  has 
had  an  urgent  demand  this  week  for  any  thing  of  the  sort  in 
French  or  Spanish,  in  a  letter  from  a  native  Spaniard,  nephew 

lu  Lame  John;  or,  the  Charitable  Poor  Man."   Published  1840.   Pp.137. 
2  He  was  the  British  Consul  in  Philadelphia. 


310  WHILE    PKOFESSOK   IN    PEINCETON   COLLEGE. 

of  a  Romish  priest.  Can  we  neglect  this  without  sin  1  My 
father  has  received  innumerable  letters  from  persons  converted 
as  well  as  convinced  by  his  "  Evidences  ;  "  one  last  week  from 
an  Episcopal  clergyman. 

Princeton,  August,  1840. 

Read  a  grand  article  on  Style  in  the  July  Blackwood.  Do  your 
children  get  a  chance  to  fly  kites  1  it  is  a  very  graceful  and  in- 
teresting pastime.     Among  the  Tract  Society's  volumes  is  the 

Life  of .     I  must  in  candour  say  it  is  a  worthless  book. 

It  is  such  prima  facie,  but  doubly  so  to  us  who  intimately  knew 
the  subject  of  the  memoir  for  years.  He  was  a  very  warm- 
hearted Christian,  but  as  great  a  mixture  of  weakness,  impru- 
dence, and  pomposity  as  I  ever  saw  in  my  life.  Some  of  those 
who  loved  him  most  were  most  surprised  and  ashamed  when 
they  saw  him  made  a  lion  of.  Harris's  Mammon  and  Abbott's 
Young  Christian  seem  to  me  very  objectionable.  Most  of  their 
[Tract  Society's]  other  permanent  volumes  I  think  good.  I 
stand  astonished  at  the  extent  of  their  circulation.  What  an  en- 
gine !  We  are  (our.  house)  about  equidistant  from  three  most 
sage  musicians — an  owl  which  perches  and  screeches  every  even- 
ing in  Dr.  Hodge's  trees,  and  two  of  Elliot's  "  animals  "  [asses] 
at  Capt.  Stockton's.  I  never  knew  fully  before  what  braying 
meant.  Come  out  before  the  season  is  over.  Signora  Upupa  is 
engaged  for  a  few  nights  only,  and  one  of  the  Asinelle  is  lately 
confined.  How  is  a  man  ever  to  be  sure  how  another  man's 
name  is  spelt  ?  Shakspeare's  is  three  different  ways  in  his  auto- 
graph will.  In  preparing  an  article,  I  had  scruples  about  "  Sid- 
ney Smith ; "  found  it  with  y  in  the  Record,  i  in  Lockhart's 
Scott,  and  both  i  and  y  in  John  Murray's  Byron,  and  got  it 

wrong  at  last.     I  have  heard ,  and,  I  think, ,  say 

Byron  :  the  noble  Lord  himself  rhymes  it  with  iron  and  siren. 

Do  you  ever  read  the  Spectator?  Read  it,  by  extracts, 
with  or  to  your  daughter.  It  is  crystal  water  after  gutter  ditto. 
Some  of  Steele's  are  more  racy  English  than  Addison's.  What 
pomp  of  American  verbosity  could  express  what  follows,  about 
Westminster  Abbey  :  "  When  I  look  upon  the  tombs  of  the 
great  every  emotion  of  envy  dies  in  me." 

"  The  better  vulgar  " — a  fine  phrase  of  Warburton's. 

I  would  subscribe  two  prices  for  a  bona  fide  old-time  Walsh- 
ian  gazette.     I  owe  something  to  that  man  : 

"  But  why  then  publish  ?     Granville  the  polite 
And  Knowing  Walsh  would  tell  me  I  could  write." 

Pope. 

It  is  some  weeks  since  I  was  enabled  to  close  the  canon  of 


1833—1844.  311 

the  New  Testament,  having,  in  my  small  way,  expounded  the 
whole  in  course,  at  morning  prayers.  And  I  am  sure  I  love  the 
book  more  for  having  so  done.     I  have  begun  again. 

Some  of  our  wretched  wags  in  College  had  a  strolling  painter 

in  the  gallery,  last  Sunday,  busy  taking 's  likeness,  while 

he  preached ! 

This  evening  is  very  cool ;  enough  so,  I  guess,  for  a  blanket. 
A  neighbour's  child,  18  months  old,  has  swallowed  15  percussion 
caps,  (invented,  you  know,  by  Forsyth,  a  Scotch  clergyman.) 

In  private  I  have  found  forms  of  prayer  very  valuable.  They 
suggest  what  to  pray  for,  which  we  may  forget.  I  have  thought 
it  would  be  good  to  make  for  one's  self  a  liturgy  of  subjects  ;  we 
are  so  apt  to  forget.  Have  a  book ;  put  a  general  topic  at  top 
of  page  ;  leave  space  to  add  particulars.  Romaine  used  to  have 
a  list  of  friends,  and  prayed  it  over  every  Friday  afternoon. 

Sam  [now  Rev.  S.  D.  Alexander]  is  going  on  Tuesday  to 
Sullivan  co.,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Erie  railroad,  as  a  Surveyor.  Gocl 
grant  him  a  new  heart ! 

Some  papistical  books  on  Christian  morals  are,  exceptis  ex- 
cipiendis,  among  the  best  I  ever  read.  To-day  I  have  been  read- 
ing the  "  Spiritual  Combat,"  a  famous  book  among  them,  from 
which  T  think  I  have  derived  real  benefit.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
original  productions  I  ever  perused.  Read  any  chapter  of  it, 
and  you  will  see  what  I  mean.     It  is  anonymous. 

We  have  a  very  wide  horizon  where  we  now  live,  and  surely 
nothing  of  pyroteehny  can  equal  the  lightnings  of  this  evening. 
Last  night — moon  shining — I  stood  by  a  fence,  coming  from 
Dod's,  and  speculated  a  colt,  as  I  thought  it,  grazing  in  a  pas- 
ture :  it  came  right  up  to  me,  and  lo  it  was  an  ass  !  Really 
now,  it  was  quite  a  noble  creature  of  the  kind. 

I  sometimes  find  my  evenings  quite  light  and  hilarious  after 
a  very  tort  day.  This  morning  I  attended  a  funeral,  sat  at 
Dod's  examen,  heard  a  long  recitation,  and,  after  a  bite,  exam- 
ined 76  fellows  in  Latin,  came  home  exanimatus,  drank  three 
cups  of  strong  tea,  played  half  an  hour  on  a  flute,  and  feel  better 
this  moment  than  I  did  when  I  got  up.  What  wonderful  ma- 
chines these  are  !  Sometimes  the  grasshopper  is  a  burden  to  me. 
1  have  been  reading  O.  A.  Brownson's  Charles  fflhvood,  which 
purports  to  be  his  own  experience.  No  American  book  is  better 
written — the  style,  in  places,  is  exquisite  ;  but  it  is  the  deadliest 
assault  on  religion ;  and  though  he  does  not  quote  a  German 
word,  it  is  Kant-ism  applied  to  American  infidel  politics.  The 
system  is  the  more  dangerous  because  it  is  alive  ;  in  this  having 

an  unspeakable  advantage  over  the  Unitarianism  of and 

Co.v  which  is  corpse-like,  and  has  never  moved  among  the  people. 


312  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRDJCETON   COLLEGE. 

Tell that  I  beseech  him  to  write  an  off-hand  article 

for  the  Repertory,  on  the  subject  he  once  touched  in  some  let- 
ters ;  viz.,  the  danger  and  folly  of  an  un-religious  Education  for  the 
country.  Let  him  fill  it  with  his  British  recollections,  &c.  He 
is  precisely  the  man  to  do  it.  The  call  is  imperative,  and  this 
is  the  nick  of  time.  I  wish  I  could  make  him  know  how  earnestly 
I  desire  this.1  Both  your  Union  and  the  Tract  Society  would 
profit  by  it ;  and  if  he  does  it  as  he  can,  it  may  do  more  good 
than  a  thousand  sermons.  Don't  wait  for  method  or  references ; 
let  him  strike  it  off  hot,  and  it  will  burn  in  the  deeper.  If  this 
is  not  our  vocation  just  now,  I  know  not  what  is.  I  am  afraid 
the  devil  is  getting  hold  of  the  common-school  crank. 

It  is  plain  that  the  [London]  Record  has  several  writers  of 
its  editorials.  The  man  who  writes  on  the  Scotch  church  is  truly 
a  powerful  fellow.  When  I  read  what  he  says  (and  he  has  con- 
futed my  foregoing  conclusions  on  sundry  points)  I  feel  as  if  I 
was  in  the  gripe  of  a  Cornish  wrestler. 

Lord  Byron,  in  a  paper  of  Strictures,  written  at  Ravenna,  in 
1821,  takes  Campbell  to  task  for  misquoting  Shakspeare,  and 
says  :  "A  great  poet  quoting  another  should  be  correct."  In  the 
very  same  article  Tie  designates  Bacon  as  the  "greatest — wisest — 
meanest  of  mankind."  The  allusion  is  obvious,  but  the  distich 
of  Pope  runs  thus  : 

"  If  parts  allure  thee,  think  how  Bacon  sbined 
The  wisest,  brightest,  meanest  of  mankind." 

I  wish  you  would  attend  one  of  our  Final  Examinations  ;  in- 
deed, I  wish  they  were  public.  Nothing  could  do  so  much  jus- 
tice to  our  methods  of  teaching.  It  lasts  from  8  to  10  days ; 
hours  8| — 12,  and  2 — 5.  Most  of  the  subjects  (about  16)  are, 
on  the  English-University  plan,  from  papers,  embodying  the 
chief  points  of  the  whole  subject ;  the  same  paper  to  each  ;  not 
seen  before  the  moment ;  no  book,  reference,  or  communication 
allowed.  Some  of  the  best  scholars  answer  every  question  in 
full,  writing  3  or  3J  hours  at  a  stretch,  and  filling  several  sheets. 
There  is  perfect  silence,  and  it  is  a  fine  moral  spectacle  to  see 
70  odd  young  men  so  intensely  employed.  Of  course  there  are 
many  who  do  little  or  nothing ;  but  the  examination  is  abso- 
lutely fair,  and  the  comparison  between  man  and  man  exact.  I 
doubt  not  that  our  whole  course  of  study  will  be  more  faithful, 
under  the  urgency  of  this  motive.  I  will  try  to  enclose  such  of 
our  papers  as  are  printed,  for  a  few  are  exhibited  on  a  black- 
board.    The  paper  is  always  a  fresh  one,  and  such  as  no  chance 

1  It  was  done  in  an  article  of  fifty-three  pages  in  the  Repertory  of 
July,  1841. 


1833—1844.  313 

can  enable  any  one  to  answer  who  has  not  some  knowledge  of 
every  portion,  and  exact  knowledge  of  certain  parts  proposed. 

I  have  received  78  answers  to  my  examination-paper.  I  will 
send  you  a  copy  of  the  paper,  and  perhaps  one  of  the  answers. 
The  following  question  from  Dod's  examination  paper  of  Juniors 
is  sent  for  Tom's  use  : 

"  Find  the  length  of  an  arc  of  the  Tractory,  its  differential 

d  v  v 

equation  being  -= = -4 — =-     Correct  the  integral  on  the 

supposition  that  the  arc  commences  at  the  origin,  where  y  =  a." 

A  Simeon  (Charles)   here  might  be  a  great  blessing  :    he 

ought,  however,  to  be  disconnected  with  the  college  police.      Our 

advices  are  like  those  of  the  Newgate  ordinary.     j^Hr3   Talk 

fully  with  P about   the   religious-education-literature,   (as 

above,)  for  I  think  it  the  question  of  our  age  and  land.  If  we 
could  leave  that  matter  on  its  right  foot,  we  might  die.  If  I 
were  a  raging,  athletic,  outdoor  man,  I  would  stake  every  thing 
upon  it.  New  England  will  do  her  own  work,  well  or  ill ;  but 
who  will  do  it  for  the  non-New-England  States  1 

I  think  you  are  too  severe  upon  the  absconding  clergy.  The 
thing  is  no  doubt  an  abuse,  as  it  now  exists,  but  there  is  after  all, 
at  the  bottom,  a  real  necessity  for  some  recreation  and  change  of 
scene.  Only  it  ought  to  be  under  some  well-understood  arrange- 
ment, so  as  to  prevent  this  summer  complaint  of  the  people. 
Why  must  all  clergymen  need  winding  up  at  the  same  month  ? 
Why  need  there  be  so  much  stiffness  about  not  preaching  in 
another's  pulpit  ?  Why  not  agree  together  and  have  a  rotation 
of  Iiejiras  ?  This  I  don't  understand.  The  source  of  the  evil 
in  some  of  the  best  pastors,  I  suppose,  is  undue  night-work  during 
the  working  season, 

John  F.  Caruthers  of  Lexington  is  dead.  Our  large  con- 
nexion in  Rockbridge  could  not  have  met  with  a  single  loss  so 
serious,  He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  talent  for  business,  and 
of  prudence  unsurpassed,  an  elder,  and  a  conscientious  Christian. 
I  believe,  long  a  Sunday  School  Superintendent.  Old  Dr.  Hill- 
yer  is  dead  also,  a  truly  good  old  man.  How  beautiful  is  good- 
ness !  Fierce  orthodoxy  burns  as  well  as  warms,  but  .Christlike 
gentleness  sheds  life  all  around  it. 

Charlotte  Court  House,  Va.,  Oct.  27,  1840. 
It  is  with  great  difficulty  that  I  snatch  an  interval  from  ex- 
cessive company  to  write  you  a  letter,  and  I  shall  probably  be 
stopped  before  I  get  done.  My  wife,  two  boys,  and  nurse  stop- 
ped at  the  University,  [Charlottesville.]  Though  they  all  were 
somewhat  better,  they  were  not  in  a  state  to  brave  a  land-journey 
vol  i. — 14 


314  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRETCETOST   COLLEGE. 

over  mountains.     Mr.  's  carriage  had  been  sent  for  us  ; 

leaving,  therefore,  my. family  with  Dr.  [Prof.  J.  L.]  Cabell,  I 
reached  this  place  in  four  days.  We  had  to  lie  by  for  heavy 
storms.  We  got  here  last  Thursday.  We  shall,  if  the  Lord  will, 
meet  at  Judge  Cabell's  about  the  6th  prox.  There  has  been  a 
great  religous  excitement  here ;  about  105  converts  of  different 
sects.  Twenty  of  these  have  joined  the  Presbyterians.  The 
feeling  extends  on  every  side  to  neighbouring  congregations. 
The  new  measures  are  rife,  but  connected  with  old  doctrine,  ex- 
cept in  the  case  of  the  Methodists. 

I  have  met  with  B.  W.  Leigh,  W.  C.  Rives,  Alexander  Rives, 
Governor  Barbour,  and  a  few  more  of  that  class.  I  heard  Rives 
in  Albemarle.  He  spoke  three  hours,  and  was  very  eloquent. 
The  Harrison  cause  is  triumphant  here.  It  is  supported  with  a 
high  and  dignified  zeal,  which  I  like  better  than  the  Tippecanoe 
fury  of  our  canaille  in  the  cities.  B.  W.  Leigh  is  an  honest 
statesman.  I  heard  him  pronounce  a  most  cordial,  discrimina- 
ting, and  copious  eulogy  on  the  people  of  Massachusetts.  The 
most  painful  thing,  in  visiting  this  old  slave-holding  country,  is 
to  see,  after  fifteen  years'  acquaintance,  none  of  those  municipal 
and  domestic  improvements  which  strike  one  in  the  north.  The 
University  is  more  of  a  place  than  I  thought.  Their  professors 
do  more,  especially  in  the  way  of  lecture,  than  any  I  know. 
Bonny  castle  is  a  wonderful  man  for  genius  and  learning.  Tucker 
is  a  man  of  elegant  English  gentlemanhood ;  just  like  Walsh 
in  the  cast  of  his  mind,  and  his  talk.  Each  professor  is  bound, 
under  penalty,  to  deliver  132  lectures  in  the  year.  Library, 
17,000  volumes.  Annual  appropriation  from  State  $15,000. 
After  as  good  counsel  as  I  can  get,  I  am  under  the  necessity  of 
declining  the  invitation  of  the  Sunday  School  Union. 

Princeton,  November  18,  1840. 
We  all  got  home  well,  and  found  our  house  swept  and  gar- 
nished, and  fires  made,  but  no  servants.  We  are  little  better  off 
now,  in  the  last  particular.  Mr.  Crane  went  to  drive  a  cow  out 
of  Jus  yard,  and  fell  down  dead.  I  am  anxious  to  make  out  a 
statement,  with  reference  to  all  our  public  charities,  boards,  &c,  in 
answer  to  these  questions;  1.  What  is  the  amount  of  receipts, 
yearly  1  2.  What  part  of  this  goes  for  expenses?  i.  e.  is  notlaid 
out  on  the  direct  object.  3.  What  part  of  this  sum  goes  to 
Agents,  as  salary  or  compensation  1  You  have  access  to  more 
reports  than  I,  and  if  you  could  amuse  yourself  on  a  rainy  dav, 
by  a  few  figures,  you  would  please  me.  We  have  matriculated 
63  new  students,  being  more  than  we  have  ever  receivejd,  so  far 
as  I  know,  at  so  early  a  day.     The  Seminary  has  admitted   34, 


1833—1844.  315 

also  a  large  number.  Addison  is  this  year  lecturing  on  the  whole 
of  the  passages  quoted  from  the  Old  Testament  in  the  New.     I 

learn  that and  others  came  forth  strongly  against  the  A.  S. 

S.  Union,  and  some  of  them  even  against  the  Bible  Society,  at 
the  Synodical  meeting  at  Wilkesbarre.  I  learn  also  that  very 
large  minorities  in  the  two  westernmost  synods  of  New  York  re- 
fuse to  join  the  New  School  Assembly.  Perfectionism  and 
Oberlinism  are  making  stealthy  but  wide  advances  in  that  great 
country.  I  find  all  my  binding  O.  K.  This  symbol  may  be 
variously  rendered,  viz.,  "O   qu'est!"  or,  "  Au  quai."     Prof. 

says  the  English  laugh  very  much  at  the  American  and 

Walkerian  pronunciation  of  buoy  ;  and  that  no  Englishman  ever 
gives  it  any  sound  but  that  of  boy,  as  the  sailors  do.  I  hear  a 
sleigh-bell,  while  I  write,  after  dark  ;  the  mercury  has  been  below 
82°  all  day.  One  of  our  students,  Frederick  William  Mark, 
died  during  the  vacation  at  New  York.     He  was  a  Bavarian  Jew. 

Princeton,  November  24,  1840. 
The  death  of  Mr.  Davis  at  the  Virginia  University  is  a  hor- 
rible  comment  on  the  Southern,  I  may  almost  say  American, 
practice  of  using  deadly  weapons.1  1  parted  with  Davis  at  the 
junction  of  the  two  railways,  (he- accompanied  us  from  Rich- 
mond,) on  the  Wednesday  before  the  Friday  on  which  he  was 
shot.  He  was,  I  have  every  reason  to  think,  a  truly  pious  man, 
Df  the  Episcopal  church.  As  a  professor  he  wTas  one  of  their 
best — a  black-letter  lawyer  of  great  reading,  and  a  good  lecturer. 
I  think  he  married  a  grand-niece  of  Jefferson's. 

Princeton,  December  1,  1840. 
I  guess  that  will  be  versification  enough  for  one  sheet.2  Mr. 
John  Wray  of  the  Seminary  is  to  call  some  day  this  week  for  a 
coat  for  me.  Any  message,-  cartel,  paper,  or  what  not,  might  by 
said  Wray  be  privily  inserted  into  pocket  of  said  coat,  and  then 
will  be  conveyed  to  me,  even  though  Mr.  Wray  meant  only  to 
take  raiment.  Tell  Tom  that  Henry  had  a  dead  owl  yesterday, 
and  started  a  live  hare  (rabbit)  in  the  garden  to-day.  The 
severe  cold  drives  animals  near  to  their  natural  enemies.  My 
brother  Sam  is  hard  at  work  in  Orange  co.  Prof.  Henry  gets  all 
his  winter  butter  at  16  cts.  the  pound,  which  is  a  clever  thing  in 
him.     Numbers  of  the  "air-tight  stoves"  coming  into  use  here, 

1  John  A.  G.  Davis,  Professor  of  Law,  was  shot  by  a  student,  as  the 
Professor  was  approaching  him  for  the  purpose  of  detecting  him  in  dis- 
orderly conduct. 

2  "A  Christian  Lyric,"  and  "  Lord,  hear  the  Seaman's  Cry,1  for  the  Sun- 
day School  Journal. 


316  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN    PRLNCETON    COLLEGE. 

(not  I,)  Dr.  R.,  Dr.  H.,  Prof.  H.,  Prof.  D.,  Dr.  M.:  wood 
needn't  be  touched  for  half  a  day  together — three-fourths  of  a 
cord  of  wood  take  you  through  winter.  Introductor  of  the  same, 
Dr.  John  N.  Campbell,  of  Albany.  I  consider  Longfellow's 
"  Village  Blacksmith"  the  best  American  fugitive  poem  I  ever 
read,  and  if  1  had  a  daughter  of  competency  to  get  any  thing  by 
heart,  I  would  make  her  rehearse  it  to  me  while  shaving,  (i.  e. 
while  I  was  shaving.)  I  have  a  Scotch  boy  named  Kenneth 
MacKenzie,  which  means  Kenneth  the  son  of  Kenzie ;  but  he  is 
the  son  of  Allan  McKenzie,  who  gardens  for  me.  When  I  was 
in  Buckingham,  Va.,  I  saw  a  stuffed  pine  snake,  more  than  seven 
feet  long,  and  as  thick  at  the  thickest  as  my  leg.  It  had  been 
killed  on  the  estate  where  I  saw  it :  on  the  same  place  I  saw  a 
rattlesnake,  which  was  showed  to  me  by  the  lady  who  had  killed  • 
it.  I  saw  a  good  many  gold  mines,  but  most  of  them  are 
"being"  given  up.  The  gold  occurs  in  hard  quartz,  and  the 
thing  is  to  get  it  out.  The  grinding  is  a  terrible  process,  and  no 
flux  has  been  found  yet.  A  poor  Jew  named  Levon  lectured  ( ! ) 
here  Sunday  evening  [oh!  oh!]   a  layman — highly  recommended 

by  &c.,  &c.     Pray,  if  Leeser  is  in  town,  decoy  him  off  till 

said  Levon  has  exhibited.  I  gave  him  a  coin,  which  twenty 
Christians  within  half  a  mile  deserve  as  much,  and  need  more. 
Hurrah  for  beggars  !     Vive  la  bagatelle  ! 

Dec.  2,  1840. — I  left  off  at  the  bottom  of  page  6,  late  last 
night,  for  I  can't  do  night- work  ;  notwithstanding  the  excellent 
rule  of  Miss  Taylor,  "  Let  each  day's  work  be  done  by  night" 
V.  Original  Hymns  for  Sunday  Schools.  I  have  never  seen  any 
decent  hymns  for  children,  but  Watts's.     I  have  heard  say  that 

was  desirous  to  enter  on  regular  pastoral  duty,  and  that 

he  would  entertain  kindly  any  vocation  from  Philadelphia; 
whether  in  the  place  of  such  clergy  as  are  pumped  dry,  or  to 
found  a  new  church  by  abstracting  the  best  elders  and  Diveses 
from  two  or  three  churches.  Part  of  this,  it  now  occurs  to  me, 
I  did  not  hear,  but  I  as  good  as  heard  it — in  a  Masonic  sense  I 
might  swear  I  heard  it.  As  there  is  the  greatest  anxiety  every- 
where to  know  who  nominated  Harrison  first,  &c,  &c,  I  beg  you 
to  bear  in  mind,  that  I  claim  the  honour  of  naming  Chang  and  Eng, 
Esqs.,  of  Siam,  the  one  for  President,  the  other  for  Vice  Presi- 
dent. Their  claims  are  manifest,  &c,  &c.  When  next  you  pass 
Frederick  Brown's  druggery,  please  ask  howr  they  sell  pyroligne- 
ous  acid,  such  as  is  used  for  meat.  I  mean  to  prepare  my  win- 
ter's bacon  with  it,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Professors  at  the  Va. 
University,  who  have  the  best  bacon  I  ever  ate,  without  the  ordi- 
nary plague  and  delay  of  smoking.  As  to  "  boughten"  hams,  to 
use  a  Jersey  phrase,  I  would  not  put  a  morsel  in  my  head,  save 
from  necessity. 


1833—1844.  317 

Princeton,  December  8,  1840. 
Just  thus  for  had  I  got  in  writing,  when  Dick  brought  your 
letter  of  the  6th.  Allow  me  to  open  it.  ...  I  thank  you  for 
your  care  about  the  Kisterbock  [stove]  :  the  word  has  now  be- 
come a  noun-common.  Our  country  is  covered  with  snow, 
which  will  keep  me  for  some  time  from  the  basin.  A  sleigh  just 
called  for  me  to  call  on  Mrs. .  There  is  something  in  bri- 
dal-dress which  always  reminds  me  of  a  corpse :  wrhite  silk  is  a 
very  ghastly  thing.  The  December  No.  of  the  Missionary 
Herald  is  very  interesting,  especially  in  that  part  which  concerns 
the  Nestorian  mission.  But  why  should  these  Yankees  be  so 
rank  to  introduce  extempore  prayer  among  the  poor  Nestori- 
ans,  when  they  acknowledge  that  their  liturgy  is  sound  enough  1 
I  have  been  reading  some  more  of  Luther's,  and  the  Elector  of 
Saxony's  letters,  &c,  about  the  time  of  the  Diet  at  Ratisbon, 
1540,  and  the  more  I  read,  the  more  am  I  filled  with  unfeigned 
admiration  and  love  for  those  two  heroic  men.  They  are  like 
the  strong  characters  of  the  Bible — great  lights — great  shades — 
but  gigantic  mind  and  heart — accomplishing  a  thousandfold  more 
for  Christ  in  one  lifetime  than  hundreds  of  us  correct,  cautious, 
temperate   creatures.1      There   is    something   very    chaste   and 

1  It  mny  not  be  an  inappropriate  note  upon  this  sentiment  tn  insert  the 
following  lines  written  by  Mr.  Alexander  near  this  time  : 
The  power  of  grace  has  tempered  into  one 
The  strongest  contraries  beneath  thcsun  ; 
Nor  is  there  aught  of  work  divine  more  great 
Than  the  new  creature  in  its  altered  state  ; 
"When  by  heaven's  pencil  on  the  soul  are  traced 
The  self-same  lines  by  which  the  Lord  is  graced 
If  all  were  softness,  where  were  Christian  might 
If  all  affection,  where  the  reason's  light? 
If  bold  contention  for  the  truth  were  all, 
How  could  the  spirit  into  meekness  fall  ? 
While  trust  and  penitence  together  move, 
Zeal  dwells  with  quiet,  action  blends  with  love ; 
Nor  contemplation  though  foretasting  bliss, 
In  viewing  that  world  fails  to  work  in  this. 
The  mingling  opposites,  like  rainbow  hues, 
Blend  in  one  beam,  and  all  discordance  lose. 
'Tis  God's  own  work,  and  every  several  grace, 
Like  gems  in  Aaron's  breastplate,  hath  its  place  ; 
Each  unto  each  reflects  a  lustrous  hue, 
Unlike  yet  joined,  well-known  yet  ever  new. 
Each  priceless  when  alone,  but  when  thus  set, 
With  mutual  radiance  fairer,  costlier  yet ; 
And  all  combining  in  a  concord  just, 
To  show  divinity  set  forth  in  dust ; 
A  thousand  charms  in  one  redeemed  face, 
All  to  the  praise  of  glory  and  of  grace. 
Lord  spread  such  harmony  within  this  breast, 
And  draw  thy  lines  till  all  be  there  exprest. 


318  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

charming  in  the  cold  brilliancy  of  these  snowy  moonlight  nights. 
Venus  had  a  brilliancy  greater  than  I  remember.  This  morning 
I  observed  a  hawk  of  the  largest  kind  making  circles  over  our 
lot,  as  if  stress  of  weather  had  tamed  him. 

If  "  Lame  John"  be  well  received  by  the  gracious  Public,  1  will 
probably  follow  it  up  with  a  story  of  which  the  hero  will  be  the 
lad  Mark  Lee  [a  character  in  "Lame  John"]  elevated  to  a 
youthful  country  school-master.  It  will  give  occasion  to  show 
ways  of  usefulness  in  that  capacity,  and  especially  to  convey 
many  scriptural  and  other  proper  lessons  to  school-boys.  The 
thought  occurred  to  me  while  writing  the  chapter  about  the 
school.  I  have  several  bits  of  rhyme  for  your  paper,  but  I  re- 
frain from  troubling  you  with  a  commodity  of  which  there  is  a 
glut  in  the  market. 

The  last  chapter  of  "  Ten-Thousand-a-Year,"  about  the  Eev. 
Morphine  Velvet,  is  capital.  I  wish  it  might  be  marked,  and  in- 
wardly digested  by  all  the  clergy  who  are  gaped  after  by  the 
self-supposed  aristocracy.  Warren,  if  it  is  he,  is  certainly  a 
very  powerful  writer.  Dr.  Nettleton  took  tea  with  us,  and  talk- 
ed in  his  usual  strong  but  somewhat  tedious  manner.  Mr.  Suv- 
dam,  of  New  Brunswick,  has  been  missing  for  some  days.  [He 
had  been  murdered.]  I  learn  he  was  President  of  the  Bank,  and 
a  member  of  the  Dutch  church,  and  of  unblemished  reputation. 
He  disappeared  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  Dec.  3,  left  his  house  say- 
ing he  was  going  to  the  bank,  and  would  be  back  to  accompany 
his  wife  to  church — did  not  even  take  his  overcoat.  The  canal 
has  been  dragged  without  success  ;  and  his  family  have  not  the 
slightest  clew.  I  doubt  not  the  "  root  of  all  evil"  is  somehow  or 
other  the  root  of  this.  You  are  Dutch  enough,  I  suppose,  to  know 
the  pronunciation  of  this  common  name — Sid-dam.  The  true 
Dutch  pronunciation  is  Sol-dam.  Prof.  H.  says  the  statis- 
tics of  health  show  that  the  use  of  coal,  or  heated  air  from  fur- 
naces, is  very  deleterious ;  that  the  gases  which  sometimes  es- 
cape are  noxious,  especially  some  which  come  off  last,  and  with- 
out smell.  I  can't  but  think  of  poor  "  Accum,"  who  found 
every  table  strewed  with  "  culinary  poisons."  We  cannot  make 
ourselves  immortal ;  and  it  would  be  well  if  we  could  look  more 
at  what  is  beyond.  Capt.  David  Hunter  and  wife  are  here — he 
is  a  Princetonian — mentioned  in  Murray's  (the  Englishman's) 
travels.  His  wife — a  fine  woman — is  noted  for  having,  in  the 
Far  West,  accompanied  her  husband  700  miles  on  horseback. 
They  now  live   at  Chicago. 

J.  W.  A. 


1833—1844.  319 

Princeton,  December  16,  1840. 
I  don't  think  I  can  do  any  longer  without  a  scrajj-book :    so 
many  things  do  1  lose  which  1  have  cut  from  the  papers  ;  valu- 
able authorities,  &c.     Will  you  look  me  out  one  1     I  hope  there 

is  nothing  poisonous  about  the  proofs  you  sent  me  of , 

they  have  a  scent  that  is  pharmaceutical  in  a  high  degree. 
Please  send  me  "  The  Practical  Spelling  Book,  with  Reading 
Lessons,"  by  Gallaudet  and  Hooker,  published  at  Hartford. 
No  news  yet  of  the  Kisterbock,  at  the  basin ;  but  they  are  hor- 
ribly neglectful  there,  as  all  country  officials  are  about  every 
thing.  Comfort  yourself,  among  some  crosses,  that  when  you 
want  any  thing  got,  or  any  thing  done,  you  can  have  it  in  less  than 
three  weeks.  A  joiner  has  been  a  month  making  me  a  small 
box,  and  a  shoemaker  two  weeks  making  a  pair  of  shoes.  I  re- 
gard myself  as  well  used  [as  to  his  publications]  from  beginning 
to  end,  except  by  the  engraver.  Qu.  Did  he  ever  see  a  real 
tree  1  do  walk  him  out  of  that  attic  some  Saturday  afternoon  as 
far  as  the  State  House  yard :  show  him  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and 
give  him  a  lesson.  More  and  more  do  I  trace  disease,  especially 
of  the  young,  headaches,  &c,  to  bad  ventilation.     Air  may  be 

very  bad  even  if  it  don't  stink.     Mr.  IT has  had  the  most 

astonishing  relief  from  nausea,  vertigo,  dec,  since  he  opened  all 
the  sashes  of  his  lecture  room  at  hours  when  the  class  is  out. 
Inquire  about  this  at  schools.  We  take  great  care  about  a  little 
wet  feet,  yet  we  drink  air  that  is  the  excrement  of  hundreds  of 

foul    lungs.     I  don't  file [a  periodical]   though  I  should 

like  to  rasp  him.  I'll  send  one  or  two.  I  know  of  five  or  six 
men  who  are  silently  wearing  out  life  in  most  devoted  labour 
among  the  slaves.  Slavery  must  and  will  end ;  I  hope  peace- 
ably ;  but,  anyhow,  we  ought  to  save  the  souls  of  this  genera- 
tion. There  are  1,700  black  Baptist  communicants  in  Richmond. 
Of  these  as  many  are  elect  souls,  I  believe,  as  of  any  1,700  of 
white  Baptists,  taken  at  random.  Two  infants  (one  a  brother  of 
a  boy  that  lives  with  us)  have  been  badly  scalded  by  pulling, 
the  one  a  tea-pot,  the  other  a  coffee-pot,  over  them.  The.former 
one  has  entirely  lost  its  eyes  :  a  singular  coincidence  in  the  same 
place  and  week.  Nothing  but  a  special  Divine  guardianship 
keeps  our  little  ones  from  daily  dangers. 

Princeton,  December  22,  1S40. 
Have  you  seen  "  Christian  Ballads  ?  "  (!)  Such  is  the  pro- 
duce of  a  ritual  religion.  There  is  indeed  (though  much  poetry) 
no  trace  of  religion,  except  the  religion  of  a  babe  or  a  bell-ringer, 
a  sceneshifter  or  a  verger.  I  counted  more  than  fifty  several 
places  about  "  bells,"  "  chimes,"  and  the  like  :  e.  g. : 


320  WHILE   PKOFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

"  The  sun  is  up  betimes, 

And  the  dappled  East  is  blushing, 
And  the  bonny  matin  chimes, 

They  are  gushing — Christians — gushing." 

P.  66. 

He  is  surplice-smitten.  It  is  on  every  few  pages.  Though 
he  affects  old  English,  he  is  ignorant  that  enoiv  is  the  old 
plural  of  enough.  In  all  my  reading  I  never  met  with  so 
sickening  a  comment  on  a  system.  Give  me  the  roughest  old 
Scotch  Irish  seceder  that  ever  croaked  Rouse's  psalms,  rather 
than  such  foppish,  puling,  mawkish,  water-gruel,  ascetic  church- 
dandies. 

These  reverses  of  the  British  in  Scinde  and  Beloochistan  were 
very  distinctly  predicted  in  the  last  Blackwood  before  the  news 
came. 

"  Fencing  the  tables  "  is  carried,  in  my  opinion,  to  an  un- 
scriptural  height.  I  am  also  persuaded  that  our  church  is  run- 
ning into  a  great  error,  in  disallowing  the  membership  of  bap- 
tized persons  who  are  not  communicants.  Our  book,  and  the 
practice  of  all  the  Reformed  Churches,  (New  England  excepted,) 
is  plain  enough. 

O  how  much  more  is  the  presumption  in  favour  of  Catholic 
Christianity  than  of  those  who  cry  with  every  breath  "  the  tem- 
ple of  the  Lord,  the  temple  of  the  Lord  are  we,"  whether  Papists, 
Oxonians,  Baptists,  or  Separatists  !  How  much  more  exercise  of 
Christian  tempers  with  the  former  than  the  latter  !  I  can  get 
along  with  a  Quaker,  but  not  with  a  bigot. 

Princeton,  January  1,  1841. 

A  Methodist  preacher  called  on  my  father  on  Christmas,,  and 
informed  him  that  he  was  unconverted,  exhorted  him,  &c.  If 
you  had  been  much  among  the  Baptist  Antinomians  of  Virginia, 
you  would  have  been  less  amazed  at  the  case  of  the  woman  and 
son.1  I  used  to  ride,  every  week,  by  the  house  of  a  desperate 
drunkard,  often  in  almost  death-throes  from  this,  yet  always'  in 
a  state  of  assurance.  Such  men  have  come  down  among  us  by 
thousands  from  the  Antinomians  of  the  commonwealth :  hear  Bax- 
ter, Works,  v.  23,  p.  39 : 

"  I  labour  with  my  utmost  skill,  to  convince  common  drunk- 

1  His  correspondent  had  been  greatly  moved  at  the  anxiety  evinced  by 
a  mother  for  her  dying  son,  whom  she  was  exhorting  and  entreating  in  the 
most  pathetic  manner  to  give  her  some  hope  of  his  being  in  peace,  remind- 
ing him  that  she  had  faithfully  instructed  him  in  the  Scriptures  all  his  life. 
The  next  day  he  found  the  son  in  his  dying  agonies,  and  the  mother  intoxi- 
cated, and  discovered  that  it  was  the  habitual  vice  of  both. 


1833—1844.  321 

ards,  swearers,  worldlings,  &c.,  of  their  misery,  and  I  cannot  do 
it  for  my  life  ;  and  this  false  faith  is  the  main  reason.  They  tell 
me,  I  know  I  am  a  sinner,  and  so  are  you,  and  all,  as  well  as  I. 
But  if  any  man  sin  'we  have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father, 
Jesus  Christ  the  righteous  ; '  I  put  my  whole  trust  in  him,  and 
cast  my  salvation  on  him  ;  for  '  He  that  believeth  on  him,  shall 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.'  If  I  tell  them  of  the  nature 
of  true  faith,  and  the  necessity  of  obedience,  they  answer  me 
that  they  know  their  own  hearts  better  than  I,  and  are  sure  they 
do  really  rest  on  Christ,  and  trust  him  with  their  souls.  And 
for  obedience,  they  will  mend  as  well  as  they  can,  and  as 
God  will  give  them  grace ;  and,  in  the  mean  time,  they  will 
not  boast  as  the  Pharisee,  but  cry  l  Lord  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner.' " 

It  appears  from  "  Ten-Thousand-a-Year,"  (perhaps  as  good 
authority  touching  neckcloths  (hemp  apart)  as  Lang,)  that  "  hab- 
erdashers' shopboys  "  at  Tagrag's  wore  white  neckcloths.  Lang 
is  logical  in  stickling  for  all  three — gown,  hat,  and  white  cravat ; 
no  doubt,  in  his  heart,  he  missed  that  "  holy  tone  "  of  which  he 
is  such  a  master,  and  which  he  will  propagate  among  his  "  trans- 
ported" hearers  in  scecula.  I  have  been  filing  my  letters  for 
1840,  and  find  at  least  half  a  dozen  of  yours  without  date  ;  just 
think  what  confusion  this  will  produce  when  your  "  Remains  " 
are  published.  The  earliest  letter  of  yours  which  I  have  in  re- 
tcnlis  is  Sept.  25,  1822.  Mr.  Connell  of  the  Seminary  is  spend- 
ing New  Year's  Day  in  town,  and  may  be  used  as  a  courier.1     I 

mourn  that should  have  spoken  so  unadvisedly  with  his 

lips  ;  sorry  should  I  be  to  utter  such  a  dictum.  It  would  have 
come  well  from  a  raving  Jacobin  in  Robespierrian  days.  Is 
France  better  for  the  going  up  of  atheism,  and  the  going  down 
of  papism?  Calvin  says  (bene)  on  Coloss.  i.  that  the  way  to 
make  all  other  things  vanish,  is  to  keep  Christ  in  full  view ; 
and  that  the  way  to  drive  out  error,  is  to  proclaim  Christ. 

January  19,  1841. 
I  have  long  been  of  the  opinion  that  our  ideas  about  geogra- 
phy are  often  twisted  for  life,  in  consequence  of  our  learning 
from  maps,  in  the  first  instance,  instead  of  globes.  Be  kind 
enough,  in  your  walks,  to  cheapen  a  pair  of  globes  for  me. 
Read  Nichols'  Architecture  of  the  heavens,  by  all  means.  It  has 
been  mangled  by  Dick,  in  his  "  Celestial  Scenery  ;  "  who  is  a 

1  The  Rev.  J.  Martin  Connell.     This  estimable  man,  whom  the  editor 
remembers  as  a  Sunday-school  pupil  of  his  in  Philadelphia,  died  from  the 
effects  of  injuries  received  in  the  dreadful  collision  of  railway  cars  near 
Burlington,  N.  J.,  in  August,  1855. 
VOL.  I. 14* 


322  WHILE   TKOFESSOE   IN   PKLNCETON    COLLEGE. 

mere  bookmaker ;  and  the  New  York  editor  and  publisher 
has  disgraced  himself  and  the  country  by  his  notes  and 
glossary.  He  talks  about  the  "  elder  Sir  John  Herschell," 
meaning  Sir  William  ;  and  says  of  Tycho  Brahe,  "  He  first  as- 
serted the  principle  that  the  earth  remains  fixed,  and  that  the 
sun  moves  around  it,whichiuas  disproved  by  Copernicus"  (p.  145.) 
N.  B.  Copernicus  died  1543,  and  Brahe  was  born  1546.  This  is 
a  mere  sample.  I  have  a  religious  attachment  to  the  books  I 
read  when  a  child.  You  once  got  me  (at  Judge  Peters's  sale)  the 
Christian  Magazine  ;  can  you  do  the  like  for  me  in  regard  to 
the  "  World  Displayed,"  8  vols.  8vo ;  it  is  a  book  of  travels 
and  voyages.  The  3d  will  be  remembered  as  the  "  cold  Sun- 
day." I  had  a  fair  trial  of  it,  as  I  went  in  an  open  sleigh,  facing 
the  wind,  to  attend  the  funeral  of  an  insane  girl,  three  miles  off, 
on  the  top  of  Rocky  Hill.  I  have  seldom  known  such  a  change 
of  temperature.  On  Monday,  4th,  my  thermometer  was  at  — 1  ° ; 
on  the  7th  at  -f  54°.  Bethime  is  very  severe  on  our  country 
colleges  in  his  Philomathean  address.  The  evils  he  speaks  of 
(though  exaggerated  by  him)  are  real ;  so  would  be  the  evils  of 
sending  country  youth  to  town  ;  the  effects  of  which  are  beauti- 
fully set  forth  in  the  case  of  the  medical  students.  What  will 
the  French  do,  now  that  they  have  interred  old  Bonaparte's  bony 
parts  1  I  am  making  some  little  researches,  from  year  to  year, 
in  the  Anglo-Saxon  :  name  any  books  you  see  in  that  line.  The 
National  Intelligencer  is  now  one  of  our  best  papers.  Walsh 
has  a  piece  in  almost  every  number,  and  I  like  him  as  much  as 
ever.  I  never  see  any  thing  rancorous  or  unfair  in  the  Intelli- 
gencer. Is  it  not  probable  that  Great  Britain  will  get  possession 
of  all  the  West  African  coast  1  they  seem  to  be  looking  that 
way  ;  and  it  would  no  doubt  hasten  the  civilization  of  the  world. 

,  who  has  been  seven  times  to  Canton,  and  stayed  eight 

years  the  last  visit,  said  to  me  on  Saturday,  that  he  had  no 
doubt  the  British  would  meet  exactly  the  same  reception  at 
every  place  all  the  way  to  Pekin,  as  at  Chu-san.  He  tells  me 
Gutzlaff  has  been  in  mere  secular  employments  for  some  time 
past.  I  am  really  afraid  the  Amistad  blackies  will  be  sent  to 
Cuba  :  if  so,  I  don't  believe  the  British  will  let  them  be  hanged  ; 
and  the  Spanish  are  pretty  much  under  Palmerston's  palm  just 
now.  I  see  ■ re-iterates 's  speech  about  the  Cath- 
olics, [that  the  case  of  an  infidel  is  better  than  that  of  a  Papist.] 
Put  the  case  thus  :     I  am  to  choose  between 

1  &  2 

A  man  who  worships  Christ,  A    man     who     blasphemes 

(whatever  else  he  may  do,  or  Christ,  (whatever  else  he  may 
not  do.)  do,  or  not  do.) 


1833—1844.  323 

For  observe,  both  say  a  " Deist  of  the  school  of  Voltaire" 
whose  watchword  was  "  Ecrasez  l'Infame  ! "  Rotteck's  Universal 
History  ought  to  be  marked  as  an  infidel  book. 

Princeton,  February  12,  1841. 
What  bitter  weather  !  you  would  say  so  if,  like  me,  you  had 
come  from  Cranbury  this  morning,  in  the  teeth  of  a  northwester. 
The  mercury  wTas  at  3°  this  morning.  I  went,  by  appointment, 
to  preach  a  Temperance  sermon.  In  the  sufferings  of  my  chil- 
dren I  experience  a  feminine  distress,  which  makes  me  enter  ten- 
derly into  that  passage :  "  as  a  father  pilieth  his  children,"  &c. 
The  cold  is  such  that  I  have  not  been  drawn  out  this  evening, 
even  to  hear  Dr.  Parker,  and  see  his  Chinaman.  I  hope  his 
Mandarin-ship  will  take  no  offence  thereanent.  A  copy  of  Mrs. 
Hooker's  works  has  been  sent  to  the  "  Editor  "  of  the  Princeton 
Review,  which,  though  not  the  editor,  I  have  appropriated,  with 
the  intention  of  writing  something  about  it.1  Mrs.  Hooker  was 
a  Avriter  after  my  heart,  and  her  prose  is  immeasurably  above 
that  of  Mrs. ,  who  travels  on  very  high  stilts.  The  fol- 
lowing remark  of  Dr.  Johnson  is  so  good  that  you  ought  to  put 
it  into  your  Journal.  It  respects  the  question  what  children 
should  be  taught  first :  "  Sir,  it  is  no  matter  what  you  teach  them 
first,  any  more  than  what  leg  you  shall  put  into  your  breeches 
first.  Sir,  you  may  stand  disputing  which  is  best  to  put  in  first, 
but  in  the  mean  time  your  breech  is  bare.  Sir,  while  you  are 
considering  which  of  two  things  you  should  teach  your  child  first, 
another  boy  has  learnt  them  both."     I  have  in  a  manner  read 

on .     Its  facts  are  strong;  but  don't  you  always 

feel  a  sinking  of  respect,  when  you  find  a  treatise  made  up  of 
scissors-scraps  ?  I  grow  in  my  conviction,  that  in  our  day,  when 
men  have  a  thousand  things  to  read,  and  won't  read  long  at  any 
thing,  the  books  which  reach  the  mass  and  colour  its  opinions, 
are  not  books  of  research,  but  books  of  feeling,  of  point,  even  of 
eccentricity ;  books  written  with  a  gush,  currente  calamo.  I 
have  a  treat  before  me,  in  the  Correspondence  of  Zu ingle,  which 
has  just  come  over  from  Germany ;  he  is  one  of  the  prime 
saints  and  martyrs  in  my  calendar.2  Major  Downing's  "  there's 
nothin'  cuts  like  the  plaguy  truth,"  is  a  good  version  of  the 
French  proverb  :  "  il  n'y-a  que  la  verite  qui  blesse."  There  are 
no  hymns,  for  unction,  like  the  German.  I  read  them  liturgi- 
cally.     They  are  pure  outgoings  of  gospel  feeling.     The  best  I 

1  This  he  did  in  the  short  notices  in  the  April  Repertory.  Mrs.  Hooker 
was  the  writer  of  the  Lives  of  David,  Elijah,  Elisha,  and  Daniel,  for  the 
Sunday  School  Union. 

2  He  reviewed  the  works  in  the  April  Repertory, 


324:  WHILE   PROFESSOK   IN   PELNCETON   COLLEGE. 

know  are  old  Paul  Gerhardt's.  I  never  saw  the  works  of  John 
Huss  till  this  week.  They  fill  a  very  large  folio  volume.  Does 
a  mechanic  who  becomes  literary  become  thereby  a  happier  man  ? 

query,  how  happy  might now  be  as  a  farrier  1     Juvenal 

discusses  the  question,  and  says  of  Demosthenes : 

Dis  ille  adversis  genitus,  fatoque  sinistro, 
Quern  pater  ardentis  massre  fuligine  lippus 
A  carbonc,  et  forcipibus,  gladiosque  parante 
Incude,  et  luteo  Vulcauo  ad  rhetora  misit. 

Sat.  x. 

U  you  should  ever  want  to  quote  the  vulgar  proverb,  "  It 
takes  all  kinds  of  people  to  make  a  world,"  you  may  give  it  in 
the  terms  of  John  Locke  :  "  The  world  has  people  of  all  sorts." 
I  love  to  hunt  out  a  proverb  ;  which  Lord  John  Russell  well  de- 
scribes as  "  One  man's  wit,  all  men's  wisdom."  I  count  it  a 
signal  exemption,  for  which  to  be  thankful,  that,  after  years  of 
throat-affection,  I  have  not  had  any  symptom  this  winter,  even 
for  a  moment.  I  know  not  whether  there  is  any  connexion,  but 
I  have,  in  washing,  used  a  sponge,  and  made  a  more  thorough 
application  of  the  cold  water  to  my  neck  and  throat.  We  have 
now  had  [Feb.  15]  five  days  of  very  severe  weather,  and  from  our 
bleak  and  exposed  situation  here,  we  suffer  far  more  than  any  differ- 
ence of  the  thermometer  would  indicate.  I  saw  a  traveller  very 
snugly  seated  in  a  wagon  like  a  house,  drawn  by  one  horse,  and  a 
smoking  stove-pipe  sticking  out  above.  I  find  by  reading  Zuin- 
gle's  letters,  that  he  was  a  polished  scholar,  as  much  so  as  Eras- 
mus or  Melancthon,  intimately  acquainted  with  all  the  ancient 
classics,  holding  correspondence  in  Greek,  and  employing  a 
latinity  which  is  as  nervous  and  elegant  as  that  of  Calvin.  He 
had  a  heroic  courage,  and  remarkable  prudence.  The  edition  I 
am  reading  gives  the  letters  to  as  well  as  from  him,  so  that  I  am 
quite  transported  to  Reformation  times.1  This  is  what  I  like. 
No  novel  can  awaken  an  interest  like  these  realities.  We  now 
have  the  correspondence  of  Melancthon,  (to  and  from,)  Luther, 
Calvin,  Erasmus,  and  Zuingle,  whose  name  is  spelt  a  dozen 
ways. 

Princeton,  March  5,  1841. 2 
I  see  by  the  Presbyterian,  that  Dr.  Doane  has  made  an  as- 
sault on  Bishop  Boardman.     Methinks  the  Doctor's  blank  verse 

1  Mr.  Alexander  reviewed  D'Aubigne's  Reformation  in  the  Repertory 
Jannary,  1842;  and  McCrie's  Reformation  in  Spain,  July,  1850. 

2  About  this  time  Mr.  Alexander  received  a  unanimous  election  to  the 
Presidency  of  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  which  he  declined. 


1833—1844.  325 

will  not  run  well  in  controversy.  The  article  in  the  London 
Quarterly  on  American  orators  is  worth  reading.  What  he  says 
about  convicts  is  more  true  than  some  folks  would  like  to  be 
remembered.  I  happen  to  know  three  or  four  high  families  who 
are  so  descended,  and  a  number  more  who  sprang  from  "  re- 
demptioners."  It  was  customary  in  Virginia  for  white  men  to 
indenture  themselves  to  the  captain,  for  four  years.  My  grand- 
father used  to  go  to  Baltimore  and  buy  such.  Two  of  my  fa- 
ther's early  schoolmasters  were  well  educated  Englishmen  of  this 
class.  The  Hebrew  of  Exodus  ii.  6,  is  more  expressive  than  the 
English  :  "  behold  a  weeping  child."  Nordheimer's  2d  volume 
[Hebrew  Grammar]  is  beautiful,  especially  the  Hebrew,  which 
is  exquisite.  He  has  been  here ;  told  me  every  page  of  copy 
was  written  four  times,  and  every  signature  read  ten  times,  the 
first  proof  occupying  him  twelve  hours,  as  he  collated  every 
reference  in  the  proof.  Gesenius  has  spoken  well  of  it.  I  have 
seen  the  beautiful  species  of  currency  which  your  banks  are 
emitting.  I  am  not  versed  in  bankology,  but  am  inclined  to 
think  the  whole  system  akin  to  avLv&XLvy.1  We  know  as  little 
how  the  matters  are  conducted,  as  in  the  old  lottery  systems. 
I  wish    they  would  make  Walsh  minister  to  France,  Clay  to 

England,  and to  Guinea.  I  find  the  following  good  verses 

in  an  old  play  of  1610  : 

"  Our  life  is  but  a  sailing  to  our  death 
Through  the  world's  ocean  ;  it  makes  no  matter  then, 
Whether  we  put  into  the  world's  vast  sea 
Shipped  in  a  pinnace,  or  an  argosy." 

Frost  fish  or  smelts  are  now  in  season.  They  are  a  great 
delicacy,  and  last  only  a  few  days.  They  are  taken,  so  far  as  I 
know,  nowhere  in  these  parts  but  on  the  Raritan.  Being  always 
caught  as  they  ascend  the  river,  on  its  opening,  they  are  full  of 
roe.  We  buy  them  at  18  cents  the  quart.  I  feel  less  respect  for 
Milner  [Church  History]  than  I  did,  since  I  have  examined  the 
truth  of  what  he  says  about  Zuingle,  whom  he  disparages  very 
unjustly  in  comparing  him  with  Luther.  How  much  we  lose 
in  reading  the  Bible,  by  not  having  that  fresh  feeling  of  novelty 
and  interest  which  they  had  in  the  apostolic  age,  and  even  at  the 
reformation  ;  we  come  to  the  book  already  acquainted  with  its 
contents,  in  its  most  important  parts.2     Perhaps  the  best  way 

1  The  allusion  is  probably  to  a  device  resorted  to  by  some  banks  to  evade 
the  penalty  of  not  redeeming  their  notes  with  coin,  by  issuing  their  cur- 
rency in  the  form  of  checks. 

'2  In  one  of  his  posthumous  "  Sacramental  Discourses  "  he  says  :  "  Some- 
times we  are  ready  to  wish  it  were  possible  to  travel  backward  on  our  line 


326  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

to  gain  something  of  this  vividness  is  to  read  large  portions 
without  any  human  comment,  and  in  as  complete  forgetfulness 
as  we  can  attain  of  our  own  age.  Latterly  I  have  more  fre- 
quently thought  than  I  used  to  do,  that  we  make  too  little  of  the 
Holy  Spirit's  agency  with  the  Scriptures  as  indispensable,  per- 
petual, immediate.  Do  we  not  in  fact  read  the  Bible  as  if  our 
unaided  powers  would  secure  us  from  error1?  Few  texts  have 
been  oftener  in  my  mind  than  1  John  ii.  26,  27 ;  especially  in 
reference  to  the  diversity  of  opinions  which  men  profess  to  de- 
rive from  the  Bible.  The  "  Word  and  the  Spirit  "  conveys  the 
true  doctrine. 

Harrison  is  now  President,  so  I  suppose  the  hens  will  lay 
ready-roasted  eggs,  and  money  drop  out  of  "the  clouds.  The 
speeches  in  parliament,  1641,  which  I  have  been  reading,  are 
much  more  pious  than  any  I  have  ever  heard  in  General  Assem- 
bly. Our  legislature  can't  get  a  suitable  man  to  be  judge,  vice 
Dayton  resigned.  If  they  had  the  magnanimity  of  a  hen-par- 
tridge, they  would  at  once  give  it  to ;  but  Whigs  are  as 

party-bound  as  other  folks.  I  fear  pretension  is  getting  to  be 
our  national  character.  We  get  the  Paris  "  Semeur,"  of  which 
the  principle  seems  to  be  to  exclude  news ;  the  very  opposite  of 
what  I  think  the  ideal  of  a  religious  journal.  Dry  reviews,  con- 
tinued from  week  to  week.  As  room  is  allowed  me,  I  hope  you 
will  permit  me  to  take  this  method,  however  unusual,  of  denning 
my  position  with  regard  to  you,  by  declaring,  in  terms  of  the 
utmost  frankness,  how  truly  1  am,  dear  Sir,  Your  most  obedient 
servant. 

Prixceton,  March  12,  1841. 
Vide  "Gift  for  the  Holidays,"  pp.  125,  126,  "neither  he  nor 
Charles  were  considerate."  Is  it  possible  that  I  wrote  this  ?  if 
so,  it  ought  to  have  been  made  grammar.  I  have  frequently 
had  a  misgiving  as  if  the  worshipful  committee  altered  my  Eng- 
lish ;  but  as  I  write  in  haste,  I  bring  no  impeachments.  So 
again,  p.  70,  "  the  girl  who  spoke  friendly  to  him,"  is  a  form 
which  I  never  use  in  my  waking  hours.  At  the  same  time,  I 
think  it  quite  as  likely  that  the  blunders  arc  mine,  as  not.  The 
Newark  Daily  advertises  a  series  of  "  protracted  sermons ;  "  not 
such  a  rarity.  Walsh's  admissions  about  the  Sabbath  (in  the 
former  of  his  two  communications  this  week,  in  National  Intelli- 

of  experience,  to  that  point  in  childhood  when  gospel  grace  first  came  to 
our  cognizance  ;  or  else  to  stand  in  the  position  of  some  serious  inquiring 
heathen  who  opens  his  ear  and  heart  to  the  news  of  a  redeeming  God  ;  that 
by  either  of  these  ways  we  might  get  rid  of  the  dulness  and  indifference 
vhich  our  worn  and  jaded  souls  derive  from  long  hardening  of  custom  " 


1833—1844.  327 

gencer)  are  invaluable,  and  ought  to  be  made  prominent  in 
every  religious  paper  in  the  country ;  but  alas !  our  religious 
editors  copy  only  from  one  another.  I  received  your  paper 
with  obituary  of  Dr.  Ranch  since  I  began  this.  The  Daub  who 
was  his  "  spiritual  father,"  was,  I  think,  one  of  the  worst  of  the 
modern  pantheists.  The  main  proposition  of  all  semi-Germans, 
is  that  no  matter  how  gross  or  atheistical  any  ])hiloso2)hy  may 
be,  it  may  still  be  held  in  connexion  with  Christianity.  Let  me 
give  you  a  few  items  from  Sandwich  Islands,  which  you  will  not 
sec  in  the  [Missionary]  Herald.  The  king  is  very  immoral, 
and  is  a  mere  tool.  The  islands  will  pass  before  long  into  the 
hands  of  some  foreign  power.  The  missionaries  went  out  Con- 
gregationalists.  It  is  a  sufficient  confutation  of  that  theory,  that 
it  cannot  be  set  up  among  the  heathen.  They  had,  by  resolu- 
tion, in  1830,  to  deny  the  right  of  "  government "  to  their  new 
converts.  In  1831,  they  were  forced  to  appoint  aiders.  In 
1835,  they  adopted  our  rules  of  discipline.  In  1839,  they  found 
themselves  necessitated  to  unite  as  a  presbytery,  having  acted 
as  one  before.  They  arc  now  regularly  organized  in  four  presby- 
teries, (not  a  word  of  this  in  the  Herald,)  none  voting  against, 
but  four  or  five  non-liquets.  Exactly  thus,  I  doubt  not,  Pres- 
bytery grew  out  of  the  mother-church  at  Jerusalem.  "  It  is  no 
small  matter,"  says  one,  "  that  the  missionary  of  the  A.  B. 
C.  must  surrender  his  right  to  personal  liberty,  his  right  to 
acquire  property,  and  the  liberty  of  the  press."  One  of  the 
leading  missionaries  thinks  that  the  present  method  of  doing  the 
missionary  work  by  one  method,  and  through  boards  and  com- 
mittees, checks  the  fruitfulness  of  the  church  in  methods  of  con- 
verting the  world. 

Princeton,  If  arch  24,  1841. 
Robinson's  trial  [for  murder  of  Suydam]  is  going  on  in 
Brunswick.  Graham,  of  New  York,  is  his  principal  counsel ; 
and  he  is  every  thing  that  such  a  case  could  demand.  Though 
one  might  expect  the  jury  to  agree  in  a  verdict  of  Guilty  without 
leaving  the  box,  some  suppose  he  may  yet  be  cleared.  And, 
further,  if  this  should  be  the  case,  I  have  heard  fears  expressed 
of  a  Porteus  mob,  and  summary  execution.  The  rainbow  and 
sunset  yesterday  were  surpassing.  The  new  series  of  the  Penny 
Magazine  is  a  beautiful  book.  I  am  pleased  to  observe  in  it  a 
little  spice  of  religion  now  and  then,  not  very  decided,  it  is  true, 
but  enough  to  show  that  they  feel  the  necessity  of  deferring  to 

the  Christian  opinion  of  the  age.     is  a  better  preacher 

than  nine-tenths  of  those  I  hear.  He  has  that  "holy-tone," 
which,    after   all,    carries    great   weight   with    the    multitude. 


328  WHILE   PKOFESSOR   IN   PELNCETON   COLLEGE. 

You  will  not  forget  that  to-morrow  (25)  is  Lady  Day.  f  \  \ 
The  adjustment  of  the  difference  [in  the  Senate]  between  King 
[of  Alabama]  and  Clay  [of  Kentucky]  is  certainly  a  matter  for 
national  thanksgiving.  Perhaps  I  mentioned  to  you  that  Stacy 
G.  Potts,  Esq.,  of  Trenton,  (an  elder  of  the  church,)  and  his 
brother,  the  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Potts,  of  St.  Louis,  are  going  abroad, 
shortly.  Their  first  visit  is,  I  believe,  to  the  Continent,  and  they 
will  be  gone  about  eight  months.  Dr.  Carnahan  says  Henry 
Kollock  [of  Savannah]  was  the  most  eloquent  and  impassioned 
preacher  he  ever  heard.1  The  congregation  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  is 
vacant,  and  will  be  a  delightful  place  for  some  one.  They  have 
a  new  church,  and  will  probably  give  1,300  to  1,500  dollars. 
Right  on  the  sea,  incomparable  "  water  privileges,"  easy  run  to 
Richmond  and  Baltimore,  healthy  place,  good  society :  fish, 
oysters,  soft-crabs,  &c,  on  the  direct  railway  line  to  the  South, 
a  climate  resembling  the  remote  South  in  winter,  and  much  tem- 
pered by  the  breezes  in  summer.  I  have  passed  some  delightful 
days  there.  Peter  Harris  (African  Prince)  writes  to  my  father, 
ending  thus, 

"  Your  remaining  friend  Peter  Harris." 


Princeton,  April  9,  1841. 
A  longer  period  than  common  has  passed  since  I  wrote  to 
you.  I  have  been  in  a  state  of  bodily  and  mental  uneasiness, 
with  the  details  of  which  T  do  not  mean  to  plague  you,  but  which 
has  made  me  somewhat  unfit  for  letter- writing,  in  which  I  never 
can  engage  but  with  an  easy  mind.  To  record  troublesome 
thoughts  always  seemed  to  me  to  increase  them.  Apropos  of 
which,  Cicero  seems  to  have  had  different  notions  of  the  matter, 
if  one  may  judge  from  his  4th  book  of  ep.  ad  Atticum;  by  all 
odds,  the  fullest  revelation  of  humiliating,  unmanly  sorrow  1 
ever  read ;  but  exceedingly  interesting  and  instructive.  The 
Tristia  of  Ovid  come  next,  but  that  is  poetry.  I  confess  I  like 
Ovid  fir  better  than  it  is  fashionable  among  critics  to  do  :  his 
flow  of  versification  is  so  easy  and  unrippled.  Seneca  is  another 
contraband  author  whom  I  love  to  read.  (N.  B.  Here  I  change 
one  bad  pen  for  another.)  I  finished  my  part  of  the  semi-an- 
nual examination  this  morning.  Our  session  ends  next  Thurs- 
say.  This  day  week  Peter  Robinson  is  to  be  hanged,  nominally 
in  private,  really  in  public.  They  might  as  well  not  hang  a 
man  at  all  as  hang  him  in  secret.  I  have  to-night  been  reading 
a  book  I  never  saw  or  heard  of  before  ;  the  younger  Lord  Lyt- 


1  Dr.  Carnahan's  opinion  is  given  at  length  in  the  memoir  of  Dr.  Kol- 
lock in  vol.  iv.  of  Dr.  Sprague'a  "Annals  of  the  Pulpit." 


1833—1844. 

telton's  letters.1  He  was  a  great  genius  and  profligate,  a  Byron 
of  his  day,  an  elegant  epistolist ;  they  are  well  worth  an  hour's 
attention,  and  contain  first  rate  anecdotes  about  Chatham,  Burke, 
Mansfield,  Fox,  &c.  The  death  of  our  President  [Harrison] 
ought  to  be  loked  upon  by  every  one  of  us  as  a  visitation  ot 
God,  a  great  national  rebuke,  a  lesson  to  ambition.  How  easily, 
by  a  single  death,  God  can  discomfit  all  the  plans  of  a  party ! 
I  am  not  without  fears  of  a  war  with  England ;  and,  if  it  come, 
it  will,  as  Wellington  has  said  several  times,  not  be  a  small  war. 
1  have  been  reading  Bickersteth  on  the  prophecies.  Independ- 
ently of  his  hypothesis,  the  spirit  of  the  book  is  delightfully  de- 
vout, humble,  and  tender.  The  question  of  the  Millennium  has 
occupied  my  attention  a  good  deal  for  a  year  or  two.  I  have 
abandoned  my  old  traditionary  views,  without  having  settled  on 
new  ones.  From  the  Scriptures  alone  I  have  been  led  to  some 
negative  results  with  a  good  degree  of  firmness.  For  example, 
I  cannot  dare  apply  the  warnings  about  Christ's  coming,  to  the 
hour  of  death ;  nor  can  I  say  one  word  about  a  millennium  be- 
fore Christ's  coming.  It  is  now  more  than  a  year  since  I  wrote 
down  a  number  of  conclusions  on  this  point,  derived  chiefly 
from  Rev.  xx.  studied  without  note  or  comment.  I  conjecture 
that  some  of  my  old  friends  in  Trenton  may  be  unwise  enough 
to  vex  me  with  solicitations  to  return  to  them  ;  this  I  shall  dis- 
courage in  every  way,  if  it  should  happen.  Nothing  would  bring 
me  to  such  a  course,  but  a  conviction,  such  as  I  have  not,  that  1 
am  doing  wrong  in  keeping  my  present  post.  The  natural  and 
proper  way  [for  a  congregation  in  view  of  a  new  pastor]  is  to 
invite  him  to  supply  them  a  few  Sabbaths.  From  this  nothing 
should  make  him  shrink.  I  am  convinced,  that  in  the  sight  of 
God,  my  declining  to  preach  as  a  candidate  has  often  been  a  sin- 
ful tribute  to  my  own  pride.  We  ought  to  be  as  willing  to  seek 
a  place  of  labour  for  Christ,  as  the  people  to  seek  our  services. 
This  is  my  serious  opinion,  after  having  long  acted  on  the  other 
and  the  worldly  plan.  True,  a  man's  reputation  is  a  talent,  and 
should  not  be  jeoparded  by  his  making  himself  cheap. 

Our  trials  vary,  but  we  all  have  them,  and  we  all  (Christians) 
profit  by  them.  The  Lord  provides  and  will  provide.  Our 
path  is  wonderful,  but  he  describes  the  whole  line. 

Trenton,  April  27,  1841. 
We  came  here  on  Saturday,  and  I  suppose  met  you  in  the 
carriage  from  the  depot.     I  am  sorry  1  could  not  see  you,  and 

1  They  proved  to  be  not  genuine,  but  were  fabricated  by  Alexander 
Combe. 


330  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

am  more  disquieted  than  comforted  by  being  here.  Indeed  I  slept 
very  little  last  night ;  for,  altogether  against  my  expectation  or 
desire,  certain  of  the  people  have  been  at  me  about  a  return  to 
them.1  No  one  (but  some  of  the  most  trifling  street  prattlers) 
had  breathed  a  word  to  me  about  their  looking  to  me-ward  ;  and 
I  confess  your  letter  made  little  impression  on  my  belief,  at  the 
time  I  received  it.  I  have  stayed  within  (regretting  that  I  hap- 
pened to  choose  this  time  for  my  visit)  and  have  heard  nothing 
from  any  leading  member  of  the  congregation ;  but  from  what 
transpires  from  some  of  the  lighter  sort  I  am  led  to  think  that  a 
considerable  portion  of  the  people  are  bent  upon  subjecting  me 
once  more  to  the  painful  decision  of  a  question  of  conscience.  I 
have  great  difficulty  in  expressing  to  you  the  exact  state  of  my 
mind,  because  I  scarcely  know  what  it  is  myself.-  I  would  gladly 
do  so  if  I  durst.  I  could  not  come  here  without  a  great  pecu- 
niary loss,  and  the  resumption  of  burdens  from  which  my  spirit 
is  yet  sore.  Nevertheless,  as  I  have  never  dreamed  that  I 
should  ever  be  settled  here  again,  and  as,  notwithstanding,  some 
of  the  people  mean  to  force  me  into  a  determination,  I  must  lie 
still  for  a  week  or  two,  and  "  hear  what  God  the  Lord  will 
speak."  I  feel  in  regard  to  it  exactly  as  I  would  in  regard  to  a 
call  to  go  to  China.  I  hope  I  shall  be  directed  ;  nay,  1  believe  I 
shall  be. 

Trenton,  May  3,  1841. 

I  remain  here  to-day,  to  further  the  plan  I  have,  in  regard  to 
this  business,  which  becomes  more  and  more  painful  to  me  every 
moment.     I  have  sent  the  following  to  Dr.  Ewing. 

"  This  communication  respects  a  matter  which  I  have  not 
mentioned  to,  you,  but  one  in  which  I  have  a  very  painful  inter- 
est. It  is,  I  am  told,  intended  to  make  out  a  call  for  me  this 
afternoon.  It  is  my  earnest  wish  that  this  should  not  be  done. 
The  only  reason  why  I  do  not  arrest  the  matter  by  a  positive 
refusal  beforehand,  is  a  scruple  of  conscience  lest  I  should  be 
running  in  the  face  of   Providence.     But  the  most  delightful 

news  I  could  have,  would  be  that  you  had  called .     The 

longer  I  meditate  on  it,  the  greater  seems  to  me  the  probability 
that  I  shall  not  feel  myself  competent  to  a  pastoral  charge.  My 
presence  here  (altogether  unconcerted)  has  awakened  some  ex- 
pectation. I  now  wish  to  say  with  earnestness  that  I  should  be 
inexpressibly  relieved,  if  the  Congregation  would  drop  all  further 
consideration  of  me.     I  am,  &C,  &c." 

I  do  not  here  say  to  Ewing  all  that  this  means.     To  you  I 

1  The  pastor,  Dr.  Yeomans.  having  accepted  the  Presidency  of  Lafayette 
College,  Pennsylvania. 


1833—1844.  331 

explain  thus : — if  they  should  fail  to  call ,  divide,  or  other- 
wise seem  likely  to  go  to  ruin,  I  might  after  all  be  driven  to 
accept  a  future  call.1 

My  prevalent  feeling  is  that  even  if  they  should  be  so  rash 
as  to  call  me,  I  shall  not  come.  The  conflict  of  my  feelings  is 
great,  and  I  never  was  more  sensible  of  my  weakness.  I  came 
home  from  you  in  a  wet,  cold,  and  somewhat  open  car,  and  took 
a  bad  cold,  with  rheumatism. 

I  do  not  regard  this  as  a  confidential  letter.  I  have  said  the 
same  thing  to  everybody  here. 

Trenton,  May  7,  1841. 

I  have  been  detained  from  Philadelphia  by  sickness,  having 
had  another  wetting  since  I  was  there,  and  a  severe  catarrh  with 
sore  throat.  The  first  official  notice  I  had  of  the  congregational 
doings  was  last  night,  though  I  was  sufficiently  acquainted  with 
what  occurred  at  the  meeting ;  what  that  was,  as  to  manner  and 
feeling,  I  had  rather  leave  you  to  learn  from  others. 

I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to  go  to  Princeton,  for  consultation. 
I  did  not  talk  with  my  colleagues.  Eesults  of  advisement  thus 
far,  thus  :  Dr.  Hodge  is  vehemently  against  my  leaving  Prince- 
ton. Reasons,  these:  1.  "You  are  as  useful  in  Princeton  as 
you  would  be  in  Trenton."  2.  "  I  grant  you  ought  to  be  a 
pastor,  but  not  in  Trenton,"  innuendo  that  I  might  be  settled  in 
Philadelphia  or  New  York.     3.  "  The  Trenton   people  cannot 

support  you."     4.  " would  make  them  as  good  a  pastor, 

and  in  some  respects  a  better  one."  This  is  the  only  argument 
of  his  which  weighs  with  me,  and  I  assent  to  it,  without  affecta- 
tion. My  father  says,  "  The  pulpit  is  your  proper  place.  You 
have  health  enough  at  present,  and  have  no  right  to  count  on 
future  contingencies  ;  but  the  people  cannot  support  you,  and 
you  ought  not  to  stir  a  step,  without  explicit  arrangements  on 
this  head."  The  feelings  of  my  relations  are  in  favour  of  my 
being  in  Trenton.  My  Princeton  friends  have  not  made  a  point 
of  my  health,  as  I  expected,  and  this,  more  than  any  thing  else, 
disturbs  all  my  provisional  calculations. 

I  wish  I  could  tell  you  what  I  am  likely  to  do.  I  shall  prob 
ably  decide  late  in  next  week.  Alas  !  I  am  all  out  at  sea.  1 
try  to  place  myself  in  thought  before  the  judgment-seat,  and  to 
ask  "  From  which  of  the  two  places  would  you  choose  to  be 
summoned  ? "  If  I  leave  Princeton,  I  leave  a  great  array  of 
worldly  comforts,  air,  verdure,  house,  ice-house,  garden,  literary 
circles,  libraries,  periodicals,  leisure,  and    ease  pecuniary ;    and 

1  He  was  unanimously  re-elected  pastor  May  3,  1841. 


332  WHILE   PROFESSOR   LN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

assume  responsibilities,  care,  labour,  vexations,  and  straits. 
What  to  do  I  know  not.  If  the  finger  of  God  should  distinctly 
point  either  way,  I  should  not  have  a  moment  of  disappoint- 
ment. If  they  do  not  give  me  more  salary,  the  thing  is  at  an 
end ;  it  is  an  obstacle  in  limine,  and  precludes  the  necessity  of 
vexing  myself  about  the  other  considerations. 

If  I  were  put  on  my  oath,  and  asked  which  way  the  balance 
of  probability  now  librates,  I  could  not  answer. 

Write  to  me  freely,  and  (I  hope  the  phrase  is  not  outworn 
by  hypocritical  abuse)  give  me  your  prayers.  Pray  leave  noth- 
ing unsaid  which  may  do  me  good.  I  am  harassed  beyond 
expression.1  » 

Princeton,  May  25,  1841. 
I  know  not  that  I  ever  enjoyed  mere  weather  so  much  as  the 
last  three  days.  There  is  such  a  burst  of  vegetation,  such  a  con- 
currence of  plants  and  birds  which  are  usually  separate,  that  the 
green  and  fragrant  earth  seems  almost  paradisiacal.  A  sparrow 
has  "  laid  her  young  "  at  our  very  door,  and  I  suppose  we  have 
twenty  nests  on  our  premises.  A  bob-o'-lincoln  sings  his  bravuras 
back  of  our  garden  from  morn  till  night ;  I  know  no  note  so 
rich  as  some  of  his  ;  indeed  his  strain,  taken  singly,  is  incom- 
parable ;  but  the  mocking-bird  has  a  thousand,  and  even  the 
robin  a  good  many.  I  am  full  of  College-work  thus  far,  mingled 
with  a  pleasing  interspersion  of  proves  as  the  SiaftoXoi  always 
call  them.  I  have  engaged  to  supply  Father  Comfort's  pulpit 
[the  Kingston  Church]  for  three  months,  not  however  necessarily 
in  person.  He  goes  to  Illinois — pretty  well  for  threescore  and 
fifteen.  I  have  read,  since  I  came  home,  a  stout  slice  of  Chilling- 
worth,  some  of  Mrs.  Hawkes,  (excellent,)  two  plays  of  Plautus, 
two  satires  of  Juvenal,  one  book  of  Wordsworth's  Excursion,  one 
book  of  Cicero's  Letters,  one  book  of  Ovid's  Tristia,  a  few 
pages  of  Lucretius,  and  about  a  third  of  Herbert's  Poems ; 
there's  a  task  for  you.  I  have,  of  course,  doffed  my  leathern 
jerkin,  and  have  begun  my  summer  washings  in  the  mornings, 
my  lettuce-eatings  at  noon,  and  my  star-gazing  at  night.  I  have 
preached  once,  had  two  head-aches,  and  palpitation  of  the  heart 
to  a  remarkable  degree.  There  is  something  wrong,  I  am  sure, 
about  my  arterial  system.  What  think  you  of  Nagle's  pictures  % 
I  am  told  they  are  exhibited.  We  have  a  full  College,  more 
admitted  than  last  year,  about  100  new  ones  since  last  commence- 
ment, in  all  200 +  .  What  a  series  of  designs  Retzch  might  make 
out  of  the  history  of  Joseph  !     It  is  an  incomparable  story. 

1  Soon  after  this,  the  offer  of  the  call  was  positively  declined. 


1833—1844.  333 

Princeton,  June  3,  1841. 
I  write  with  a  very  sore  eye,  therefore  stenographieally. 
You  know,  no  doubt,  that  you  were  called  unanimously,  on 
Monday.  You  will,  of  course,  go.  Four  or  five  persons  were 
for  hearing  others,  but  they  came  in  very  heartily.  I  see  no 
way  for  you  to  refuse  such  a  call  as  that  to  Trenton  ;  I  trust  it 
is  from  above. 

Princeton,  June  6,  1843. 

I  gather  from  your  letters,  that  your  mind  is  pretty  much 
made  up  to  accept  the  Trenton  call,  and  the  belief  of  this  gives 
me  unfeigned  satisfaction.  In  your  success  there,  I  feel  a  more 
than  ordinary  interest,  and  I  have  a  confidence  that  these  hopes 
will  not  be  disappointed.  The  call  is,  I  am  sure,  a  cordial  one, 
and  I  think  the  sooner  you  pitch  your  tent  among  the  people,  the 
better.  In  a  letter  of ,  there  is  a  suggestion  which  1  can- 
not convey  to  you  better  than  in  his  own  words :  "  Pray  tell 
Mr.  Hall,  if  you  can,  to  let  on  steam  in  his  preaching.  He 
certainly  can  do  it,  to  such  extent  at  least  as  to  remove  all 
appearance  of  deficiency."  I  accord  in  this,  and  it  is  the  only 
point  respecting  which  I  have  heard  any  misgiving  expressed ; 
and  I  would  not  mention  it  if  1  were  not  assured  that  it  is  per- 
fectly within  your  power  to  remove  the  difficulty  at  once.  You 
utter  voice  enough,  I  am  persuaded,  but  there  is  a  want  of  sharp- 
ness and  percussion  in  your  utterance,  which  causes  the  stream 
of  words  to  flow  indolently  and  somewhat  indistinctly,  and  this 
is  seriously  the  case  in  the  cadence  of  every  period.  Perhaps 
every  thing  will  be  accomplished,  if  you  give  yourself  up  with 
a  greater  abandon  in  delivery  ;  as  there  is  no  possibility  of 
your  laying  yourself  open  to  the  charge  of  being  theatrical, 
affected,  or  extravagant.  The  only  other  point  is  one  in  which 
you  cannot  be  too  much  interested.  The  Trenton  people  lack 
frequent  pastoral  visits.  They  need  this,  and  they  look  for  it.  I 
have  told  them  that  in  my  opinion  you  would  not  be  backward 
in  this  class  of  duties  ;  and  my  private  judgment  is,  that  you 
have  advantages  in  this  particular.  Such  is  the  character  of  the 
people,  that  they  would  be  satisfied  with  inferior  pulpit  perform- 
ances, if  these  were  accompanied  with  a  free  and  easy  social 
intercourse. 

I  think  our  Presbytery  meets  in  August  at  Middletown- 
Point ;  but  if  you  are  ready,  I  should  advise  you  to  cause  the 
elders  to  have  a  meeting  called  pro  re  nata.  The  sooner  the 
thing  is  over,  the  easier  you  will  feel. 

I  told  Mr.  Stryker  that  I  would  see  them  supplied  till  you 
began  to  preach.     You  may  relieve  me  very  much  therefore,  by 


334  WHILE    PKOFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

assuming  this  office  as  speedy  as  possible ;  and  I  hope,  in  your 
next,  you  will  say  something  on  this  point,  as  I  am  engaged  to 
supply  Mr.  Comfort's  church  for  three  months,  besides  a  sermon 
every  Lord's-day  to  my  blacks. 

Princeton,  June  14,  1841. 

Addison  told  me  you  meant  to  be  in  Trenton  yesterday,  and 
as  I  had  made  no  engagement  to  supply  except  till  you  should 
come,  and  none  whatever  for  yesterday  in  particular,  I  felt  my- 
self at  ease ;  till  Dr.  Miller  called  on  me  and  told  me  Mr. 
Stryker  wished  me  to  know  that  they  relied  on  me.  I  therefore 
sent  down  Mr.  Dixon.  I  consider  all  the  care  of  supply,  hence- 
forward, as  devolved  off  me  and  on  you.  I  am  glad  you  are 
coming,  and  coming  at  once.  It  is  right,  seemly,  and  promising 
good.  As  to  your  elocution,  Question  1.  "Is  it  to  throw  my 
arms  about  more  %  "  Answer.  No.  Question  2.  "  To  vary  my 
tones  1  "  Answer.  No.  Your  arms  and  tones  are  well  enough. 
It  is  to  make  yourself  fully  heard,  without  an  effort  on  the  part 
of  the  hearer.  Though  familiar  with  your  voice,  it  was 
with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  your  last  words  of  sentences 
were  heard  by  me.  The  "  indolence  "  I  mean  is  consistent  with 
too  great  rapidity,  being  a  want  of  distinctness  in  the  syllabica- 
tion, rather  than  a  too  small  volume  of  voice.  After  all,  the 
only  thing  which  you  ought  to  carry  on  your  mind  when  you  go 
to  the  pulpit  is  to  speak  as  loudly  and  distinctly  as  you  possibly 
can. 

The  last  accounts  from  Dr.  [John]  Breckinridge  were  rather 
unfavourable  again.1  I  saw  sitting  together,  at  College-prayers, 
the  sons  of  three  men  very  generally  known  in  America,  Eli 
Whitney,  Francis  Blair,  and  N.  Biddle.  I  shall  have  less  of 
Philadelphia  news,  now  that  you  are  about  to  be  a  Trentonian, 
unless  you  get  a  free-ticket  on  the  railroad,  and  go  to  the  city 
every  week.  My  hopes  about  strawberries  are  very  much  dis- 
appointed ;  we  have  had  but  two  messes. 

With  best  regards   for  and  the  youth,  I  am,  was, 

have  been,  shall  be,  may  or  can  be,  might,  could,  would,  or 
should  be,  shall  or  will  have  been,  &c. 

Princeton,  July  6,  1S41. 

Your  note-ling  of  yesterday  informed  me  of  your  settlement 

in  your  new  habitation.     I  hope  you  will  find  it,  and  all  your 

being   and   doing   in  it,  useful  and  happy.     A  son  of  Bishop 

Hobart  and  three  classmates  (of  the  New  York  Seminary)  are 

1  Dr.  Breckinridge  died  August  4,  1841. 


1833—1844.  335 

going  to  Wisconsin  to  found  a  mission  on  the  primitive  plan — 
take  a  central  point,  live  as  caenobites,  radiate  a  hundred  miles 
each  way,  found  a  school,  which  is  to  be  a  College,  which  is  to 
be  a  Theological  Seminary. 

We  had  a  quiet  Independence-day.  The  storm  at  night  both 
shamed  and  extinguished  the  students'  fireworks.  My  series  of 
domiciliary  pupils  has  been — 1,  W.  C.  Carrington  ;  2,  Samuel  D. 
Alexander ;  3,  Henry  M.  Alexander  ;  4,  S.  Harrison  Howell ;  5, 
Samuel  M.  Breckinridge ;  0,  R.  F.  Stockton.  More  persons  in 
this  neighbourhood  seem  to  be  seriously  inquiring  than  usual ; 
I  mean  within  a  few  miles.  A  son  of  the  Rev.  Howard  Mal- 
com,  in  the  Seminary,  has  been  very  active.  N.  B.  The  hack  or 
stage-coach  which  comes  from  Trenton  hither  every  evening  is  a 
delightful  conveyance  at  this  season.  The  sunset,  the  verdure, 
the  tout-ensemble,  are  charming.  Pusey  comes  out,  in  defence 
of  Newman's  No.  90,  in  a  vol.  of  pp.  217. 

Princeton,  July  10,  1841. 

1  have  Stephens  [Central  America]  in  hand.  My  interest 
in  the  musty  ruins  is  nothing  to  what  I  feel  in  the  country  and 
people.  The  book  is  as  interesting  as  a  tragedy  or  an  epic. 
But  for  simplicity  and  graphic-ness  of  description,  I  have  had 
nothing  since  Crusoe,  equal  to  Dana's  "  Two  Years  before  the 
Mast."  I  wish  our  people  would  read  such  books  in  place  of 
novels.  Many  females  whom  I  know,  almost  confine  their  read- 
ing to  the  latter,  taking  whatever  comes.  Give  them  a  side- 
blow  at  this  in  Trenton.     1  have  No.  90  ;  quibble  on  quibble. 

Give  our  love  to  ,  and  tell  her  we  assuredly  expect 

her  to  come  up  and  pay  a  farthing  in  the  pound  of  the  visits  I 
have  been  making  her  for  something  less  than  40  years. 

■Princeton,  August  19,  1841. 

We  had  a  great  deal  of  wine-bibbing  and  some  brawling 
among  our  students  on  the  day  of  the  Seniors'  dismissal.  I  am 
now  rapidly  verging  towards  T-totality. 

Dr.   professes   himself    hugely  delighted  with  the 

review  of .     For  myself,  while  1  regard  it  as  a  true  and 

just  unmasking  of  a  charlatan,  I  do  not  think  the  public  well 
enough  acquainted  with  the  facts  respecting  that  bad  man  to 
make  them  appreciate  the  critique.  I  shall  not  go  to  Grande 
Ligne  with  Kirk,  being  detained  by  various  things.  Father  Com- 
fort has  returned.  There  are  40 — 60  persons  awakened  in  his 
church.  Dr.  Rice  is  holding  a  four-nights-meeting  in  Queens- 
ton.  We  have  got  a  cook  !  [put  the  foregoing  in  small  caps.] 
How  do  you  feel  without  the  editorial  kettle  tied  to  your  tail  % 


336  WHILE   PROFESSOR   EN-   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

As  you  sometimes  go  to  the  city,  and  I  never,  volens, — I  want 
you  to  get  me  a  pen  (1  mean  a  dozen  of  pens)  of  a  kind  which 
I  once  got  at  your  instance.  They  were  very  large  in  the  barrel, 
indeed  much  the  largest  metal-pens  I  have  seen,  and  the  tube  of 
the  quill  Mas  complete.  I  think  they  were  Gillott's  ;  though  he 
makes  a  smaller  sort.  Alward,  our  Seminary  and  College 
alumnus,  is  dead  of  the  African  fever — a  dreadful  blow  after  the 
loss  of  David  White.  Chaplain  Grier  has  brought  from  Attica 
a  pot  of  honey  of  Hymettus,  as  a  present  to  my  mother.  It  is 
thought  to  taste  of  roses.  Bennett  [N.  Y.  Herald]  has  done  us 
a  service,  by  making  fun  of  a  late  ball  here,  so  that  at  a  later 
one  the  females  were  all  afraid  to  go.  Old  Mr. 's  descrip- 
tion of  life  at  a  watering-place  is  :  "  to  eat  in  a  crowd,  and  sleep 

in  a  closet."     ■ thinks  of  preaching  altogether  expound- 

ingly  ;  he  has  long  done  so,  all  but  the  morning-sermon.  Tho- 
luck  is  married  again,  after  long  viduity.  Baird  passed  through 
yesterday  from  Washington.  He  "says  the  Cabinet  will  abide, 
and  that  a  Bank  of  Exchanges  will  pass.  I  should  like  that.  I 
am  no  Bank-man. 

Unless  you  could  see  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  the  following  anec- 
dote will  be  lost  on  you.  He  is  6+  feet  high,  red  hair  and  every 
thing,  and  bows  to  the  earth  ;  in  other  things  a  Dominie  Sam- 
son. Mr.  S.,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Baltimore,  told  me  to-day 
that  he  once  fell  in  with ,  whom  he  had  known  in  Prince- 
ton ;  S.  invited  him  to  dinner,  and  set  before  him  some  of  the 

choicest  wine  the  country  could  furnish.     drank  a  glass, 

and  then  asked  with  indescribable  naivete  :  "  Is  it  domestic,  sir  ?  " 
A  decided  Calvinistic  woman  in  this  town  lives  in  the  house 
of  a  Methodist.  She  lately  said  of  him,  u  He  is  as  kind  to  me 
as  a  son,  but  I  hate  him,  he  is  such  an  Arminian."  My  father 
preached  five  times  last  week,  and  already  four  times  this  week. 

Princetox,  Aug.  30,  1841. 
I  have  had  a  good  deal  of  preaching  labour  lately,  as  all 
around  us,  in  the  country,  there  is  a  state  of  great  awakening. 
In  Mr.  Comfort's  congregation,  I  dare  say,  there  are  seventy  or 
eighty  inquirers,  and  perhaps  thirty  who  have  believed.  It  is 
thus  far  remarkably  free  from  any  the  least  new  doctrine,  new 
measures,  noise,  enthusiasm,  and  opposition.  In  Mapleton,  a 
neighbourhood  between  us  and  Kingston,  on  the  Canal,  it  is 
believed  that  every  person  above  ten  years  of  age,  is  seriously 
concerned.  Here  the  awakening  commenced;  and  in  some 
degree  through  the  labours  of  a  half-witted  bound  boy,  wrho 
would  not  rest  till  he  got  meetings  established  in  a  certain  school- 
house.     In  the  Rocky  Hill  district  north  of  this,  and  at  Centre- 


1833—1844:.  337 

ville  north-west  of  us,  each  about  four  miles  off,  there  is  a  like 
appearance  of  good.  In  the  former  place,  I  knew  of  four  blind 
persons  in  one  house  converted.  The  seriousness  is  extending 
itself  into  the  Blawenburg  Dutch  Church.  (Mr.  Talmage's.) 
Some  of  the  very  worst  and  most  hopeless  men  in  our  country- 
side have  been  brought  to  Christ.     I  spent  Thursday  night  at 

,  where  five  children  (all  he  has)  are  seemingly  renewed. 

In  Princeton-proper,  I  know  of  but  three  or  four  persons  in- 
quiring ;  but  I  think  more  of  the  communicants  are  stirred  up, 
than  1  have  observed  for  ten  years.  Dr.  Rice  has  been  much 
aided  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Cassels,  of  Georgia,  some  years 
pastor  at  Macon,  who  has  come  to  the  North  to  make  up  some 
deficiencies  in  his  theological  education.1  Though  an  ugly,  little, 
swarthy  man,  he  is  one  of  the  very  best  preachers  I  ever  heard, 
both  for  instruction  and  pathos.  I  wish  you  may  find  him  out. 
The  addition  to  the  Seminary  is  not  as  great  as  last  year,  perhaps 
in  consequence  of  the  change  of  time  in  opening  the  year  ;  this, 
it  is  hoped,  will  be  temporary.  It  was  a  happy  providence,  that 
Dr.  Robinson's  book  [on  Palestine]  should  embody  the  labours 
of  four  such  men  as  Eli  Smith,  Robinson,  Ritter,  and  Cather- 
wood.  Dr.  Green  is  still  here.  You  may  still  look  out  for  a 
Presidentship,  as  the  Marshall  throne  is  not  filled.  This  is 
said  by  the  "  oldest  inhabitant "  to  have  been  the  rainiest  August 
that  ever  was. 

Princeton,  September  10,  1841. 

You  have,  no  doubt,  heard  of  the  awakening  in  Bucks  Co., 
near  you.  There  are  some  new  cases  of  awakening,  occurring 
slowly,  in  our  congregation.  Mr.  Cassels,  a  truly  Christian 
man,  leaves  us  on  Monday  for  Norfolk. 

Poor  [Rev.  Samuel  G.]  Winchester's  death  is  a  sad  blow, 
and  great  warning.  Pie  was  found  stiff  and  cold  in  bed,  though 
he  had  been  sick  some  time  before.  Young  Sawyer  left  us 
yesterday,  to  take  Alward's  place  in  Africa.  C.  C.  Jones,  of 
S.  C,  preaches  to  the  slaves  three  times  on  Sunday,  and  every 
evening  in  the  week.  Yet  this  is  the  man  whom  the  young 
Andoverians  would  not  let  preach  in  their  chapel.  Sit  anima 
mea  cum  Jonesio ! 

Princeton,  September  IS,  1841. 
Why  do  ministers  regard  it  as  necessary  to  sit  in  the  pulpit, 
when  no  service  falls  to  them  %     It  is  a  poor  seat ;  the  superero 
gatory  head  distracts  the  audience  ;    and  the  presence  of  a  man 

1  Mr.  Cassels  died  1853-'4. 
vol.  i. — 15 


33  S  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

behind  is  no  help  to  him  that  preaches.  Mr.  Cassels  has  left  us 
for  Norfolk,  carrying  with  him  great  respect  and  affection.  I 
discern  in  him  no  newschoolism,  no  new  ways  of  doing  things  to 
make  people  stare  and  ask  why,  no  harshness  or  consciousness, 
and  no  vanity.  He  j>reached  at  the  rate  of  seven  sermons  a 
week  all  the  time  he  was  here.  About  twenty  persons  here,  or 
more,  profess  to  be  inquirers.  Two  or  three  cases  of  awaken- 
ing in  College.  Scott,  of  Stockholm,  has  been  here  ;  a  pleasant, 
unaffected,  good,  sensible  man,  and  as  mellifluous  a  Wesleyan  as 
ever  I  listened  to.  His  statements  about  the  Swedish  Churches 
were  very  startling,  and  I  would  record  some  of  them,  but  that 
I  have  a  notion  that  you  have  met  with  him.  There  is  some 
encouragement  among  my  blacks.  I  am  very  dubious  about 
inquiry-meetings,  and  my  doubts  are  always  greatest  while  they 
are  going  on.  If  admitted,  I  am  clear  that  no  one  but  the  pastor 
should  ever  talk  with  the  inquirer ;  especially,  that  ignorant  or 
foolish  helpers  should  not  bring  their  trowels  and  daub.  The 
natural,  the  scriptural,  and  the  safe  way,  is  for  the  pastor  to  see 
them  at  his  house  or  theirs.  But  then  this  great  means  of  ex- 
citement must  be  foregone,  and  this  is  really  the  reason  why 
ministers  cling  to  it.  As  it  regards  instruction,  the  worst  place 
in  the  world  for  it,  is  a  crowded  room,  where  there  is  buz-buz- 
buz.  I  am  (perhaps  culpably)  lukewarm  about  Tyler,  Ewing 
&  Co.  I  did  not  vote  for  Tip  or  Ty.  I  thought  and  think  Clay 
our  greatest  statesman.  Yet  I  have  no  zeal  for  the  all-absorbing 
monetary  question.  With  us  Money  is  Politics.  The  fear  of 
War  with  England  much  more  occupies  me,  as  a  man  and  as  a 
Christian.  A  man  may  dispute  whether  he  will  carry  his  money 
in  a  purse  or  a  pocket-book,  while  an  enemy  is  levelling  a 
musket  at  his  heart ;  and  if  he  cocks  his  hat  and  brags,  more 
Kentuckico,  the  case  is  not  bettered.  What  think  you  of  a 
weekly  lecture  on  the  Life  of  Christ,  without  texts,  but  taking 
up  the  history,  harmonizing  it,  and  applying  1 1  The  weekly 
converse  of  the  preacher's  own  soul  with  such  an  object  would 
be  worth  something.  Sixteen  Southern  Presbyterian  ministers 
have  died  in  thirteen  months.  Some  of  these  are  very  impor- 
tant, Baxter,  Breckinridge,  Winchester,  Phelps,  Cunningham,  and 
Sloss.  I  am  seriously  convinced  that  more  harm  is  done  by 
newspaper-reading,  than  by  novel-reading.  I  know  men  who 
spend  2 — 6  hours  daily  over  newspapers.  There  is  no  other 
production  so  heterogeneous  and  incoherent ;   there  is  none  in 

1  He  had  begun  such  a  course,  and  given  sixteen  lectures,  at  the  close 
of  his  ministry  in  Duane  street,  (October  31,  1848,  to  May  29,  1849.)  He 
began  it  anew  with  the  Fifth  Avenue  congregation  January  27,  1852,  and 
continued  it  at  the  Tuesday  meetings  until  February  27,  1855. 


1833—1844.  339 

which  we  read  so  much  that  is  not  even  interesting.  Probably 
each  of  us  spends  a  hundred  hours  of  morning-time  per  annum, 
on  1,  Repeated  matter  ;  2,  Accidents  ;  3,  Crimes ;  4,  Idle  narra- 
tive ;  5,  Unintelligible  or  useless  statements ;  0,  Error  and  False- 
hood ;  7,  Advertisements  and  proper  names.  What  better  recipe 
for  making  a  weak  mind  addle  ?  We  take  the  tone  of  our  com- 
pany. Suppose  a  man's  bosom-friend  to  talk  an  hour  a  day, 
exactly  like  his  newspaper.  I  am  told  Dr.  Wilson  used  to  read 
only  a  small  weekly  sheet ;  and  I  have  heard  that  Mr.  Wirt,  during 
his  most  active  forensic  labours,  spent  three  years  without  reading 
a  newspaper.     But  this  is  fine  talk  from  one  Ex- editor  to  another. 

Princeton,  September  29,  1841. 
I  the  rather  missed  you  [at  Commencement]  because  of  the 
visit  of  "  General  J.  [Josiah]  Harlan,  Aide-de-Camp  of  Dost 
Mahomed,  Ameer  of  Cabool ;  "  certes  the  most  distingue  of  our 
numerous  visiters.  He  spoke  kindly  of  you,  and  expected  to 
meet  you.  He  is  a  noble,  gentlemanly,  and  soldierly  man  in  his 
port,  and  endlessly  rich  in  sorts  of  knowledge  which  are  perfectly 

new  to  us.     ■ has  a   high  opinion    of   him,  and   says   the 

Russian  government  would  do  any  thing  to  get  him  on  their  side 
against  the  Anglo-Indian  operations.  His  moustache,  gold- spurs, 
and  signet-ring  2,000  years  old,  are  great  distinctions.  I  should 
very  much  prize  further  communication  with  him.  You  doubt- 
less remember  Joseph  Wolff's  account  of  him  in  his  "  Research- 
es," p.  180,  Phil.  1837.1  Peter  McCall  [of  Philadelphia]  delivered 
a  polished  oration  yesterday.  Our  services  to-day  were  as  long 
and  exhausting  as  usual.  I  lament  their  probable  influence  on 
the  minds  of  our  young  men,  among  whom  there  has  been  a 
spirit  of  religious  inquiry.  Fifteen  or  more  have  been  recently 
awakened,  almost  all  of  whom  are  among  our  best  scholars  ;  I 
trust  several  of  these  are  converted.  But  they  all  go  to  their 
homes  at  this  time.  Three  Scotch  clergymen,  Johnston,  Ferriar, 
and  Allison,  have  arrived  in  New  York,  men  of  polish,  and  good 
preachers,  intending  to  settle  among  us.  The  cause  of  their 
emigration  is  painful,  viz.,  the  ruin  of  their  congregations  by  the 

1  From  Mr.  "Wolff's  book  I  collect  the  following  sketch  of  my  old  friend, 
now  living  on  his  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Wolff  met  Harlan  at  Goozerat 
in  June,  1832,  and  describes  him  as  then  "the  Governor  of  the  place  and 
province."  He  was  born  of  a  Quaker  family  in  Philadelphia,  1799  :  engaged 
at  first  in  Commercial  business ;  then  became  surgeon  in  the  Government 
hospital  in  Calcutta ;  resigned  the  British  service  and  entered  that  of  the 
native  prince  of  Cabool.  He  had  returned  to  the  United  States  not  long 
before  the  Commencement  above  referred  to,  after  an  absence  of  nearly 
twenty  years.  In  1842  Mr.  narlan  published  "A  Memoir  of  India  and 
Avghanistaun." 


340  WHILE  PROFESSOR   m   PRESTCETON   COLLEGE. 

inroads  of  Chartism.  They  are  all,  however,  of  the  secession. 
Adams,  whom  Colt  murdered,  [in  New  York,]  was  the  printer 
of  our  Missionary  Chronicle,  and  a  pious  man.  If  you  are  fond 
of  sweet-potatoes  in  winter,  let  me  recommend  to  you  to  put  up 
a  few  bushels  in  sand.  The  sand  should  be  perfectly  dried  in  an 
oven,  after  the  bread  has  been  removed.  This  is  the  proper 
time  to  do  it.  As  many  as  eleven  of  my  Africans  are  under 
serious  impressions.  In  College  we  have  had  no  excitement, 
and  not  even  an  inquiry-meeting,  but  a  wide-spread  seriousness, 
daily  short  prayer-meetings,  and  much  private  conversation. 
Mr.  Cassels  will  probably  be  settled  at  Norfolk.  The  air-tight 
stove  is  adopted  by  Prof.  Henry,  Dod,  Hodge,  Miller,  and  I)r. 
Rice.  Its  two  great  advantages  are  (1)  absolute  cleanliness,  and 
(2)  perfect  manageability,  so  that  a  fire  may  be  kept  24  hours 
so  low  that  you  can  scarcely  feel  it,  and  yet  may  be  raised  high 
in  three  minutes.  It  may  be  abused  so  as  to  be  a  mere  common 
sheet  iron  stove,  but  this  is  not  the  intention.  The  great  art  is 
repressing  the  fury  of  the  little  creature.  Mine  kept  about 
flesh-warm  all  last  night,  and  on  sliding  up  tile  door  this  morn- 
ing, I  had  it  roaring  in  two  minutes.  Then  I  shut  all  up  except 
a  minute  crevice,  and  so  it  has  been  some  hours.  It  is  meant 
for  a  room  of  which  the  door  is  kept  shut.  You  will  learn  the 
whole  trick  in  two  days.  Wood  dry  as  possible,  charge  say 
4 — 6  billets.  I  would  begin  with  hickory,  but  sound  maple  is  as 
good,  when  you  know  the  article.  Blood  has  gone  to  Ireland  ; 
it  was  time  that  he  should  be  extravasated. 

Princeton,  Nov.  13  and  14,  1841. 

Our  journey  to  Virginia,  and  my  return,  were  accomplished 
with  much  less  trouble,  danger,  and  fatigue,  than  I  had  feared. 
The  kindness  of  Providence  was  signal  towards  us,  in  regard  to 
weather,  conveyances,  and  the  like.  I  trust  my  little  flock  is 
safely  folded  in  Charlotte.  I  do  not  desire  soon  to  have  a  trip 
of  the  same  solicitude ;  yet  I  feel  it  to  be  a  sacred  duty  to  record 
the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord  in  every  part  of  it.  My  situ- 
ation here  is  lonely  enough,  and  I  feel  it  more  than  if  I  were 
alone  in  another  house.  1  am,  moreover,  somewhat  confined  by 
a  cold  and  rheumatism  in  all  one  side. 

I  was  greatly  encouraged  by  the  sight  of  the  Virginia  Synod, 
[at  Richmond.]  The  number  of  highly  respectable  and  faithful 
ministers  in  the  prime  of  life,  is  very  large.  Making  allowances 
for  the  idiosyncrasies  of  some,  the  following  list  is  remarkable  : 
McFarland,  the  Browns  (5  brothers,  sons  of  a  minister,  not  all 
in  Va.,)  Leyburn,  Stevenson,  Skinner,  Love,  Stewart,  White, 
Cassels,  Graham,  Armistead,  Alkinson,  Peyton,  Harrison,  Benj. 


1833—1844.  341 

Smith,  Foote,  Stanton,  Whary,  McPhail,  Dutton,  Sparrow, 
Plum  or.  Every  one  of  these  is  a  man  of  pulpit  talents  and 
influence.  They  think  the  interest  of  Presbyter ianism  advanc- 
ing. The  Synod  proper  had  adjourned,  but  they  all  remained 
over  Sunday  and  communed  together — a  delightful  solemnity. 
Plumer's  large  church  was  crowded  with  communicants,  many 
of  whom  had  come  several  days'  journey.  I  am  sure  I  spoke 
with  a  hundred  acquaintances  not  residing  in  Richmond.  I 
preached  on  Monday  to  a  most  awakened  audience. 

I  wished  to  see  Greenough's  statue  of  Washington  ;  but, 
though  erected,  it  was  not  uncovered.  The  patent-office  at 
Washington  is  a  great  show  ;  the  largest  room,  it  is  said,  in 
America.  If  you  ever  go  to  Washington,  do  not  go  to  Brown's 
hotel.  The  Exchange  House  in  Richmond  is  beyond  comparison 
the  finest  hotel  I  ever  saw,  not  excepting  the  Tremont  at  Boston, 
by  the  late  landlord  of  which  it  is  kept.  It  lacks  nothing  but 
gas.  For  attendance  of  servants  it  is  ten  times  better  than  the 
Tremont.  This  is  a  great  change,  in  the  view  of  one  who  re- 
members the  former  dens  of  Richmond. 

The  addition  to  College  cannot  be  fully  stated  yet.  We 
have  matriculated  about  fifty,  thus  far.  It  looks  as  if  Van  Buren 
would  be  next  President ;  and  I  see  much  less  to  choose,  than  I 
once  did,  between  the  parties.  That  we  are  victims  of  Banking, 
I  see  too  plainly.  McLean,  of  Monmouth,  expects  to  have  his 
organ  up  next  week. 

I  take  breakfast  and  tea  entirely  alone.  You  can't  tell  how 
I  miss  the  children.  What  a  doleful  place  is  a  childless  house. 
Let  me  assure  you  that  to  have  a  sick  wife  400  miles  off,  is  no 
small  trial ;  I  hope  it  may  do  me  good. 

Princeton,  December  8,  1841. 
I  have  not  for  a  long  time  seen  a  book,  so  well  adapted  to 
awaken  the  heart  and  conscience  of  a  minister,  or  so  well  deserv- 
ing to  lie  on  his  table,  as  the  Life  and  Death  of  Joseph  Alleine, 
written  by  Baxter  and  others,  and  lately  printed  by  Carter. 
Your  Pole  [a  beggar]  came  here,  and  in  excellent  Latin  swindled 
us  all  out  of  sundry  "  Vetera  vestimenta,"  and  money  likewise. 
I  love  Banks  less  and  less.  They  tempt  men  to  borrow — make 
money  nominally  plenty — and  then,  when  trouble  comes,  are  the 

first  creditors  to  exact,  and  the  last  to  have  mercy.     All 's 

other  creditors  here  would  have  waited — yet  the  Bank,  after 
having  handled  $60,000  of  his  money,  beat  up  his  quarters  near 
midnight  for  $2,100.  I  know  they  have  the  right — to  the  pound 
of  flesh.  Ask  your  Catharina  if  she  is  familiar  with  the  following 
passage,  in  the  "  Taming  of  the  Shrew  :" 


342  WHILE   PROFESSOR   W   PRESTCETON    COLLEGE. 

"  You  lie  in  faith  ;  for  you  are  called  plain  Kate, 
And  bonny  Kate,  and  sometimes  Kate  the  cross ; 
But  Kate,  the  prettiest  Kate  in  Christendom, 
Kate  of  Kate-Hall,  my  superdainty  Kate, 
For  dainties  are  all  cates." 

What  follows  is  an  exact  copy  of  an  epitaph  in  Cranbury 
Church  Yard,  on  a  stone  set  up  within  the  year : 

"  Her  blooming  cheeks  was  no  defence 
Against  the  scarlet  fever, 
In  five  days'  time  she  was  cut  down 
To  be  with  Christ  forever."  l 

A  very  pungent  little  book  by  one  Ford,  of  England,  is  issued 
by  Carter,  intituled  Decapolis  ;  proper  to  circulate  among  be- 
lieving Christians,  to  make  them  seek  the  conversion  of  the  un- 
godly.    I  am  using  my  copy  in  college,  or  I  would  send  it  to 

you.     I  think  its  circulation  worth  several  sermons.     has  a 

letter  from  Geneva,  saying  that  a  friar  of  a  Dominican  convent, 
in  Italy,  has  lately  renounced  popery,  in  consequence  of  his  read- 
ing Calvin's  Institutes,  to  which  he  was  directed  by  the  Index 
Expurgatorius.  I  rejoice  that  the  Board  are  about  to  publish 
Daille  on  the  Use  of  the  Fathers  ;  I  do  not  know  any  thing  to 
pat  against  Oxfordism.  Don't  foil  to  get  the  Board's  little  Life 
of  Philip  Henry  ;  librum  vere  aureum.  My  father  abridged  it. 
Love  to  Madame,  Mcsdemoiselles,  et  les  petits  bons  hommes. 
I  am  deeply  yours. 

Princeton,  tilt.,  1841. 

A  happy  New  Year,  in  all  the  senses,  especially  the  best,  to 
you  atid  you-ess  and  the  youths  !  Your  letter  of  the  25th  was  of 
a  more  Christian  length  than  your  late  foregoing  ones.  Pray, 
don't  let  press  of  business  tend  to  curtail  a  correspondence  which 

has  lasted  some  half  a  century,  or  less.     If  I  send  you 's 

sermon,  it  is  not  as  a  sample  of  rhetoric  purity ;  the  metaphors 
are  mixed  as  much  as  communion-wines.  Dr.  Torrey  has  hired 
the  Bayard  House :  he  deposits  in  our  library  his  herbarium, 
equal  in  bulk  to  500  folio  volumes,  and  containing,  as  I  remem- 
ber, 50,000  species  ;  the  number  of  existing  species,  by  estimate, 
is  100,000. 

More  than  once  I  remember  to  have  expressed  to  you  my 
sense  of  the  importance  of  writing  down  things  on  the  spot — con- 

1  His  correspondent  was  able  to  return  an  inscription  copied  from  a  stone 
in  a  Trenton  marble  (not  church)  yard. 

"  The  boiling  coffee  did  on  me  fall, 
And  by  it  I  was  slain ; 
But  Christ  has  bought  my  liberty, 
And  in  him  111  rise  again." 


1833—1844.  343 

versations  of  an  interesting  kind — death-bed  facts — striking  retri- 
butions— successful  cures  of  soul-sickness — results  of  experience 
as  to  matters  of  duty,  or  policy — cases  in  one's  own  family, 
children,  &c.  Such  records  are  valuable  when  one  is  gone.  "  I 
agree,"  says  H.  Walpole,  "  with  Mr.  Gray,  '  that  any  man  living 
may  make  a  book  worth  reading,  if  he  will  but  set  down  with 
truth  what  he  has  seen  or  heard,  no  matter  whether  the  book  is 
well  written  or  not.' "  I  wish  the  practice  were  commoner  of 
introducing  the  text  by  the  introduction,  and  not  the  introduction 
by  the  text. 

How  nicely  one  might  see  the  river  from  your  window,  if  it 
were  not  for  Mr.  Potts's  house.  In  1780  a  Mr.  Shirley  built  a 
house  on  the  Thames,  on  purpose  to  intercept  a  view  of  the  river 
from  his  opposite  neighbour ;  the  people  gave  it  the  name  of 
Spite-hall  My  good  old  father,  after  spying  out  for  threescore 
years,  strongly  maintains,  that  there  is  less  and  less  appearance 
of  amalgamation  among  Protestant  sects ;  that  is,  so  far  as  their 
admitting  one  another's  ordinances  goes ;  e.  g.  the  Episcopals 
and  the  Baptists  are  more  exclusive  than  formerly.  The  news- 
papers are  intolerably  dull ;  what  more  unprofitable  and  really 
nauseous  than  legislative  debates,  murders,  bankruptcies,  &c.  % 
There  ought  to  be  an  epitome  for  scholars  and  busy  men.  One 
of  the  few  things  I  can  read  is  Walsh's  Letters  [from  Paris]  to  the 
National  Intelligencer.  Will  it  be  worth  your  reception  for  me  to 
mail  one  to  you  now  and  then  %  We  have  a  tutor  descended 
from  Jonathan  Edwards,  and  two  students,  grandsons  of  Drs. 
McWhorter  and  Richards.  We  have  a  half-hour  prayer  meet- 
ing every  evening.  This  term,  already,  we  have  heard  of  the 
conversion  of  five  of  our  late  "  students,"  some  of  whom  were 
great  rowdies.  In  1  Cor.  ix.  ult.,  I  don't  believe  that  d§o/a/xos 
means  "  castaway,"  in  the  usual  acceptation.  It  is  a  word  of  the 
pakestra ;  the  apostle  says,  "  I  keep  under  my  body,  lest  I  be- 
come unfit  for  service — for  contention."  I  know  of  an  excellent 
place  for  a  young  lady,  as  governess,  in  Goochland  co.,  Va. 
$300  a-year  and  found — pious  old-school  family  :  piano-teaching 
required.     Dod  has  the  advowrson  of  the  benefice. 

The  Costa  Rica  earthquake  is  awful  indeed ;  read  about  it  in 
your  newspaper :  if  it  had  extended  a  few  minutes  northwarder, 

would  no  doubt  have  a  sermon  on  it. 

is  a  truly  good  man,  and  a  man  of  strong  mind  and 

strong  delivery,  but  he  has  made  the  grand  mistake  of  spending 
his  strength  chiefly  in  rebuke,  I  do  not  mean  that  he  is  too 
minatory ;  this  I  should  not  easily  think  one,  if  this  were  all, 
but  he  aims  at  showing  faults,  and  constantly  "  plies  the  con- 
science," as  he  would  call  it.     I  do  not  think  such  preaching, 


34:4  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

alone,  ever  fails  to  be  deadening.  It  does  little  good  to  awaken 
mere  conscience,  without  reaching  the  heart.  We  know  better 
what  we  ought  to  do,  than  we  feel  motives  to  do  otherwise.  I 
think  this  the  great  difference  between  New  England,  and  the 
best  Old  England  preachers  of  the  best  time.  It  is  wonderful 
how  different  is  the  strain  of  address  to  Christians  in  the  New 
Testament  epistles. 

I  see  Kirk  is  like  to  be  settled  in  Boston,  over  a  new  church. 
His  manner  of  preaching  has  attracted  many  stragglers  from  the 
Unitarian  ranks.     I  hope  he  will  be  useful  there. 

The  notice  of  Yeomans'  inaugural  in  the  Repertory  is  by  Dr. 
Miller,  as  are  sundry  of  the  short  notices.  The  Doctor  is  in  an- 
other dispute  with  some  layman  in  the  Episcopal  Recorder,  who 
has  really  treated  the  old  gentleman  most  dishonestly,  attribut- 
ing an  odious  phrase  to  him,  which  he  protests  he  never  used. 
If  [Dr.  E.]  Robinson's  maps  can  be  got  apart  from  the  book,  one 
ought  to  have  them.  O,  it  is  grand  to  have  such  a  feeling  of 
reality  in  reading  about  the  "holy  places;"  Ramah,  Shiloh, 
Nob,  Mizpeh,  &c.  They  are  engraved  at  Berlin,  and  printed  at 
London. 

Princeton,  January  15,  1842. 
Don't  you  think,  on  the  whole,  we  have  had  quite  a  mild 
winter  %     The  roads  have  been  very  dreadful.     I  learn  with  pain, 

that  poor has  probably  lost  another  child  with  scarlet  fever. 

My  father  had  a  letter  from  him  on  Friday,  and  he  was  despair- 
ing of  it  then.  O  how  deep  such  rebukes  pierce  !  For  a  season 
life  is  a  cup  which  has  lost  its  zest.  What  is  there  but  God  and 
Heaven  that  can  do  any  thing  for  a  man  in  such  a  case  %  Our 
Congress  is  really  blackguard,  and  more  so  every  year.     Just 

listen  to  the  fish-market  talk  of &c.     Don't  think   I  read 

'em ;  enough  runs  over  from ,  who,  I  suppose,  has  not  failed 

to  read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest,  every  speech,  bill,  re- 
port, nay  word,  of  every  session  of  Congress,  as  reported  by  his- 
own-side  papers,  for  fifteen  years.  His  memory  of  every  thing, 
but  especially  of  what  he  has  witnessed,  is  unparalleled  by  any 
thing  I  ever  met  with.  There  appears  to  be  no  distance  in  his 
retrospects,  no  dimness.  Every  day  he  brings  things  to  my 
recollection,  which  I,  as  older,  ought  to  remember  better  than 
he,  and  that  with  such  a  particularity  as  few  men  could  show  in 
regard  to  the  last  week.  Dr.  Phillips's  people  wish  to  move  up 
town.  Yet  it  seems  to  me,  even  if  the  congregation  go  up,  the 
edifice  ought  to  be  left.  There  are  many  churches  in  the  very 
bowels  of  London.  There  must  be  every  Sunday  thousands  of 
strangers  in  New  York,  and  in  that  part  of  it,  not  to  speak  of 


1833—1844.  345 

clerks,  &c,  who  lodge  in  the  upper  stories  of  places  of  business. 
Why  would  not  it  be  a  good  plan  for  some  to  keep  the  house, 
pay  a  minister,  reserve  pews  for  themselves  and  numerous  re- 
tainers, but  throw  open  the  body  of  the  pews  to  the  poor  and 
strangers  ?  To  the  poor  the  gospel  is  not  preached  in  our  crack 
Presbyterian  churches.  Mr.  Olmsted  of  Flemington  admitted 
nineteen  on  the  9th.  Dr.  Rice  preached  six  times  for  him.  [Pro- 
fessor] Dod  has  given  your  steeple  a  reprieve  until  Lecture  2d. 
Our  steeple  here  (viz.,  of  the  Seminary)  is  said  to  be  of  the 
Brewer  order.  As  for  expositions  of  the  text  Gen.  iii.  15,  you 
need  not  look  far.  I  believe  the  common,  and,  as  I  think,  (to 
one  who  has  an  inkling  of  a  Messiah,)  the  obvious  meaning  has 
been  defended  by  all  interpreters  from  the  Christian  era.  There 
is,  perhaps,  no  interpretation  more  catholic ;  whence  this  predic- 
tion alone  has  received  a  specific  technical  designation,  7rpwTcvay- 
yeXtov.  Even  Adam  Clarke,  and  Turner  of  New  York,  who 
generally  give  the  lowest  sense,  plead  for  its  Messianic  applica- 
tion. No  other  fulfilment  seems  to  me  at  all  satisfactory,  or 
even  true.  But  if  you  wish  a  full  examination  of  the  question, 
read  Hengstenberg's  Christology,  vol.  1,  on  the  Protevangelium  ; 
or,  see  Melvill's  sermon  on  the  text ;  it  seems  an  argumentative 
discourse.  The  original  Hebrew,  compared  with  Gal.  iii.  16, 
weighs  very  much  with  me ;  though  I  confess  I  never  could  make 
it  a  doubtful  matter.  1  have  written  a  sermon  to-day  on  "  Our 
polity  is  in  heaven."     Observe  how  much  more  point  the  Greek 

t'  )  C^etre. 
has  in  Col.  iii.  1  and  2.     w   >  The  English  is  feeble  in 

?    )  cppovet 


£ 


ZLTC. 


comparison,  and  the  antithesis  is  entirely  lost.  I  have  been 
studying  the  Colossians  lately  with  a  good  deal  of  attention. 
There  is  a  fund  of  motives  to  holiness  in  chap.  iii.  Mede  thinks 
the  Jews  will  all  be  converted  simultaneously,  and  that  Paul's 
conversion  was  a  type  of  it. 

Princeton,  January  18,  1842. 
"  Hie  murus  aeneus  esto, 
Nil  conscire  sibi,  nulla  pallescere  culpa\. 
Roscia,  die  sodes,  melior  lex,  an  puerorura  est 
Naenia,  quae  regnum  recte  facientibus  offert, 
Et  maribus  Curiis  et  decantata  Camillis  ? 
Isne  tibi  melius  suadet,  qui  rem  facias  ;  rem, 
Si  possis,  recte  ;  si  non}  quocunque  modo  rem.'''' 

Horat.  Ep.  1,  lib.  1. 

There  are  some  quotable  verses  in  the  same  epistle,  on  avarice, 
and  it  is  really  wonderful  how  often  Horace  lashes  this  particular 
vice : 

vol.  i. — 15* 


34:6  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Vilius  argentum  est  auro,  virtutibus  aurum. 

— 0  cives,  cives,  qmerenda  pecunia  primum  est, 

Virtus  post  nummos. 

Perhaps  you  will  remember  that  Pope  has  an  imitation  of 
the  Epistle  above  cited,  and  he  gives  the  critical  lines  thus, 
which  I  write  as  prose :  "  Who  counsels  best  ?  who  whispers, 
1  Be  but  great,  With  praise  or  infamy,  leave  that  to  fate ;  Get 
place  and  wealth,  if  possible  with  grace ;  If  not,  by  any  means 
get  wealth  and  place.' "  I  was  much  struck  with  a  saying  of 
Addison,  that  we  make  too  great  a  gap  between  some  books  of 
Scripture,  and  that  Joshua  evidently  just  kept  up  the  journal 
after  Moses'  death.  This  would  explain  several  difficulties.  The 
beans  you  pretended  you  were  going  to  give  me  have  not  ar- 
rived ;  having  been  left  at  Snowden's  inn,  and  no  doubt  devoured 
by  the  legislature.  If  this  letter,  which  goes  by  the  same  hand, 
should  fail  to  reach  you,  please  let  me  know  in  your  answer. 
Mr.  Cassels  reports  a  revival  at  Norfolk.  I  expect,  with  leave 
of  Providence,  to  go  to  Virginia  about  the  middle  of  February. 
I  found  the  following  passage  to-night  in  a  letter  of  Bussy-Rabu- 
tin,  (1675,)  "  Si  vous  n'en  pouvez  trouver  d' autre  [encre]  que 
celle  dont  vous  vous  servites  l'annee  passee,  souvenez-vous  de 
m'ecrire  sur  papier  noir,  car  enfin,  je  veux  lire  ce  que  vous 
m'ecrivez."  Not  so  bad.  We  have  four  of  the  Scriptural  un- 
clean beasts  now  in  Princeton,  "  the  camel,  the  cony,  the  hare, 
and  the  hog."  Hogg  and  Colt  stall  together  in  college.  The 
distinction  of  meats  has  now  given  place  to  the  distinction  of 
drinks.  If  ypu  have  not  a  Greek  Lexicon  of  the  critical  kind,  I 
would  nominate  Rose's  Parkhurst,  which  I  have  used  a  number 

of  years.     has  obtained  two  bottles  of  the  unfermented 

wine.  It  is  merely  a  light  syrup,  like  poor  molasses,  with  no 
vinous  taste  to  my  palate,  and  when  diluted,  as  ordered,  not  un- 
like vapid  raspberry-vinegar.  Nothing  but  an  insane  love  of  a 
hypothesis  could  bring  one  to  believe,  that  such  was  the  "  fruit 
of  the  vine,"  used  at  the  Passover.  They  are  agitating  this  ques- 
tion among  our  old-school  churches  in  Kentucky  ;  Grundy  lead- 
ing the  treacle-ites,  and  W.  L.  Breckinridge  the  wine-ites. 

Princeton,  January  25-6,  1842. 
Walter  Lowrie,  who  has  waited  three  months  for  a  vessel  to 
go  for  Canton,  has  got  off  at  last.  He  made  all  his  Seminary 
preparations  with  a  view  to  Africa,  and  very  reluctantly  gave  up 
the  latter  destination.  A  couple  of  young  Germans,  one  of  them 
Israclitish,  have  been  canvassing  our  town  as  spectacle-mongers. 
I  am  told  they  have  had  a  shop  in  Trenton.  The  Jew  read 
Hebrew  for  me  very  well ;  he  is,  moreover,  a  musician.     I  got  a 


1833—1844.  347 

penknife  from  him   cheaper  than  they  are  found  in  the  shops. 

,    alack !     is    coming    here    to   brawl    against    Pop-pery* 

Have  you  ever  read  Wiseman's  Lectures  on  the  Connexion  of 
Science  and  Religion  %  It  is  worth  reading ;  and  the  earlier  lec- 
tures, tracing  the  pedigree  of  languages,  give  what  the  great 
Germans  have  discovered  in  this  field,  which  is,  so  far  as  I  know, 
the  only  English  account  of  the  same.  It  is  an  economy  of  time 
to  read  such  books.  I  have  seen  nothing  in  your  Trenton  pa- 
pers in  laudation  of  Dod's  lecture ;  doubtless  in  consequence  of 
your  practices  with  the  editors,  on  behalf  of  your  steeple-house. 
Resuming  the  subject  of  Wiseman,  as  above,  I  add,  that  if  Ste- 
phens had  read  this  book,  he  would  not  have  evinced  himself  to 
be  so  "hideously  unprovided"  of  antiquarian  preparation  for  his 
Southern  Researches.  It  throws  great  light  on  the  history  of 
our  Indians.  Of  the  beans  I  have  as  yet  seen  nothing,  and  "  de" 
not  "  apparentibus,"  and  not  "  existentibus  " — I  hope  you  have  a 
recollection  of  your  law-maxims.  According  to  the  proverb, 
"  bis  dat  qui  cito  dat,"  you  have  given  me  only  half  the  amount, 
and  I  am  told  the  parcel  has  been  broken,  and  some  bestowed 
on  Dr.  Miller  !  The  confusion  of  the  dramatis  person®  in  Can- 
ticles does  not  exist  in  Hebrew,  where  the  verbs  have  gender, 
and  you  know  at  each  moment  whether  it  is  the  sponsus  or  the 
sponsor  who  is  addressed.  Our  lack  of  gender  is  felt  also  in 
Ecc.  xii.  3,  "  the  grinders  cease  because  they  are  few,  and  those 
that  look  out  of  the  windows  be  darkened :"  the  original  gives, 
"  the  female-grinders  keep  holiday,  &c,  and  the  female-lookers- 
out-of-windows,  &c."  I  dare  say  many  hearers  think  the  grinders 
are  the  "  dentes  molares."  The  tee-totallers  are  making  great 
conquests  in  Kentucky,  under  the  command  of  two  distinguished 
Ebriates,  as  reformed  inebriates  may  be  called.  Why  so  tender 
about  naming  them  drunkards  1 

I  have  just  been  reading  over,  at  one  sitting,  the  epistle  to  the 
Colossians.  I  have  done  so  many  times  within  a  month,  both  in 
Greek  and  in  all  the  translations  I  have,  which  are  more  than 
ten.  This  way  of  frequent  reperusal,  continuously,  I  learned  of 
my  father,  many  years  ago.  It  is  well  to  intermix  it  with  critical 
study  of  the  same  portion.  I  like  to  confine  myself  to  one  book 
for  a  time,  and  as  it  were,  live  in  it,  till  I  feel  very  familiar.  I 
usually  find  great  satisfaction  during  such  a  period,  in  preaching 
from  such  a  book,  thus  studied.  We  greatly  need  a  book  of 
"  Introduction  to  the  New  Testament."  Home  is  useful,  but  has 
no  mark  of  unity  produced  by  an  original  conception ;  it  is  a 
scissors-book.  Hug  is  all  the  reverse ;  you  are  sensible  of  the 
charm  of  a  genius  on  every  page :  by  all  means,  mean  to  get  it, 
when  you  have  the  means ;  but  the  pun  is  too  mean.     A  book 


34:8  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

might  be  made  containing  only  such  matters  as  are  in  Home's 
2d  and  4th  volumes ;  leaving  out  of  view  a  great  deal  about  In- 
terpretation, which,  after  all,  must  be  left  to  common  sense. 
Notwithstanding  what  1  have  said  of  Home,  I  would,  seriously, 
rather  be  the  author  of  it  than  of  any  book  in  our  language. 
Strange,  that  living,  as  he  does,  in  one  of  the  greatest  libraries 
of  the  world,  he  should  have  written  nofrting  else.  I  find  lay- 
men of  intelligence  greatly  awakened-and  benefited  by  the  book. 
It  was  so  with  Mr.  Wirt;  and  [Rev.  Mr.]  Hare  lately  made  the 
same  remark  to  me.  To  return  to  Hug,  I  have  found  his  Life 
of  Paul,  and  account  of  his  character  and  writings,  more  instruc- 
tive than  any  thing  1  have  ever  read  on  the  subject.  Before  you 
publish  that  you  are  going  to  lecture  on  "  Phee-Phaw-Phum," 
you  ought  to  remember  that  many  read  an  advertisement  who 
do  not  go  to  hear  a  lecture,  and  that  with  such,  your  taste,  digni- 
ty, and  judgment  will  suffer;  as  they  will  not  hear  the  really 
wise  remarks  3-011  utter.  I  fear  our  friend,  the  Shah-Bulkh-Bid- 
den-B'hoo will  be  in  "  King  Cambyses'  vein."  A  tem- 
perance society  was  formed  last  night  here;  on  the  "  AVashing- 
tonian"  plan,  I  guess.  I  expect,  to-morrow,  to  go  to  the  Birchine 
visitation  at  Brunswick.  Mr.  Hare  is  to  lecture  at  our  Mechan- 
ics' Institute  on  Edom. 

Charlotte  Court  House,  Va.,  February  23,1842. 
From  the  appearance  of  this  ink,  1  am  seriously  afraid  the 
paper  will  be  blank  when  it  reaches  you.  I  arrived  here  on  the 
18th.  My  journey  was  more  exposed  than  common.  I  had  to 
travel  all  one  cold  night,  in  a  stage,  alone,  over  such  roads  as  I 
never  saw,  and  then  all  the  next  day.  The  James  River  at  Car- 
terville  could  not  be  crossed,  by  reason  of  the  tempestuous  cur- 
rent, thermometer  at  19.°  I  slept  on  the  Goochland  side,  in  the 
lock-keeper's  house,"  three  in  a  bed,"  in  an  unfinished  house.  I 
find  my  wife  better  than  when  I  heard  from  her.  As  to  personal 
comfort,  I  can  conceive  of  nothing,  as  to  external  circumstances, 
family,  servants,  and  the  like,  more  favourable  than  what  she  en- 
joys at  Ingleside,  [five  miles  from  Charlotte  Court  House.] 
My  children  have  undergone  the  most  extraordinary  transforma- 
tion as  to  health.  Henry  has,  through  mercy,  escaped  every 
ailment  this  winter.  My  friends  think  he  bears  every  exposure 
quite  as  well  as  country  children  ;  he  is  out  all  clay,  and  has  his 
feet  wet  for  hours.  But  then  he  is  excited  by  his  traps,  birds, 
squirrel,  and  horses.  Jemmy  is  almost  as  sturdy  as  your  Cald- 
well. Since  I  saw  him  he  has  learnt  to  converse,  and  some  of  his 
remarks  are  odd  enough.  He  informed  me,  as  a  fact  in  zoology, 
that  "  the  little  lambs  suck  the  big  lambs."     Quite  enough  this, 


1833—1844.  349 

however,  of  a  subject  which  seldom  fails  to  disgust  any  but  the 
speaker.  I  try  to  be  thankful  for  this  alleviation  of  my  trials. 
I  have  preached  seven  times  since  I  reached  Virginia;  sometimes 
with  more  enlargement  than  is  my  wont.  Mrs.  Le  Grand's 
house  is  still  full,  from  day  to  day.  There  is  not  a  small  me- 
chanic or  labouring  family  in  all  the  village  or  vicinage  who  does 
not  freely  come  to  her  for  aid,  or  as  freely  enter  her  doors.  I 
sincerely  think  I  have  never  seen  the  human  being  who  lives  so 
much  for  others.  Mere  sacrifice  of  money  is  little  :  in  her  case, 
it  is  sacrifice  of  health,  time,  privacy,  convenience,  ease,  and 
(virtually)  of  life.  She  is  about  78,  and  is  ill  enough  any  day 
to  keep  her  bed,  which  she  never  kept  except  when  in  severe 
pain  or  extreme  languor.  Her  cough  is  deadly  and  her  attenu- 
ation extreme.  You  must  write  frequently,  and  remember  I 
hear  little  of  what  the  world  is  doing.  The  remoteness  and 
quietude  of  the  situation  strikes  me  exceedingly.  I  roam  over 
the  plantations,  as  little  obnoxious  to  observation  or  criticism  as 
if  I  were  in  the  Pacific  regions.  Our  weather  is  wintry.  Cro- 
cuses were  blown  in  Richmond,  but  we  have  since  had  it  very 
cold.  I  calculated  that  a  fire  such  as  is  kept  in  my  wife's  room, 
of  hickory,  would  cost  me  about  $200  a  year  in  Princeton.  I 
know  no  luxury  greater  than  a  constantly  glowing  fire  of  wood, 

replenished  ad  libitum.     Mr.  C averages  three  cords  of  wood 

a  day  on  his  estate.  The  slaves  use  it  without  measurement,  all 
going  to  a  common  pile.  I  have  not  yet  heard  from  the  North. 
I  saw  Lord  Morpeth  in  Richmond.  Judge  Cabell  dined  with 
him  at  the  lieutenant-governor's,  Rutherford's,  and  was  much 
pleased  with  his  mild  and  unpretending  manners.  Bishop  Meade 
seems  to  be  doing  much  for  Evangelical  piety  in  this  State. 
There  has  been  a  great  stir  in  Petersburg,  involving  the  Episcopal 
church;  ninety-three  were  confirmed  in  Mr.  Cobbs's  church.  It  is 
not  known  wrhether  a  coadjutor  will  be  appointed  to  Meade.  Johns 
has  been  spoken  of.  The  Methodists  have  made  great  inroads 
here.  There  were  formerly  none ;  they  are  now  building  a  re- 
spectable house.  Their  gain  has  been  greater,  by  reason  of  the 
yielding  of  Presbyterians  to  their  Thomsonian  practice.  In 
Hampden  Sydney  College  there  are  about  thirty  students,  and 
about  as  many  in  the  Seminary.  There  are  five  schools  in  this 
village.  Among  these  is  Michael  Osborne's  lately  erected  girls' 
school,  which  has  twenty-six  already.  I  find  much  entertainment 
from  the  company  of  Dr.  Brown,  nephew  of  the  Edinburgh  meta- 
physician. He  is  a  brother-in-law  of  Hart,  the  pastor.  He  was 
educated  at  Edinburgh  and  Paris,  and  is  a  bachelor  and  a  genius. 
He  is  a  great  opposer  of  total  abstinence,  though,  I  believe,  a 
temperate  man,  and  declares  that  the  cases  of  bronchitis  which 


350  WHILE   PEOFESSOE   IN   PEINCETON   COLLEGE. 

he  has  known  among  sedentary  people  all  arise  from  that  state 
of  body  which  would  be  prevented  by  a  moderate  stimulus,, 
such  as  the  clergy  used  to  admit  of.  I  have  battled  with  him 
at  great  disadvantage,  as  his  stores  of  medical  authority  over- 
whelm me,  and  he  denies  point-blank  the  testimonies  of  the  phy 
sicians  who  are  relied  on  by  Tee-totalers.  Being  out  as  much 
by  night  as  day,  and  frequently  riding  on  horseback  thirty  miles 
a  night,  and  even  swimming  rivers,  he  says  that  nothing  disarms 
these  exposures,  but  fire  or  diffusive  stimulus  of  some  sort ;  of 
which  alcohol  is  the  only  one  which  can  be  given  often  safely. 
He  denies  that  it  is  ineffectual  to  keep  off  cold.  He  was  a  Tem- 
perance-man five  years  ago.  The  abstinence  folk  are  making  great 
advances  in  this  State.  At  Lynchburg  they  have  more  than  a 
thousand  signatures.    They  have  adopted  the  phrases,  "  revival," 

"  awakening,"  "  conviction,"  and  "  conversion."      says  he 

thinks  these  excitements  highly  deleterious  to  the  cause  of  re- 
ligion. Public  opinion  is  made  to  bear  upon  those  who  dissent, 
and  abstinence  is  like  to  be  made  a  term  of  communion  by 
many.  In  the  country  hereabouts,  the  body  of  the  people  have 
always  been  temperate,  and  Total  Abstinence  has  few  adherents. 

Ixgleside,  Charlotte  Co.,  Va.,  March  10,  1842. 
I  have  one  of  yours.  The  date  I  do  not  record,  as  I  am  away 
from  my  file.  If  you  should  have  written  in  answer  to  my  last, 
before  this  reaches  you,  please  to  write  again :  I  shall  await  your 
reply  to  this.  The  weather  is  mild  but  pluvious.  There  have 
been  great  freshes  here,  perhaps  thirty  during  the  season.  Peas 
are  quite  high  ;  peach  and  plum  trees  in  blossom  some  days. 
Birds  are  pairing,  and  their  number,  on  this  estate,  is  remark- 
able.* Mr.  Carrington  saw  four  wild  turkey-cocks  on  his  grounds 
a  day  or  two  ago.  You  will  have  seen,  by  the  papers,  that  J. 
R.  of  Roanoke's  will  freeing  the  slaves  has  been  established.  I 
happen  to  know  that  this  is  false.  The  clerks  here  are  busy 
copying  the  voluminous  testimony.  There  is  no  decision  of  the 
last  suit.  Meanwhile,  the  proceeds  of  the  immense  estate  go  to 
the  Tuckers  and  Coalters  and  Bryan.  The  evidence  in  the  case 
is  very  extraordinary.  The  following  is  a  true  copy,  literatim 
et  punctatim,   of  a  letter,  most  reluctantly  produced  by  my 

quondam  elder ,  as  a  part  of  his  testimony.     is  above 

70.  "  To  Henry  A.  Watkins,  Come  and  see  me  if  you 
can — I  mean  if  you  are  able  1  beseech  you — If  you  cannot  come 
pray  for  me — for  the  effectual  fervent  prq/yer  of  a  righteous  man 
a.vailetii   much.     ^[  Friday  10 — but  in  fact  11   of  April,  un- 

*  While  I  close  this,  a  mocking-bird  is  making  matchless  music  near  mc. 


1S33— 1844.  351 

blotted — I  am  in  extremis  on  the  word  of  a  Christian.  I  write 
with  a  blotting  pen  upon  greasy  paper,  unclean  all  offensive  in 
the  eye  of  God — because  I  am  under  the  powerful  influence  of 
the  Prince  of  Darkness  who  tempts  me  with  a and  cham- 
pagne." 

I  have  been  preaching  a  good  deal  to  the  negroes,  a  delight- 
ful work,  promising,  I  think,  as  much  good  as  any  labour  a  man 
can  engage  in.  Within  a  year  or  two  much  more  attention  is 
paid  to  this,  especially  by  some  of  the  Methodists.  A  preacher, 
named  Skidmore,  himself  a  slaveholder,  has  some  thirty  planta- 
tions under  his  charge,  at  one  of  which  he  preaches  every  evening. 
He  enrolls  the  names,  and  conducts  every  meeting  of  the  slaves 
on  the  plan  of  a  Class-meeting.  I  am  much  affected  by  the  negro 
singing.  There  is  a  softness  in  their  voices,  which  penetrates 
me,  and  in  these  meetings  they  all  sing,  down  to  the  infants. 

Mrs. 's   cook    (emerita)    Patty,  she  says,   is  "  as  pious  a 

woman,  and  a  lady  of  as  delicate  sensibilities  as  I  ever  saw ;  she 
is  one  of  the  very  best  friends  I  have  in  the  world."     And  Mrs. 

is  second  to   no  woman   I   ever  saw  in  judgment,  taste, 

and  education.  The  negro  dialects  of  English  are  a  curious 
study.  E.  g.  The  slaves  on  this  plantation  are  part  from  Mr. 
C.'s,  part  from  Mrs.  C.'s  estate.  There  are  some  pronunciations 
and  phrases  which  never  pass  from  one  set  to  the  other.  Thus 
the  Carrington  negroes  all  say  "  Gi  we  sum-hin-nurra  fuh  we 
bekfuss,"  i.  e.  "  Give  us  something  or  other  for  our  breakfast." 
But  the  Monte- Video  negroes  (whom  Judge  Cabell  once  owned, 
on  James  Piver)  and  none  other,  so  far  as  Mrs.  C.  knows,  pro- 
nounce e  long  where  it  ought  to  be  short,  thus :  bade  for  bed ; 
Ilalen  for  Helen  ;  also  Constantia  for  Constantia.  My  children, 
having  nurses  of  the  latter,  have  adopted  this  elegancy.  There 
is  no  way  of  accounting  for  this  phenomenon,  but  by  supposing 
that  the  progenitors  of  these  respective  sets  came  from  different 
African  tribes.  For  several  days  we  have  had  as  visiters  Mr. 
John  Henry,  son  of  Patrick,  his  wife,  my  wife's  cousin,  and  two 
little  daughters.  Mr.  H.  cut  a  walking-stick,  cherry,  from  the 
head  of  his  father's  grave,  as  a  present  for  Gen.  Harrison,  who 
received  it  a  few  days  before  his  last  illness.  He  tells  me  that 
his  mother  was  told  by  the  mother  of  Patrick,  that  the  latter  al- 
ways used  to  drive  her  in  a  gig  to  hear  Mr.  Davies  preach ;  cet. 
about  14  :  place  Hanover  Co.  Patrick  Henry  was  a  great  vio- 
linist for  that  day  ;  so  is  his  son.  I  have  always  considered  this 
region  of  Virginia  more  favourable  to  the  highest  popular  elo- 
quence than  any  other.  There  are  twenty  men  in  this  county, 
whose  elocution  is  enviable.  The  "  cleverest  "  man  since  Ran- 
dolph is  Wood  Bouldin,  son  of  T.  T.  Bouldin,  who  succeeded  J. 


352  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

R.  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  who  died  there  of  a  fit, 
The  Venables  are  an  extraordinary  family.  I  have  often  heard 
my  father  say  that  Col.  Sam.  Venable  was  the  wisest  man  he 
ever  saw.  He  married  a  Carrington,  half-sister  of  my  good  host. 
He  had  twelve  children.  His  wife  lived  to  see  them  all  married, 
and  all  converted.  Dr.  Paul  Venable  counted  up  to  me  142 
descendants  of  these  his  parents,  all  now  living.  Each  of  these 
families  is  rich,  and  they  are  all  democrats,  and  all  Old  School 
Presbyterians.  Of  the  father  of  H.  C.  (old  Judge  Carrington)  the 
descendants  are  about  400.  Such  things  are  important  elements 
of  the  state  of  society.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  of  the 
injustice  we  do  the  slaveholders.  Of  their  feelings  towards  their 
negroes  I  can  form  a  better  notion  than  formerly,  by  examining 
my  own  towards  the  slaves  who  wait  on  my  wife  and  mind  my 
children.  It  is  a  feeling  most  like  that  we  have  to  near  relations. 
Nanette  is  a  mild  but  active  brown  woman,  with  whom  I  would 
trust  any  interest  we  have.  She  is  an  invalid,  however,  and  in 
the  North  would  long  since  have  died  in  an  alms-house.  As  it 
is,  she  will  be  well  housed,  well  fed,  protected,  and  happy,  if  she 
lives  to  be  100.  There  are  two  blind  women  (80 — 90)  on  this 
estate,  who  have  done  nothing  for  years.  It  is  touching  to  see 
them  walking  out,  arm  in  arm,  to  bask  in  the  sun. 

Ingleside,  C.  Cy.,  Va.,  March  21,  1842. 
Your  letter,  though  not  quite  as  full  as  usual,  was  very  ac- 
ceptable in  these  ends  of  the  earth.  You  can  have  no  idea  how 
far  one  feels  here  from  all  the  foci  of  news.  Yesterday  was 
July.  I  attended  two  full  services,  right  on  the  back  of  one 
another  :  the  last  one  was  a  funeral  sermon  of  a  black.  1  had  a 
large  collection,  and  preached  from  "  Thou  fool,  this  night,  &c." 
Great  attention,  and  hysterics  in  at  least  seven.  The  singing  Avas 
transporting ;  positively  I  never  enjoyed  any  thing  more  at  the 
Musical  Fund.     I  have  preached  eighteen  times  in  Virginia.     I 

have  met  here  an  original.     is  a  Yale  man,  about  as  deaf  as 

.     Has  an  office  built  in  the  yard,  lined  with  glazed  cases, 

wherein  2,000  volumes.  As  much  of  a  litterateur  as  I  ever  saw. 
Was  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention  in  1830.  Thorough 
scholar  in  Greek,  Latin,  and  French.  Perfect  health  and  athletic 
vigour.  A  boxer,  in  all  the  forms.  As  to  diet  and  bathing, 
almost  a  Cornaro.  Has  not  eaten  warm  bread 'for  ten  years. 
Shaves  in  his  shirt  in  a  cold  room  in  winter.  A  pedestrian :  has 
walked  all  over  Canada,  and  several  times  over  New  England. 
The  last  day  of  his  return  from  Canada  to  Norfolk,  he  walked  fifty- 
five  miles,  and  then  was  at  office  business,  on  his  feet,  till  ten  at 
night.     For  this  journey  he  trained,  on  Capt.  Barclay's  scheme  ; 


1833—1844.  353 

two  meals  a  day,  of  rare  beef  and  Madeira,  and  stale  bread ;  this 
for  three  weeks.  He  has  every  sort  of  gymnastical  contrivance. 
Always  stands  at  study,  with  legs  wide  apart,  and  no  support. 
His  chest  is  like  the  keel  of  a  boat.  He  is  an  intimate  friend  of 
Upshur,  Judge  B.  Tucker,  and  other  ultra  States-Right  men,  to 
which  party  he  belongs.  I  have  met  with  nothing  like  him  for 
knowledge  of  history,  biography,  heraldry,  and  the  like.     He  is 

an    eloquent  talker.     His  father-in-law ,  entered  the  army 

at  19,  and  was  desperately  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw,  in 
1781,  being  shot  through  the  thigh  and  bayoneted  in  the  breast. 
Though  he  was  years  getting  well,  he  is  now,  at  80,  ruddy,  erect 
on  his  horse,  in  good  flesh,  and  has  lost  only  one  tooth  !  There 
are  many  such  men  here.  This  is  owing  to  exercise,  and  simple 
habits.  Patrick  Henry  wras  a  fiddle  player,  and  that  by  note, 
and  scientific  too,  for  that  day.  My  grandfather  Waddel  also 
played  fiddle,  as  Mrs.  Hoge  told  me,  who  has  heard  him.  So 
do  John  and  Winston  Henry,  sons  of  Patrick.  Patrick,  late  in 
life,  turned  in  to  enriching  himself,  and  died  immensely  wealthy. 
His  power  over  men  was  his  great  implement.  I  expect'to  visit 
his  grave  at  Mr.  J.  Henry's,  Red  Hill.  All  fruit  trees  are  going 
out  of  blossom  here.  Peas  are  a  foot  high.  This  part  of  Vir- 
ginia produced  capital  light-horse-men  in  the  old  wrar,  and  will 
do  so  again.  The  boys  are  Centaurs,  and  I  wonder  daily  at  the 
coolness  with  which  Mrs.  C,  a  very  cautious  mother,  sees  her 
son,  9  years  old,  galloping  like  the  wrind,  through  wroods  and  over 
fences  and  ditches,  on  a  colt  or  a  mule  or  any  thing  that  has  legs. 
Pray  at  what  epoch  did  you  begin  to  aspirate  the  h  in  humble, 
and  to  write  a  humble  ?  and  when  will  you  begin  to  say  a  honest 

man,  or  as does,  a  herb  ?    I  have  heard  cockneys  say  a  hour. 

Nothing  so  much  engages  my  thoughts  as  the  spiritual  case  of 
the  negroes.  I  seize  every  chance  to  preach  to  them.  Of  no 
people,  I  think,  is  a  larger  portion  regenerate.  They  are  un- 
speakably superior  to  our  Northern  free  blacks,  retaining  a  thou- 
sand African  traits  of  kindliness  and  hilarity,  from  being  to- 
gether in  masses.      I   may  say   with  Abram ,  "  I   love   a 

nigger,  they  are  better  than  we."  So  they  are  :  grateful,  de- 
voted, self-sacrificing  for  their  masters.  I  do  believe  that  there 
are  a  dozen  on  this  estate  who  would  risk  their  lives  in  an  in- 
stant for  my  wife.  They  are,  under  ordinary  masters,  a  happy 
people.  Their  chief  suffering  is  from  cold  wTeather.  In  summer 
they  are  always  well,  plump,  and  joyous.  The  only  thing  I  am  anx- 
ious about  for  them,  is  their  illumination.  Several  wait  on  my 
wife,  who  are  as  well-bred  and  (in  heart)  refined  as  ladies. 

When  you  or  I  depart  this  life,  the  letters  of  the  survivor, 
(free  as  they  have  been  about  persons  who  may  then  be  alive) 


854:  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

might  prove  very  mischievous  to  the  surviving  party.  I  think, 
therefore,  we  both  ought  to  provide  for  the  return  of  the  letters  to 
the  writers  or  the  family  of  the  writers  :  I  beg  you  will  not  fail 
to  append  a  conspicuous  advertisement  in  respect  to  this,  to  any 
parcels  retained  by  you ;  I  will  do  the  like.  I  was  38  on  the 
13th.  The  thought  overwhelmed  me.  It  was  communion  day. 
In  regard  to  new  measures,  I  wish  I  had  always  observed  this 
rule,  viz. :  "  Never  vent  any  general  principle  about  them  ;  speak 
to  the  individual  case ;  nor  then  but  when  forced." 

Mrs.  Le  Grand's,  Charlotte  C.  H.,  March  25,  1842. 
Your  news  of  the  progress  of  religion  is  good.  In  Virginia 
there  are  a  few  revivals.  To-morrow  Plumer  [Richmond]  will 
receive  =F  fifty.  My  mind  has  been,  and  is,  filled  with  the  negroes. 
What  I  say  on  this  point  I  say  with,  I  do  believe,  as  much  love 
for  the  race  as  any  man  feels  ;  and  with  an  extent  of  observation 
perhaps  as  large  as  I  can  pretend  to  on  any  subject,  having  seen 
the  worst  as  well  as  the  best  of  their  condition.  And  the  result 
of  all,  increasingly,  is,  what  you  I  am  sure  would  agree  to  if  you 
were  on  the  spot,  that  the  average  physical  evils  of  their  case  are 
not  greater  than  of  sailors,  soldiers,  shoeblacks,  or  low  opera- 
tives ;  while  their  moral  evils  are  unspeakably  great.  My  point 
is  this,  then  :  The  soul  of  the  negro  is  precious  and  must  bo 
saved.  Aim  at  this,  at  this  first,  at  this  directly,  at  this  inde- 
pendently of  their  bondage,  and  the  other  desirable  ends  will  be 
promoted  even  more  surely  than  if  the  latter  were  made  the 
great  object.  A  gradual  emancipation  is  that  to  which  the  in- 
terior economy  of  the  North-Southern  States  was  tending,  is 
tending,  and  will  reach  ;  it  is  desirable ;  in  my  view  it  is  inevi- 
table ;  it  is  craved  by  thousands  here ;  but  an  emancipation 
even  gradual  may  arrive  in  such  sort  as  to  leave  a  host  of  blacks 
to  be  damned,  who,  by  the  other  means,  may  be  Christianized, 
while  their  eventual  freedom  is  not  less  certain.  It  is  the  salva- 
tion of  the  slave,  which  is  infinitely  the  most  important,  which 
moreover  Southern  Christians  can  be  led  to  seek,  and  of  which 
the  very  seeking  directly  tends  to  emancipation.  I  say  this,  on 
the  obvious  principle,  that  when  the  owner  by  seeking  the  sal- 
vation of  his  slave,  gets  (as  he  must)  to  love  him,  he  will  not 
rest  (I  speak  of  the  mass)  without  trying  to  make  him  a  free- 
man. I  cannot  describe  the  pleasure  I  have  had  in  preaching 
and  talking  to  the  slaves  :  if  I  have  ever  done  any  good,  this  is 
the  way.  I  have  just  been  in  Mrs.  Le  Grand's  garden,  which  is 
a  faery-land.  There  are  blooming  and  perfuming  at  this  moment, 
and  by  wholesale,  yellow-jasmines,  double-peach,  hyacinths,  Si- 
berian-crab, tulip,  violets,  pansies,  jonquils,  &c.      The   forests 


1833—1844.  355 

are  very  imperfectly  leafing.  After  several  freshes,  the  plows 
are  going  for  corn,  oats  having  been  sown.  N.  B. — As  to  the 
anomaly  of  the  plural  nominative  with  singular  verb,  in  our  ver- 
sion, it  is  as  certain  a  usage  in  old  English,  as  in  Greek,  though 
I  confess  not  so  common.  I  have  had  my  attention  drawn  to  it, 
some  years  ago,  and  in  other  English  books.  Pres.  Maxwell 
[of  Hampden  Sidney]  and  Mr.  [Rev.  Patrick  J.]  Sparrow  were 
here  yesterday,  on  the  way  to  Presbytery,  in  Halifax  Co.  They 
are  expected  to  stop  as  they  return.  Maxwell  has  good  spirits, 
on  such  small  provocation.  Lexington  has  become  a  flourishing 
literary  place  for  Virginia.  The  military  school  has  rather  helped 
the  college ;  for,  as  Gen.  Carrington  said  to  me,  "  Among  soldiers 
the  point  dlionneur  is  obedience."  They  are  meaning  to  have  a 
monthly  magazine  at  Union  Seminary,  which  is  as  flourishing  as  it 
has  ever  been.  Since  I  came  to  Virginia  I  have  preached  nineteen 
sermons.  Since  I  came  to  Ingleside,  there  has  been  one  house- 
burning  and  one  death.  A  little  [negro]  girl  ast.  12,  daughter 
of  Mr.  C.'s  miller  "  Henry ;  "  peripneumony  ;  just  before  dying 
said,  "  I  see  a  beautiful  dress."  Bystanders  said,  "  She  is  out 
of  her  head."  Child  answered,  "  No,  I  a'nt  out  o'  my  head,  I  am 
dyin'  " — and  caused  "  Christian  Moses  "  (Mr.  C.'s  head-man,  so 
called  to  distinguish  him  from  "  Long  Moses  ")  to  be  sent  for, 
to  sing  for  her  a  certain  hymn.  Poor  souls,  their  hearts  go 
forth  almost  always  in  hymns.  The  other  night,  after  preaching 
to  an  unmixed  negro  flock,  we  sang  "  When  I  can  read  my  title 
clear,"  &c,  and  the  feeling  I  caught  was  almost  that  of  enthusi- 
asm. Every  voice  joining,  all  loud,  and  all  true  enough  in  tone 
to  have  satisfied  Haydn.  Abram  Venable  is  licensed  by  Pres- 
bytery to  preach  to  them.  I  lately  counted  up  the  living  de- 
scendants of  Col.  Sam.  Venable  (my  father's  Mentor)  and  his 
wife  (half-sister  of  Henry  Carrington)  =  140  odd.  Of  the 
original  Woodsons,  (i.  e.  the  first  English  emigrants,)  the  de- 
scendants, by  a  rough  calculation,  are  20,000.  The  contiguous 
settlement  of  many  among  these,  and  their  unmixed  English- 
hood  conditions  very  much  the  state  of  o^-Virginia  society. 


Charlotte  C.  H.,  April  26,  1842. 
Your  acceptable  favour,  18th  inst.  is  accepted.  We  have 
resolved  on  realizing  what  has  all  along  been  our  plan,  viz.,  to 
seize  the  first  possibility  of  setting  off.  This  we  propose  to  at- 
tempt on  the  2d  of  May  ;  meaning  to  go  via  P.  Edward,  Car- 
ters vi  lie,  Canal,  Richmond,  Norfolk,  &c. ;  in  every  step  con- 
sulting ease  of  motion.  Our  good  friends  here  have  prevented 
us  in  one  important  item — the  getting  to  the  canal,  60  or  70 


356  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

miles  from  here.  I  was  in  expectation  of  hackney-travel  from 
Prince  Edward,  and  had  written  to  engage  the  same,  as  Mr.  C.'s 
carriage-pair  have  become  disabled ;  and  though  he  has  about  a 
dozen  horses,  none  of  them  would  be  both  safe  and  able.  But 
Mrs.  Le  Grand  has  come  in  to  relieve  us  in  this  strait.  The 
plan  is  this  :  to  take  her  carriage  and  horses  and  coachman 
Billy,  (who  was  at  my  grandfather's  as  a  lad  when  my  father 
was  a  boy  ;)  to  have  a  light  wagon  with  a  horse  of  Mr.  Carring- 
ton's,  and  his  man  Fontaine,  for  change,  and  for  the  trunks  ;  with 
our  affectionate  nurse  Nanette  in  the  carriage,  and  a  saddle- 
horse,  (Margery  Daw,  so  called  from  her  easy  amble  ;  the  nag  I 
have  uniformly  bestridden  in  my  last  two  visits.)  When  1  re- 
monstrated against  so  overwhelming  a  favour,  Mr.  C.  (whom 
may  God  ever  bless  !)  said  :  "  Say  no  more,  sir,  it  costs  me 
nothing.  I  have  no  money  to  give  you,  but  I  can  give  you  ser- 
vice :  and  remember  what  Jack  Randolph  used  to  say  was  a  Vir- 
ginian estate,  '  plenty  of  serfs,  plenty  of  horses,  but  not  a  shil- 
ling.' "  We  may  be  a  fortnight  and  more  in  getting  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  I  hope  to  stay  a  day  or  two.  If  there  is  any 
thing  which  could  make  it,  in  the  least,  burdensome  to  your 
mother,  for  us  to  pass  these  days  under  her  long-tried  roof,  do 
be  frank  enough  to  say  so  in  a  line  to  Richmond.  She  gave  me 
the  kindest  invitation,  but  I  am  ignorant  of  their  family-move- 
ments just  now.  It  is  summer  here  ;  83°  at  5  p.  m.  yesterday 
in  shade.  Henry  picked  ripe  strawberries  in  the  field.  Your 
Trenton  and  church  news  is  just  the  thing  ;  I  prize  your  particu- 
larity ;  and  joy  in  your  success,  almost  with  a  personal  gratifica- 
tion. You  have  bragged  twice  in  a  heathenish  or  lenten  manner 
of  your  shad ;  know  ye,  that  the  Roanoke  shad  has  been  in  sea- 
son for  weeks  past,  and  was  on  the  table  the  day  your  letter 
came ;  though  I  seldom  eat  the  animal.  Cherries  are  red.  In 
Mecklenburg  I  picked  ripe  strawberries  nearly  two  weeks  ago. 
I  there  saw  eglantine  and  coral-honeysuckles,  wild,  and  as 
"  plenty  as  blackberries."  The  calycanthus  scents  whole  swamps 
oppressively.  In  Abram  Venable's  garden  of  three  acres,  I 
counted  66  beds  of  tulips  in  bloom,  and  in  an  average  bed 
I  counted  144  tulips ;  =  9,504  actually  blooming  ;  every  shade 
and  contour.  He  is  equally  curious  in  roses.  His  house  is  in 
full  view  of  Prestwould,  seat  of  the  late  Sir  Peyton  Skipwith, 
now  occupied  by  Humberstone  Skipwith,  the  2d  son.  Sir  Grey 
lives  abroad.  There  is  nothing  on  Virginia  tables  which  I  should 
care  to  transport,  but  cornbread  (plain)  and  bacon  ;  and  I  have 
no  hope  of  ever  seeing  either  elsewhere.  Peas  are  ripe.  My 
Henry,  in  chasing  a  hare  with  a  dog,  came  across  a  venomous 
moccasin-snake ;    the  dog  killed  both  hare   and   snake.      Two 


1S33— 1844.  357 

other  children  were  in  company,  not  a  hundred  yards  from  the 
house. 

Princeton,  June  3,  1842. 
I  expected  to  find  you  in  the  city,  when  I  heard  that  you  had 
gone  thither;  but  you  passed  us  on  the  river,  and  not  being  civil 
enough  to  salute  us,  left  me  under  the  impression  that  you  were 
not  in  the  Flamingo,  or  whatsoever  name  you  may  have  given 
your  craft.  My  children,  though  perfect  rustics,  are  well ;  an 
unspeakable  blessing  just  now,  [their  mother  an  invalid  in  Phil- 
adelphia.]    Say  what  is  necessary  to  the  Rices  and  other  Tri- 

dentine  friends.     Give  my  love   to   them,  and    to   Mrs.  , 

and  all  and  sundry  misses  and  masters.  I  heard  Krebs  [in 
General  Assembly]  open  the  defence  of  the  [wife's  sister  mar- 
riage.] He  spoke  all  Wednesday  afternoon,  and  much  of  yester- 
day morning.  Then  arose  Colin  Mclvor  and  declared  that  he 
could  say  his  say  in  four  hours.  I  fled.  It  "is  now  several  years 
since  I  was,  even  as  a  hearer,  in  the  Assembly  :  I  have  no  lust 
for  going  again. 

Princeton,  June  30,  1842. 
Yesterday  was  exactly  eight  months  since  I  took  my  wife 
away.  That  she  should,  at  last,  have  got  home,  even  as  well  as 
she  is,  should  mark  the  day  albo  lapillo  of  thankfulness.  The 
events  and  anxieties  of  the  last  twelvemonth  have  given  me  deep 
thoughts  about  myself,  and  about  life.     I  rejoice  that  as  I  grow 

grayer,  I  do  not  feel,  as lately  told  me  he  felt,  a  growing 

distrust  in  my  kind.  On  the  contrary,  I  have  so  lived  upon 
kindnesses,  in  time  of  need,  and  often  from  strangers,  that  I  can 
only  attribute  the  whole  to  that  system  of  inexplicable  divine 
favour,  which  follows  and  overwhelms  us,  despite  our  manifold 
sins  and  provocations.  And  feeling,  I  do  think,  a  firmer  purpose 
to  spend  my  remnant  of  life  in  service,  and  a  stronger  hatred 
to  the  unslain  body  of  death  within  me,  I  cling  more  to  the  freest 
views  of  the  Divine  salvation ;  and  more  and  more  seek  to  be- 
hold the  gift  of  Christ  as  the  gift  of  every  thing :  1  Cor  iii.  22, 
23.  Surely  there  must  have  been  somewhere,  in  the  teaching 
of  the  Reformers,  a  wonderful  spring,  to  act  so  powerfully  and 
rapidly  and  widely.  I  think  I  find  this,  when  I  read  in  their 
works,  especially  those  of  Luther,  certain  declarations  which 
are  less  frequent,  earnest,  and  prominent,  in  later  reformed 
writers,  even  those  who  adhered  to  the  same  confession  ;  espe- 
cially free  justification  ;  change  of  state,  as  distinct  from  change 
of  moral  character ;  which  latter  was  as  much  insisted  on  by 
good  Romanists.  It  was  the  same  thing  when  Whitefield  and 
Wesley  preached ;  and  in  this  they  agreed ;  and  there  was  the 


358  WHILE   PEOFESSOE   IN   PELNCETON   COLLEGE. 

same  effect.  And  I  am  convinced,  that  just  so  far  as  we  seek  to 
save  God's  free  grace  in  justifying  from  abuse,  by  any  condition 
in  the  sinner,  except  simple  reception  of  Christ,  which  is  only  a 
condition-sine-qua-non,  the  more  we  produce  practical  Anti- 
nomianism.  No  communities  have  ever  been  so  thoroughly 
moral  as  those  who  were  most  evangelical — I  mean  the  least 
legal :  e.  g.  the  Scotch,  in  their  best  days ;  when  everybody  was 
externally  Christian.  The  universal  offer  of  a  present,  free  sal- 
vation, to  every  son  and  daughter  of  Adam,  for  Christ's  sake,  is 
what  I  hold  for  Gospel ;  it  is  the  good  news  which  made  the 
Reformation,  which  makes  every  true  revival,  and  which  makes 
us  work,  if  we  ever  work  what  is  right.  It  is  the  favourite  topic 
of  the  old  Calvinistic  preachers  of  the  17th  century  ;  and  of  Bos- 
ton, &c.  Some  of  these  thoughts  have  been  suggested  to  me, 
by  reading  McCrie's  life  by  his  son. 

Princeton,  July  13,  1842. 
I  exclaimed  at  the  improvement  of  your  hand,  before  I  per- 
ceived that  it  was  all  along  of  the  ruled  paper.  Dr.  A.  goes  to- 
ward Niagara,  on  Friday,  to  be  away  for  two  Sundays  at  least. 
J.  W.  A.  cannot  leave  home  by  reason  of  college  engagements, 
especially  one  on  Monday  morning.  J.  A.  A.  has  a  very  severe 
and  disabling  catarrh,  and  an  engagement  elsewhere,  to  boot. 
Dr.  R.  consents  to  be  with  you — I  taking  his  two  services. 
Lord  Congleton,  who  slew  himself  last  month,  is  succeeded  by 
his  son  John  Parnell,  an  intimate  friend,  abroad,  of  Dr.  Hodge, 
[see  page  156 ;]  he  went  out,  as  missionary,  on  his  own  hook,  with 
Mr.  Groves,  to  Bagdad,  India,  &c.  In  three  years,  the  number 
of  camels  destroyed  in  the  Affghanistaun  war  =  50.000.  I  be- 
lieve the  domestic  use  of  mercury  worse  than  ditto  of  alcohol. 
I  am  no  longer  a  member  of  any  Temperance  Society  of  any 
sort,  except  that  which  is  1,800  years  old.  I  look  on  the  present 
seat  of  war  in  the  Affehaun  region  as  one  of  the  most  interestincf 
spots  on  earth,  physically,  historically,  prospectively,  Christianly. 
Think  of  Cabul  being  6,000  feet  above  the  sea.  Think  of  the 
Indus,  no  river  such  a  barrier ;  of  the  Khyber-pass,  impassable 
in  general,  but  just  passed  by  Pollock ;  it  is  the  gut  of  the  river 
which  runs  by  Cabul  to  the  Indus.  Think  of  the  edging  of 
English  toward  Russian  power.  I  hope  we  shall  live  to  see  a 
Presbyterian  mission  on  that  sublime  plateau.  All  I  hear  of  the 
Congregational  missions  makes  me  more  in  favour  of  our  own. 
You  see  they  had  to  make  two  presbyteries,  even  in  Sandwich 
aiai.  Independency  can't  begin,  of  itself,  as  somebody  said  some- 
where. Try  to  imagine  it  beginning  among  heathen.  A  paro- 
chial episcopacy  and  then  a  bench  of  presbyters  is  the  only  thing 


1833—1844.  359 

conceivable  ;  and  this  is  presbytery.  The  Churchman  may  well 
sneer  at  Goode's  book,  ["  Divine  Rule  of  Faith  and  Practice :  "]  it 
is  a  demolishing  book  to  them.  My  garden  is  in  a  poor  state, 
in  consequence  of  my  absence  at  seed-time.  I  have  neither  peas 
nor  early  beans,  but  abundance  of  the  "  wind-compelling  "  roots, 
called  radishes.     Girls'  schools  are  humbugs ;    i.  e.  in  the  long 

run.     Yet  Prof.  has  just  got  back  from  an  examination 

of  Rutgers  Institute,  New  York  city  :  400  pupils.  He  says  the 
attainments  in  mathematics  surpass  any  thing  he  has  ever  seen 
among  lads ;  and  I  know  no  better  judge.  And  therefore,  I 
am,  with  every  complimental  respect  and  regard,  &c. 

Princeton,  Septe?nber  2,  1842. 
Yours  of  yesterday  informed  me,  to  my  sincere  satisfaction, 
that  you  were  home  and  well  again.  I  hope  you  may  always 
get  along  with  the  same  punctuality  of  pastoral  presence :  but 
do  not  fail,  while  strong,  to  bear  the  infirmities  of  the  weak.  I 
am  delivered  from  my  cough,  but  much  feebler  than  while  I  had 
it ;  having  been  so  tied  at  home  as  to  be  unable  to  fly  even  for  a 
week  from  my  sources  of  care.  Do  you  see  that,  at  the  Dart- 
mouth   Commencement,    Dr.  has   been   disparaging    the 

reformation,  and  glorifying  the  Dark  Ages  %  At  the  same  place, 
President  Lord  preached  a  most  eloquent  sermon  against  all  the 
boastful  Philosophies ;  maintaining  Scripture  to  be  the  only  safe, 
and  the  sufficient  guide,  and  snubbing  the  metaphysicians  in  the 
very  style  of  superiority  which  they  assume.  The  whole  argu- 
ment that  there  is  more  nearness  of  kin  between  a  woman  and 
her  husband's  brother,  than  between  a  woman  and  her  sister's 
husband,  may  be  thus  conveniently  expressed  in  symbols :  "  A 
—  a,  but  a  is  not  equal  to  A."  Capt.  Stockton  has  been  trying 
his  big  gun  ;  it  tears  every  thing  to  flinders.  Dallas  Bache  was 
here  last  week.  He  is  elected  vice  Emmett,  of  the  University 
of  Virginia. 

Philadelphia,  October  12,  1842. 
It  is  reversing  matters,  with  a  witness,  for  me  to  write  from 
Philadelphia  to  you  in  Trenton.  We  came  here  on  the  1st,  by 
the  Doctor's  prescription,  and  my  wife  has  amended  very  much, 
so  that  she  walked  a  mile  with  me  this  morning.  We  have  a 
room  at  No.  163  South  9th,  Mrs.  Bowers's.  We  see  some  of 
your  mother's  family  every  day.  Harlan  is  lionizing  in  New 
York.  Humphrey  of  London,  James's  quondam  fellow-prentice, 
is  here ;  they  say  he  is  one  of  the  first  artists  in  his  line,  [en- 
graving.] Mr.  J.  L.  Wilson  is  here  ;  arrived  from  Guinea  on 
the  9th.     Surely  you  ought  to  be  here.     I  miss  you  very  much, 


360  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

especially  as has  been  manoeuvring  in  Massachusetts  ever 

since  I  came,  and  ,  who  is  rather  an  unexhilarating  com- 
panion, at  best,  foams  away  most  of  every  day  in  the  Burlington 
steamboat.  The  Board  of  Publication  bestowed  on  me  an  elee- 
mosynary ten  dollars'  worth  of  books  this  morning.  Very 
smiling  likeness  of  Dr.  Parker  in  the  shops.  I  have  to  preach 
for  [J.  H.]  Jones,  on  "  Sabbath  first."  The  Presbytery  is  now 
largely  British-Irish,  e.  g.  Tudehope,  Macklin,  Hoge,  Loughridge, 
and  Stuart.  I  heard  McCalla  make  a  speech,  of  which  part  fol- 
lows :  "  I  beg  leave  to  state,  that  my  connexion  with  this  body 
is  precisely  that  which  the  apostle  Paul  had  with  the  soldier  to 
whom  he  was  attached  in  prison  ;  namely  a  chain" — "  I  have 
been  for  twenty  years  a  sufferer  for  conscience'  sake;  the  hostility 
between  me  and  you,  has  been  altogether  towards  myself." 
His  speech,  though  ,  was  first-rate,  for  diction  and  de- 
livery. I  have  preached  as  often  as  I  was  able  ;  perhaps  more. 
Anna  and  I  went  on  Sunday  evening  to  the  "  Mariners'  Church," 
where  was  an  immense  throng.  The  mariners  discoursed  ;  each 
had  his  psalm,  his  doctrine,  his  tongue,  (for  one  was  a  Seminole, 
whose  conversion  was  miraculous,)  his  revelation.  The  singing 
was  grandly  methodistic.  The  handsome  Indian  boy  I  men- 
tioned, has  really  a  powerful  natural  eloquence,  notwithstanding 
a  stutter  and  broken  English.  I  was  convinced  that  good  is  do- 
ing at  that  church,  though  by  means  as  Finneyitish  as  could  well 
be.  A  semi-genteel  seaman,  with  forehead  as  per  margin,  [there 
was  a  profile  here,]  acted  as  a  sort  of  Valentine  to  the  "  Orson," 
[the  Mariners'  Chaplain  was  the  late  Rev.  Orson  Douglas,]  and 
descanted  on  the  following  text,  which  he  stated  to  be  in  the 
Bible,  "  There  is  no  repentance  in  the  grave,  whither  thou  goest." 
Election  is  over  :  you  know  the  result.  I  saw  a  furniture  cart, 
full  of  placards  and  a  band  of  music,  on  which  the  painted  letters 
made  with  a  placard  the  following  cross-reading  "  To  hire — 
Whigs  of  Middle  Ward  ;  "  solemn  fact.  Mention  it  over  the 
way.  There  was  no  fighting  and  less  drunkenness  than  common. 
sits  next  to  me  at  table,  and  is  an  ultra  Philadelphia  pun- 
ster already.  He  is  as  mercurial  and  jovial  as  is  satur- 
nine, or  his  father  martial  or  (at  present  furloughed)  ter- 
restrial ;  I  don't  like  the  other  adjective,  or  I  should  get  all  the 
old  planets  into  my  period. 

I  hope  to  spend  part  of  Monday  and  Tuesday  in  Trenton. 
Till  then  account  of  me  as  truly  yours. 

Princeton,  December  19,  1842. 
Do  not  omit  to  read  the  ancient  Call,  in  last  Presbyterian. 
Half  the  names  to  it  are  my  kindred.     The  pastor,  Brown,  was 


1833—1844.  361 

father  of  [James]  Brown,  formerly  American  Minister  to  France. 
The  Archibald  Alexander  in  the  list,  is  my  great-grandfather, 
an  eminent  saint.  I  trust  the  prayers  of  that  day  are  now  in 
remembrance.  A  great  awakening  is  now  in  progress  in  Mr. 
Skinner's  church  in  Lexington;  105  have  been  admitted.  The 
McDowell  on  the  same  list  is  forefather  of  James  McDowell,  at 
present  Governor  of  Virginia.  Our  college  meetings  are  well 
attended  ;  two  on  Sunday,  and  one  of  half  an  hour  every  evening 
at  6*.  I  never  knew  a  more  assiduous  pastor  than  Professor 
Maclean  :  he  daily  talks  with  some  of  the  youth ;  and  is  doing 
more  good  than  any  of  us. 

My  old  cook,  Judy,  came  in  just  now  to  tell  me  of  some  in- 
quirers in  my  black  church ;  and,  speaking  of  plain  preaching, 
said,  "  There  was  Jemmy  Armstrong  that  used  to  preach  at  Lar- 
rence,  he  didn't  preach  in  the  fear  of  man."  She  meant  your  and 
my  predecessor,  the  Rev.  J.  F.  A.  The  black  Methodists  here 
practise  orgies.  The  other  day  or  night  a  wench  was  brought 
into  their  church,  on  a  bier,  laid  out,  and  in  a  trance.  During 
the  exorcism  she  sat  up  and  spake.  My  mother's  black  maid 
speaks  of  it  exactly  as  if  it  were  a  miracle.  They  have  carried 
off  a  large  portion  of  my  congregation.  I  have,  God  willing,  to 
preach  on  New  Year's  day  P.  M.  in  Lord's  new  church,  [Seventh 
Church,  Philadelphia,]  then  to  be  opened.  The  deficit  of  the  A. 
B.  C.  F.  M.  since  their  extra  effort  is  amazing :  viz.,  $18,000 
less  for  this,  than  for  same  quarter  1841  !  $5,000  less  than  aver- 
age for  five  years  !  And  this,  when  the  complaint  has  just  been 
that  the  American  Board  swallowed  up  all  from  the  other  so- 
cieties. 1  am  for  using  our  existing  machinery,  while  approved, 
to  its  utmost,  for  evangelical  ends :  yet  Quere  1.  Whether  we 
do  not  sometimes  account  of  the  engine,  (board  or  scheme,)  as 
almost  apostolic,  and  essential  to  church-progress  ?  2.  Whether 
it  is  not  probable  that  God  will  allow  all  our  present  enginery 
to  decay,  with  the  circumstances  which  reared  it  I  3.  Whether 
the  conversion  of  the  world  will  not  result,  under  God,  from  an 
action  more  individual,  more  cheap,  and  more  flowing  from  great 
affections  in  every  church  and  every  member  of  it  ?  4.  Whether 
such  is  not  the  New  Testament  missionary  work,  as  we  read  it 
in  Scripture  ]  These  views  have  always  struck  me  ;  even  while 
I  abhor  the  malignant  opposition  to  our  Boards,  which  seem  to 
me  innocent,  indispensable,  and  infinitely  the  best  existing  mode 
of  doing  the  work  thus  collectively.  But  will  the  church  keep 
up  its  zeal  in  the  present  mode  1  I  own  I  never  thought  Irving's 
book  on  "  Apostolical  Missions  "  so  foolish  as  it  seemed  to  every- 
body. As  I  always  welcome  any  hints  about  preaching,  let  me 
give  you  one.     A   good  plan  is  invaluable,  and  may  be  turned 

VOL.  I.— 16 


362  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

to  better  account  ten  years  after  date,  than  when  first  used.  1 
learned  of  Summerfield  to  preach  extempore,  and  then  to  write 
out  the  skeleton,  after  trial.  Now  this  is  to  introduce  my  hint, 
which  is,  that  a  good  plan  for  a  ten-minutes'-session-room-ha- 
rangue,  is  an  equally  good  plan  for  a  sermon.  Therefore,  when- 
ever a  text  or  passage  has  opened  well  before  the  mind,  in  an 
exhortation,  write  down  the  skeleton  on  going  home :  it  will 
some  day  hatch  a  discourse. 

Princeton,  January  6,  1S43. 
Dr.  Baird  is  at  this  moment,  I  guess,  discoursing  to  the 
seminarists  on  the  things  of  Europe.  Last  evening  I  heard  him 
for  about  an  hour  and  a  half.  Dod,  at  this  same  hour,  is  holding 
forth,  for  a  second  time,  at  the  Musical  Fund,  [Philadelphia.]  I 
have  read  a  letter  from  Paris,  by  the  Rev.  Otto  von  Gerlach, 
of  Berlin,  on  his  way  home  from  England,  whither  he  went  in  the 
cortege  of  the  king  of  Prussia,  and  where  he  staid  five  months. 
I  mention  it  because  of  the  interest  felt  about  the  proposed  re- 
organization of  the  "  Evangelical  Church,"  and  because,  since  the 
consecration  of  my  namesake  Alexander  to  the  see  of  Jerusalem, 
the  Oxonians  have  alleged  that  their  system  was  to  be  set  agoing 
in  Prussia.  Von  Gerlach  is  an  intimate  of  the  king,  and  brother 
of  one  of  his  first  privy-councillors.  He  says  there  is  no  truth 
in  the  report ;  that  Frederick  William  admires  the  regularity 
of  the  Anglicans,  but  is  not  for  their  hierarchy  ;  that  he  is  for  a 
more  synodal  polity.  He  spent  five  days  with  Pusey  at  Oxford, 
and  talks  of  him  exactly  as  we  do.  The  Sunday  School  Journal 
is  quite  an  anti-popery  paper.  There  are  four  Romish  priests  in 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  Geneva.  Burtt  and  [E.  S.]  Ely 
have  both  come  back  from  the  West.  Ely's  whiskers  are  as 
white  as  his  shirt.  Walsh  writes  with  as  much  vigour  and  pith 
as  ever  for  the  National  Intelligencer.  He  gave  Baird  a  grand 
feu-de-joie  in  his  last.  His  health  is  quite  good.  While  there 
is  not  a  grain  of  snow  in  Philadelphia  or  at  Cranbury,  it  is  a 
foot  deep  north  of  us,  and  in  some  parts  of  Orange  Co.,  where 
Sam  is,  three  feet  deep,  Delavan's  *'  colossal  stomachs"  [illus- 
trating effects  of  alcohol]  are  displayed  in  the  Seminary.  Quere : 
whether  a  good  Madonna  is  not  as  fine  an  altar-piece  as  any 
entrails  whatsoever  ?  Maclean's  house  providentially  saved 
from  fire,  on  the  4th  ;  attic  caught  from  an  ill-jointed  stove-pipe 
of  coal-stove  below.  Baird  thinks  that  Providence  has  given 
to  French  Protestants  the  ablest  defender  of  their  liberties  that 
they  have  had  for  a  century,  in  young  Count  Gasparin,  master 
of  requests  to  the  king,  and  member  of  the  chamber  of  Deputies, 
There  are  about  sixteen  of  my  little  African  flock  who  seem  to 


1833 — 1844.  363 

be  seeking  conversion.  I  perceive  an  increasing  number  in  our 
ambitious  students  every  year  who  babble  the  nonsensical  dialect 
of  transcendentalism.  The  chief  lecturers  on  the  Newark  pro- 
gramme this  winter  are  Bancroft,  Brownson,  Emerson,  John 
Neale,  Burritt,  Bellows,  Furness,  and  Emerson :  I  name  the 
majority.  Yankee  Hill  had  the  Dutch  church  (on  dit)  at 
Newark.  You  perceive  a  strong  tendency  towards  catholic 
union,  on  the  part  of  the  suffering  Scotch  Presbyterians.  God 
grant  that  we  may  see  the  same  at  home,  to  counteract  the 
divisive  fanaticism  of  the  ultras  !  The  strength  of  Presbyterian- 
ism,  its  tendency  to  increase,  has,  I  think,  always  been  in  proportion 
to  its  keeping  clear  of  polemic  preaching,  sectarian  propagandism, 
and  supplanting  and  proselyting  ways ;  and  in  times  when  its 
direct  aim  was  at  converting  souls.  After  oscillations  to  one 
side  and  the  other,  this  is  the  resting-point  of  my  opinion.  If  I 
have  not  wished  you  a  happy-new-year,  I  do  so  now ;  and  if  I 
have,  I  doubly  wish  it,  for  you  and  yours.  May  our  nouses  be 
Christian  houses,  and  their  inmates  objects  of  special  grace  and 
mercy.  If  you  have  any  coughing  propensities,  pray  do  as 
you  would  advise  another,  and  subtract  from  your  meetings ; 
for  you  know  well  enough  that  the  real  good  done  is  not  always 
in  the  ratio  of  the  number  of  preachings.  I  am  in  sorry  con- 
dition as  to  strength. 

Princeton,  January  23,  1843. 
Your  Indians  are  here.  If  you  have  not  Merle's  History  of 
the  Reformation,  mention  to  me  your  deficit.  By  all  means  cir- 
culate it,  and  by  all  means  Carter's  edition.  I  heard  my  good 
old  father  say  yesterday  that  no  book  in  our  day  he  thought 
was  doing  more  good.  He  puts  the  Reformation  on  its  true 
ground,  i.  e.  Luther  made  his  great  business  the  declaring  of 
saving  doctrines,  (we  lack  a  phrase  here ;  I  mean  the  truths 
which  the  soul  converses  with  in  the  article  of  conversion,)  and 
these  went  on  triumphant,  destroying  popery,  till  ( — when  1  for 
this  is  the  great  point)  in  every  country  the  Reformers  took  an- 
other way,  either  controversy  about  minors,  or  political  agita- 
tion. The  difficulty  you  mention,  of  reaching  certain  people 
out  of  our  congregations,  tois  €^co,  often  occurs  to  me.  It  is  the 
greatest  argument  I  know  of  for  new  measures  :  an  excitement 
brings  them  within  the  orbit  of  attraction.  Hence  I  have  known 
revivals  in  which  Papists,  Quakers,  and  infidels,  who  had  not 
heard  the  gospel  for  years,  have  been  awakened.  Qu.  Could 
not  lay -people  be  the  means  of  saving  multitudes,  if  each  would 
fix  on  an  individual  "§ho  never  goes  to  church,  and  never  cease 
till  he  brought  him  1  if  only  once  1     Preach  on  John  i.  46,  and 


364:  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

context.  I  would  put  such  a  book  as  the  "  Saints'  Rest "  into 
the  hands  of  a  Quaker;   the  affections  must  be  gained  over. 

Somebody,  the  other  day,  in  's  study,  saw  a  MS.  sermon 

on  his  table,  marked  "  No.  2500."  There  is  some  excellent 
writing  in  the  close  of  the  Annual  Report  of  the  American 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 

,  in  a  letter  to  me,  some  time  ago,  says,  that  the  only 

preaching  which  will  meet  the  demands  of  the  awakened  public 
mind,  is  the  metaphysical.  You  and  I  may  as  well  shut  up 
shop.  He  argues  the  point,  but  I  am  less  than  ever  convinced. 
I  did  not  consider  his  preaching  metaphysical,  but  I  deny  his 
proposition.  In  every  age,  the  interest  has  attached  to  just  that 
preaching  which  most  directly  reached  the  affections  and  passions 
of  souls  inquiring  what  must  we  do  to  be  saved.  This  I  think 
historically  incontestable.  A  mix  of  Baxter  and  Flavel  would 
be  my  highest  wish  as  a  preacher.  I  took  my  children  to 
a  private  audience  with  the  Indians  ;  they  were  bivouacking  and 
in  dishabille.  Secretary  Ross  did  the  honours.  I  am  to  lose 
the  Hares  from  next  door,  but  to  be  indemnified  by  the  Crabbes, 
on  t'other  :  Capt.  Crabbe,  U.  S.  N.  What  a  beautiful  euphem- 
ism is  the  following,  in  Rep.  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  page  44,  (speaking 
of  80  returned  missionaries  :)  "  Fifty  were  males,  and  thirty  of 
these  came  home  bereaved,  or  else  in  consequence  of  the  sickness 
of  their  wives.  About  one-half  of  the  bereaved  missionaries 
have  returned  to  their  work  with  new  partners."  The  Psalmo- 
dists,  whom  the  Assembly  "  set  over  the  service  of  song," 
[a  committee  for  new  hymn-book,]  have  resolved  to  go  on  and 
print.     Some  fine  stanzas  of  Watts  will  soon  be  obsolete,  e.  g. : 

"  Till  God  in  human  flesh  I  see, 
My  thoughts  no  comfort  find,"  etc. 

I  do  not  know  a  book  of  Scripture  so  consolatory  as  2  Cor. 
Lately  I  culled  the  passages  in  it  describing  the  writer's  troubles, 
and  was  amazed ;  but  the  consolation  is  like  sunshine  over  all, 
and  everywhere  the  same — Christ.  Cheerful  religion  is  most 
like  Scripture,  and,  as  Dr.  Hodge  says,  joy  is  an  oil  to  every 
wheel  of  the  machine.  Hence  I  look  with  all  but  envy  on  such 
writers  as  Flavel,  Bates,  Philip  and  Matthew  Henry,  Romaine, 
and  John  Newton  ;  they  put  me  into  working  gear  sooner  than 
Brainerd,  Payson,  and  the  American  school.  The  enclosed 
hymns  by  a  valued  friend  of  mine  are  better  than  sundry  by 
Mrs.  A.,  and  Mrs.  B.,  and  Mrs.  G.,  and  Professor  H.,  &c.  Keep 
them  for  me.  The  author  was  a  recluse  "  stickit  minister,"  but 
a  true  scholar.  He  wrote  a  12mo  histogy  of  Virginia,  which  is 
the  best  I  know,  and  of  which  Bancroft  speaks  highly ;    and  a 


1833—1844.  365 

school  reader  the  "  Columbian  Reader,"  better  than  any  I  know 
except  Pierpoint's. 

When  are  you  going  to  set  up  the  "  New  Jersey  Magazine," 
with  Dr.  Ewing  for  Editor  1  If  you  do  not  hurry,  you  will  be 
anticipated,  and  surely  the  capital  is  the  place.  You  might 
make  it  a  religious  and  moral  as  well  as  a  literary  organ.  I  will 
contribute  my  quota;  so  will  you.  Dr.  Beasley  would  send 
pieces  abundantly.  Trenton  gentry  would  be  glad  of  such  an 
organ.  I  know  your  editorial  fingers  itch  to  paragraph  a  little. 
The  records  will  furnish  material  for  history.     Music  will  find 

its  place.     Dr.  will  embellish  your  pages.     Poetesses 

will  spring  up,  bland  and  numerous  as  poppies.  The  "  children's 
department"  will  be  attended  to.  The  temperance-reform  will 
have  due  notice. 

The  last  Biblical  Repository  has  an  article  on  the  Wife's 
Sister.  He  is  driven  to  take  the  ground,  that  no  church-court 
can  declare  evil  that  which  the  law  of  the  land  approves.  "  It 
is  not  decent,"  says  he,  "to  suppose  the  law  of  the  land  against 
the  law  of  God."  Under  Tiberius  and  Nero,  Christ  made  no 
such  supposition.  Forsooth,  the  poor  martyrs  under  Nero,  who 
disobeyed  his  laws  against  Christianity,  might  have  escaped  mar- 
tyrdom, if  this  second  Daniel  had  come  to  judgment  a  few  cen- 
turies earlier.  Such  is  innovation  in  morals.  What  a  pity 
2  Cor.  vii.  1  is  torn  away  from  the  foregoing  context !  There 
is  wonderful  force  lost  in  our  version  of  2  Cor.  ix.  8  ;  and  observe 
it  is  about  giving  :  Awaros  8e  6  ®eos  Trucrav  ^aptv  tt  epta-creva-ai 
ciS  v/xas,  tVa  ev  ttclvtX  tt  a  v  t  o  t  €  7racrav  avrapKCiav,  &c. 
Symmes  Henry  told  a  good  thing  about  his  ways  of  managing 
the  Methodists  when  they  made  inroads.  There  were  two  or 
three  Methodist  families,  in  whose  houses  the  preachers  held 
meetings.  "  This  will  never  do,"  said  Henry,  "  you  shall  have 
my  session-house,"  so  the  bell  was  rung,  and  he  sat  in  the  pulpit. 
Of  course,  the  "  rider  "  could  not  say  any  thing  uncivil.  After 
a  few  trials  they  dropped  it. 

Princeton,  February  7,  1843. 
[Rev.  C.  P.]  Worrell  was  received  [by  Presbytery]  and 
called  to  2d  Upper  Freehold,  (what  confusion  worse  confounded 
among  the  Freeholds !  we  have  a  2d  Upper  Freehold  and  no 
1st  do.— "  Freehold,"  and  "Freehold  village.")1  So  the  "first 
church  Trenton  "  is  in  Ewing,  [since  called  Ewing.]  There  is  a 
revival  at  Nottingham  Square,  [now  Hamilton  Square.]     I  came 

1  Mr.  Worrell's  is  now  called  "  Millstone  ;  "  and  "Freehold"  is  called 
"  the  Tennent  Church ;  "  leaving  the  village  church  the  only  "  Freehold." 


366  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

from  Cranbury  yesterday  in  a  sleigh,  in  the  teeth  of  the  worst 
N.  W.  drift  I  ever  laced.  Symmes  Henry  has  a  delightful  manse> 
the  best  I  know.  He  is  a  truly  hospitable,  friendly  man  in  his 
house.  There  are  great  revivals  reported  in  Middle  Pennsyl- 
vania :  Carlisle,  Chambersburg,  Lewisburg,  &c.  You  see  Krum- 
macher,  of  Elberfeld,  is  elected  to  succeed  Kauch  at  Mercers- 
burg.  A  man  may  write  very  popular  books  and  yet  not  be 
a  good  president.  Some  say  the  Duane  St.  church  will  be  a 
collegiate  church,  [in  connexion  with  a  proposed  new  organiza- 
tion.] I  suppose  we  shall  never  see  another  General  Assembly, 
without  proposals  to  alter  our  book.  I  am  disposed  to  praise 
the  bridge  that  has  brought  us  safe  over. 

Though  I  should  not  have  vetoed  's  admission,  I  think 

every  Presbytery  has  a  right  to  refuse  entrance,  without  reasons 
stated  ;  a  man  might  be  litigious,  abusive,  erratic,  &c.  The  day 
may  come  when  this  Presbyterial  right  shall  be  very  dear  to  us. 

Don't  you  think  our  cities  are  rather  feebly  manned  1  O 
that  our  country-ministers  would  only  aim  at  more  learn- 
ing and  piety !  Most  of  the  great  Puritans  were  in  the 
provinces.  So  it  was  in  old  New  England.  But  our  country- 
pastors  think  themselves  exempt  from  all  scriptural  research. 

1  have  turned  schoolmaster,  and  teach  Henry  at  home :  I  wish 
at  least  that  he  may  know  the  Bible.     I  have  been  studying 

2  Corinthians  for  a  week  or  two,  and  have  come  at  some  little 
discoveries  which  please  me  a  good  deal.  The  heart  of  Paul 
breaks  forth  wonderfully  in  that  epistle.  Does  not  the  spirit  of 
the  scriptural  teaching  go  against  female-prayer-meetings?  As 
to  Maternal  Associations — why  not  Parental  Associations,  where 
men  might  lead  in  prayer  %  Look  carefully  at  the  Greek  of 
1  Tim.  ii.  8,  tovs  avSpas — not  dvSpunrovs — and  mark  the  anti- 
thesis, afterwards,  wat'rcos  /cat  ra?  ywat/cas,  etc.  Read  over 
the  whole  passage  in  connexion,  and  see  how,  immediately  after 
enjoining  on  the  men  to  pray,  he  subjoins  "  let  the  woman  learn 
in  silence,"  &c. 

Princeton,  February  14,  1843. 

Henry  goes  to-morrow  to  Trenton  on  some  business,  by 
whom  I  hope  to  send  this  valuable  missive.  My  old  and  poor 
black  kifelien-woman  gives  12£  cents  a  month  to  Foreign 
Missions.  This  is  nearly  twice  as  much  as  the  pro  rata  of  our 
Presbyterial-demand. 

Come  up  and  see  the  mortified,  schirrous,  and  cancerous  stom- 
achs in  the  oratory  [p.  362 ;]  they  are  magnified,  so  as  to  tally  with 
the  statistics.  An  article  on  our  national  debt  to  two  races,  the 
black  and  the  red,  would  do  good.     I  wish  I  had  some  paper  or 


1833—1844.  367 

magazine  in  which  to  insert  literary  scraps,  which  turn  up  in 
my  reading,  with  an  interspersion  of  religious  remark.  In 
regard  to  the  Newark  Daily,  as  I  am  the  only  one  who  writes 
in  this  line  for  it,  I  am  found  out  and  accosted  about  every  thing 
I  pen. 

I  think  it  likely  my  notes  on  2  Corinthians  will  grow  into 
something  like  an  informal  commentary.  Much  as  we  laugh  at 
Rous's  version,  some  of  the  psalms  are  wonderfully  fine;  and  if 
we  would  only  make  the  allowance  which  we  do  in  regard  to 
the  old  English  ballads,  we  should  find  them  noble,  e.  g.  Ps.  xxiii. 
Then  they  stick  so  close  to  the  original.  I  do  not  wonder  that 
those  who  have  been  brought  up  on  them  should  be  loth  to  give 
them  up.  A  young  Quaker  from  Bucks,  graduated  last  year, 
who  seemed  only  moral,  writes  that  his  being  at  College  was 
blessed,  he  thinks,  to  his  becoming  acquainted  with  the  grace  of 
the  gospel.  Two  youths,  room-mates,  eminent  scholars,  have 
been  hopefully  converted  this  winter.  I  don't  see  why  every- 
body should  not  learn  Greek  enough  to  read  the  New  Testament. 
It  would  be  worth  ten  times  as  much  as  the  nonsensical  board- 
ing school  French,  which  never  does  any  good  to  anybody. 

Princeton,  February  20,  1843. 
I  am  reading  very  steadily  on  2  Corinthians,  and  could  easily 
make  a  book,  if  I  could  only  satisfy  myself  as  to  what  sort  of  a 
one.  Three  plans  occur  to  me:  1.  A  critical  exposition,  ana- 
lyzing the  Greek  text,  and  discussing  the  various  opinions.  If 
our  clergy  would  read  such  a  book,  I  believe  it  would  be  for  the 
best.  2.  A  current,  running  comment,  by  way  of  text,  with 
abundant  notes  of  critical  and  contested  points,  by  way  of 
marginal  notes.  3.  A  commentary,  all  text,  without  critical 
notices  or  authors  cited,  so  written  as  to  be  readable  straight 
ahead,  for  common  readers,  giving  simply  but  fully  my  view  of 
the  sense.  The  more  I  meditate  the  more  difficult  does  it  seem ; 
I  mean  to  choose  a  plan.  Hodge's  method  [Romans]  chops  up 
the  matter  too  much  into  bits  and  compartments.  Is  it  not 
better  to  put  in  the  text  after  the  Henry,  than  after  the  Scott 
method  ?  Of  all  the  commentaries  I  have  examined,  there  is  the 
most  constant  glow  of  piety  in  Calvin,  and  this  without  setting 
his  pious  remarks  by  themselves.  I  mean  to  send  you  a  speci- 
men chapter,  for  I  wish  sharp  criticism,  and  the  aid  of  other 

eyes.     is  the  most   laborious  Bible  student   I    know.     I 

never  saw  a  man  who  comes  so  near  reading  nothing  but  the 
Bible.  He  has  whole  paragraphs  of  the  Hebrew  in  his  head. 
His  method  is  to  hang  over  a  single  portion  for  days  and  weeks. 
He  never  reads  cursorily.     Yet  he  does  not  produce  any  thing 


368  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

interesting  in  the  pulpit.  He  has  no  history,  no  science,  no 
literature,  no  news.  I  think  he  is  singularly  devoid  of  con 
structive  power  ;  like  one  who  quarries  tons  of  stone,  but  builds 
nothing.  I  think  him  one  of  the  most  devout,  serious,  reverent 
men,  but  strangely  blind  to  every  thing  like  evangelical  privilege. 
Our  trials  and  apprehensions,  personal  and  domestic,  ought 
to  drive  or  draw  us  to  greater  spirituality,  and  more  devotion  to 
the  best  things.  Let  us  pray  for  one  another.  Here  is  a  para- 
graph of  beautiful  latinity,  from  Calvin,  ad  2  Cor.  i.  10,  "  Ta- 
metsi  autem  "  [&c] 

Princeton,  March  3,  1843. 

I  mean  to  send  you  Borrow's  two  books,  ["  Bible  in  Spain  " 
and  "  The  Zincali."]  You  will  find  them  after-dinner  reading  of 
the  best.  You  will  devour  them,  always  having  your  granum 
salis  on  the  edge  of  your  plate.  His  religion  is  of  a  peculiar 
kind,  but  his  genius,  chivalry,  and  good-nature  will  delight  you  ; 
and  whatever  good  he  may  have  done  in  Spain,  his  adventures 
will  suggest  to  you  a  hundred  thoughts  about  the  value  of 
individual  daring  and  apostolic  missions  among  the  Popish 
peasantry. 

In  a  wood  near  this  place  are  four  old  chestnut  trees,  the 
only  ones  of  that  species ;  so  planted  as  to  form  a  square.  A 
few  weeks  ago,  a  deep  hole  was  discovered  between  them,  newly 
opened,  with  marks  and  remnants  of  two  boxes,  which  have 
been  taken  out.  Nobody  can  explain  it.  I  hear  a  good 
deal  about  Millerism  among  the  lowest  sort  of  people ;  who, 
unfortunately,  are  those  who  become  the  prey,  in  such  cases. 

has   bought,  for   the  aisle  of  the    Library,  a    Cashmere 

carpet,  which  Runjeet  Singh  gave  to  John  C.  Lowrie. 


Princeton,  March  27,  1843. 

It  is  snowing  again  ;  what  a  March  !  For  the  improvident 
poor,  it  is  really  a  serious  matter.  The  comet  seems  to  grow 
dim,  but  my  namesake  Stephen  has  had  observations  enough  to 
derive  elements  for  a  very  satisfactory  calculation.  From  these 
he  constructs  an  ephemeris,  and  if  the  thing's  place  every  night 
answers  to  the  ephemeris,  the  calculation  is  conceived  to  be 
verified.  He  will  publish  it.  I  attended  a  soiree  of  select 
observers  in  a  case  of  Mesmerism,  the  other  night.  Further 
than  the  apparent  sleep  of  the  patient,  I  saw  nothing  wonderful. 

Matt.  xii.  30  is  often  quoted,  with  a  very  edifying  sense,  but 
how  can  it  be  made,  in  such  sense,  to  cohere  at  all  with  what 
goes  before  and  after  1     The  ancients  thought  it  referred  to  the 


1833—1844.  369 

devil.  The  connexion  is  certainly  difficult.  Our  session  is  run- 
ning down  rapidly  to  a  close ;  it  ends  April  13.     Davidson  has 

arrived  at  New  Brunswick.      If,  as  demands,  we   must 

have  Scripture  injunction  for  every  thing  in  our  polity,  I  think 
we  must  go  vastly  further  than  his  present  move.  I  see  no 
title  of  Scripture  for  the  life-long  continuance  of  ministerial 
character,  or  against  electing  elders  every  other  year,  as  the 
Dutch  do,  or  for  the  power  of  a  majority  to  govern,  or  for 
synods  and  general-assembly,  or  for  the  principle  of  representa- 
tion. Where  does  the  Bible  say  that  ruling-elders  are  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people,  or  that  they  may  not  be  chosen  by  the 
pastor  ?  The  whole  of  his  arguments  are  from  the  jure-divino 
mint.  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  majority  of  American  Presby- 
terians stand  on  lower  ground  than  this.  Archbishop  Whately's 
book  ["  Kingdom  of  Christ  Delineated"]  is  of  great  value  in  this 
respect.  It  settles  some  principles  about  the  freedom  of  the 
church,  within  certain  limits,  to  organize  itself,  which  are  very 
comfortable  to  my  mind.  But  for  these,  I  should  have  to  un- 
church the  Baptists,  as  much  as  they  unchurch  us,  as  they  are 
ordained  in  many  cases  by  laymen.  It  strikes  me  with  great 
force,  that  when  the  apostle  Paul  is  defending  his  apostolical 
claims  in  his  epistles  to  the  Corinthians,  he  never  founds  any  of 
them  on  his  external  connexion,  or  succession,  or  any  rites, 
(which  might  easily  have  been  verified,)  but  in  every  instance,  on 
his  doctrine,  spirit,  and  life  ;  1  Cor.  iv.  1,  and  9 — 15  ;  ix.  1,  2, 
"  the  seal  of  mine  apostleship  are  yeP  2  Cor.  vi.  4,  "  approv- 
ing ourselves  as  the  ministers  of  God " — how  ? — "  in  much 
patience,"  &c. ;  xi.  23,  "  Are  they  ministers  of  Christ  1  I  am 
more ;  "  then  he  gives  his  proofs,  xii.  12.  He  gives  "  the  signs  of 
an  apostle,"  with  no  breath  of  rituality.  And  so  much  does  he 
make  of  doctrine  as  a  criterion,  that  though  an  angel  preach 
otherwise,  he  is  to  be  accursed,  Gal.  i.  8. 

Princeton,  March  30,  1843. 
I  send  herewith  a  couple  of  catalogues,  which  you  will  please 
give  to  Capt.  Ewing,  (I  suppose  you  know  your  elder  is  a  miles 
emeritus,  once  a  captain  of  horse.)  In  reperusing  Foster's  in- 
imitable essays,  I  am  much  struck  with  the  fitness  of  the  last,  to 
be  put  into  the  hands  of  a  thoughtful,  literary  man,  who  feels  a 
sort  of  contempt  for  the  vulgar  manifestations  of  religion,  with 
which  many  are  offended.  Yesterday  to  my  extreme  surprise 
[  received  a  call  from  Natchez.  I  am  truly  and  only  grieved, 
for,  as  I  cannot  live  in  that  climate,  that  suffering  people  have 
again  compassed  a  denial.  The  least  hint  of  it  beforehand  would 
have  led  to  my  preventing  such  a  step.  I  congratulate  you  on 
vol  i. — 16* 


370  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

some  symptoms  of  spring.  "We  have  had  to  boat  it,  from  and 
to  the  depot.  Stephen  Alexander  has  been  delivering  a  public 
lecture  on  the  comet,  which  gave  much  satisfaction.  Gen.  Jack- 
son gives  a  recommendation  (very  religious  too)  of  Pease's 
candy.  A  very  decent  Irishman  told  me  yesterday  he  had  been 
five  months  out  of  work.  Great  revivals  and  protracted  meet- 
ings among  the  Seceders,  at  Newburgh.  I  see  the  Edinburgh 
Review  bepraises  Borrow  as  much  as  the  Quarterly.  Lowrie's 
Travels  is  a  very  good  book,  and  worth  reading.  Dr.  somebody 
in  Albany  has  come  our,  giving  the  lie  to  Sewell's  stomach- 
pictures,  which,  he  says,  are  caricatures.  Moffatt  speaks  of 
whole  tribes  as  living  for  weeks  on  locusts  In  Africa.  My  re- 
gards to  your  "  familiares,"  and  am  yours. 

Princeton,  April  8,  1843. 
The  languors  of  spring  have  come  upon  me  with  a  witness. 
I  know  not  many  feelings  worse  than  that  of  feeling  no  just 
cause  for  inactivity,  and  yet  being  unable  to  do  any  thing.  If 
Providence  permit,  we  shall  be  in  Philadelphia  next  Thursday  ; 
probably  at  our  former  lodgings,  Ninth  and  Spruce.  I  congratu- 
late you  on  the  accession  of  shad,  a  favourite  Trenton  dish. 
College  duties  are  substantially  over.  There  are  to  be  150  trees 
set  out  next  week  in  the  Library  lot.  You  will  find  in  the  Reper- 
tory some  things  which  I  said  in  a  late  letter,  [March  27,]  but 
which,  nevertheless,  I  did  not  get  from  the  author  of  the  article 
on  "  Ruling  Elders."  I  am  pleased  to  see  a  Layman  in  Virginia 
giving  $525  as  a  "  thank-offering."     I  should  like  to  know  from 

,    what  master  of  literature  or  art  can  produce   a   work, 

like  his  who  made  the  lizard  or  the  crow.  Will  any  man  com- 
pare the  Venus  de  Medici  with  a  living  organization,  having 
reproductive  powers  1  I  have  no  doubt  that  there  was  high 
civilization  immediately  before  the  deluge.  Allison,  the  Scotch- 
man, has  resigned  his  charge  at  Paterson.  The  new  school 
Psalm  and  Hymn  book  is  out ;  compiled  by  Beman.  The 
Methodists  are  going  to  have  a  meeting-house  about  halfway 
between  us.  You  know,  perhaps,  that- a  second  Dutch  church  is 
hatching  in  New  Brunswick.  There  is  a  man  in  the  Seminary, 
who  is  said  to  have  been  an  actor  in  Philadelphia.  One  of 
Shakspeare's  daughters  married  a  John  Hall,  M.  D.,  whose 
arms  were,  "  Or  on  a  bend  sable,"  &c.     Her  epitaph  ran  thus  : 

"  Witty  above  her  sex;  but  that's  not  all : 
Wise  to  salvation  was  good  Mistress  Hall. 
Something  of  Shakspeare  was  in  that :  but  this 
Wliolly  of  him,  with  whom  she's  now  in  bliss," 

Your  next  son  should  be  called  William  S.     The  death  of 


1833—1844.  371 

poor [an  idiot]  must  be  a  relief  to  his  afflicted  mother ; 

though  in  such  cases  the  very  wen  seems  to  involve  some  of  the 
vital  circulation.  This  year  the  months  of  April  and  Nisan 
begin  together,  which  makes  the  passover  foil  on  Good-Friday ; 
this  is  worth  putting  into  the  papers.  I  must  try  to  get  to  the 
synagogue.  1  do  not  expect  to  be  among  you  until  the  Council 
of  Trent,  [meeting  of  Presbytery  at  Trenton.]  I  have  a  resolu- 
tion to  propound,  recommending  sturdy  folks  not  to  sit  during 
prayer.  I  wish  in  my  heart  our  church  had  adopted  kneeling  in 
prayer,  and  standing  in  song.     The  comet  has  entirely  absented 

itself.     Only  two  lecturers-errant   this  week.     ,  so  I  hear 

since    I   began,   has   taken   advisement   with   ■ about   the 

Hebrew  letters  going  to  make  up  666.  If  you  wish  to  know,  I 
will  find  out.  Vinegar  is  now  said  to  be  a  fine  thing  for  the 
teeth. 

Philadelphia,  April  18,  1843. 

Your  friends  here  are  well.     We  are  163  South  9th.     Quaker 

Yearly  Meeting,  which  accounts  for  the  rain.1     I   attended   a 

grand  Concert  of  the  Blind,  yesterday,  in  full  force;    it  was 

passing   fine.     I    saw  six   elephants  walking   two  and  two,  up 

Spruce   Street.     In  a   proof  of 's,  instead  of  "  and  when 

Abraham  drew  near  the  camp,  he  heard  a  shout"  it  had  " he 
tore  his  shirt."  I  did  not  think  the  church  very  well  filled  on 
Sunday,  considering  the  eminence  of  the  divine  [himself]  who 
preached.  Next  Sunday  I  am  caught  for  St.  Louis  le  Grand's, 
Penn  Square,  [an  elegant  new  church.]  Dr.  Tyng's  lectures 
are  very  largely  attended.  The  rain  has  kept  me  from  going 
about  much.  The  Episcopal  churches  are  much  thronged ;  there 
is  good  policy  in  laying  so  much  stress  on  the  "  service,"  which 
is,  like  potatoes,  always  present,  whatsoever  the  other  dishes 
may  be.  The  cheapness  of  goods  is  wonderful.  I  bought  very 
good  wdiite  pocket  handkerchiefs  for  25  cents. 

Philadelphia,  April  24,  1843. 
My  visit  to  Philadelphia,  from  which  I  anticipated  much 
pleasure,  has  proved  somewhat  Tantalic,  as  I  have  had  to  be 
supine  most  of  the  time,  with  a  complaint  which  has  rendered 
locomotion  excruciating.  Otherwise  I  am  well.  Confined  to 
the  house,  I  have  little  news.  I  saw  McCalla  going  by,  looking 
like  a  general  officer ;  hair  as  before.  Leeser  has  started  a 
magazine,  "  The  Occident."  The  spring  display  of  city-flowers 
is  very  charming.  I  bought  a  razor-strop  from  the  celebrated 
"  Strop-man,"  who  harangues  in  front  of  the  State  House ;    I 

1  This  is  a  common  saying  in  Philadelphia. 


372  WHILE   PKOFESSOK   LN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

got  it  for  25  cents,  more  for  fun  than  any  thing  else,  and  I  find 
it  excellent.  The  "  converted  thief,"  Munday,  goes  about,  rain 
or  shine,  bare-headed,  but  chin  covered  with  an  abundant 
shag.  Odenheimer  is  out  with  a  new  book,  "  The  True  Church- 
man no  Romanist."  Bp.  Kenrick  lectures  statedly,  on  the  con- 
troverted points.  There  is  a  schism  among  the  Jews  in  this 
country  about  instrumental  music  in  the  synagogue ;  Leeser 
thinks  it  "  labour,"  and  so  forbidden  ;  I  think  their  yelling  and 
eructation  much  more  laborious. 


Princeton,  May  11,  1843. 
The  green  fields,  trees,  birds,  (fee,  are  beyond  all  praise.  I 
am  glad  to  get  back  to  my  cabbage-garden.  The  Seminary 
examination  is  "being"  made.  I  have  been  very  busy,  since 
my  return,  on  a  piece  of  writing,  which  has  to  be  ready  by 
Assembly-times.1  On  dit,  that  they  will  certainly  have  a  tra- 
montane Assembly  next  year.2  Allan  Mackenzie,  who  digs  my 
garden,  is  afraid  the  troubles  in  the  Kirk  will  lead  to  the  "  bring- 
ing in  of  episcopacy  and  prelacy."  A  crazy  man  lives  next 
door ;  perhaps  we  shall  have  "  vegetable  marrows "  thrown 
over  the  fence ;    vide  Nicholas  Nickleby  "  by  Mr.  Dickens  of 

South   Britain,"    as  calls   him  in   his   newest    series   of 

letters.      has  left  young  ,  a  half-converted  Jew-lad, 

here,  to  study.3  If  you  want  some  okra-seed,  I  raised  a 
bushel  last  year.  The  giant,  the  dwarf,  and  the  harpers-  have 
been  here,  but  the  "  razor-strop  "  man  has  not  yet  got  on  so  far. 
I  hear  of  direful  mercantile  failures  among  some  of  the  wealth- 
iest of  my  acquaintances  in  Virginia.  Our  students  begin  to 
return  ;  I  see  a  few  new  faces.  My  old  uncle  Maj.  John  Alex- 
ander is  to  be  in  the  Assembly  ;  and  D.  v.,  my  father  will  re- 
turn with  him  to  Virginia.4  I  hope  he  may  be  prospered  in 
this,  probably  his  last,  visit  to  his  native  county.  Never  can 
I  be  sufficiently  grateful  for  the  preservation  of  my  honoured 
parents  to  an  old  age  of  cheerfulness,  health,  and  activity. 
The  last  British  Critic  is  out  in  favour  of  auricular  confession. 
Dr.  McElroy  is  still  at  Santa  Cruz.  Dr.  Chalmers  says,  in  a 
speech,  which  I  know  not  whether  our  papers  have  extracted,  that 
the  Scotch  clergy  are  preparing  for  their  change  of  circumstances, 
by  going  into  smaller  houses.     Dr.  Gordon,  leaving  one  of  the 

1  I  cannot  discover  from  the  Minutes,  or  otherwise,  what  this  paper  was. 

2  The  Assembly  of  1844  met.  at  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

3  The  conversion  proved  to  be  even  less  than  half. 

4  For  an  account  of  this  visit  see  "  The  Life  of  Archibald  Alexander, 
D.  D.,"  Chap,  xviii. 


1833—1844.  373 

finest  mansions  in  Edinburgh,  goes  into  a  house  of  £35  rent. 
The  new  body  will  be  called"  the  Free  Presbyterian  Church." 

Princeton,  May  24,  1843. 
The  Occidentals  will,  I  have  no  doubt,  have  the  next  Assem- 
bly at  Louisville.  The  New-School  folks  are  in  the  expected 
trouble  about  abolition  ;  and  it  will  not  be  strange  if  their 
Southern  members  fall  off.  In  this  case,  I  confidently  expect 
that  the  most  of  the  latter  will  join  us.  Before  this  reaches 
you,  I  suppose  the  ruling-elder  question  will  have  been  decided  ; 
perhaps  to  be  reversed  at  Louisville.1  Dr.  McElroy  has  re- 
turned from  St.  Croix,  in  good  health.  During  Maclean's 
absence  [at  General  Assembly]  I  conduct  a  daily  prayer-meet- 
ing at  half-past  five.  I  was  at  the  communion  at  Dutch  Neck 
last  Sunday  ;  12  accession.  I  am  suffering  a  most  painful  lan- 
guor and  debility  ;  the  cause  must  be  latent  disease,  yet  my 
ordinary  functions  are  as  usual.  It  is  itself  a  disease,  and  one 
for  which  one  can  ask  no  sympathy,  and  which  is  not  sufficiently 
prononcee  to  absolve  the  conscience  from  the  obligation  to  work. 
I  often  feel  that  the  effort  of  rising  from  my  chair  is  a  labour. 
Too  soon  has  the  grasshopper  become  a  burden.  CEconomos, 
one  of  our  late  Greeks,  [in  College,]  died  of  consumption,  in 
Fairfax  co.,  Va.,  on  the  9th  inst.     There  is  a  young  Jew  here, 

[mentioned   in   last   letter,]   injudiciously  sent   by    ,    one 

,    of    Posen,    Germany,    set.    20,    who    has    excited    my 

strong  commiseration.  He  is  speculatively  a  Christian,  and  con- 
vinced of  his  sinfulness,  but  as  blind  as  Pharisaism  itself  as  to 
the  plan  of  grace,  and  so  distressed  at  being  rejected  by  his 
parents,  that  he  told  me  the  other  evening  he  had  not  been  in 
bed  for  four  nights.  He  speaks  German,  Polish,  and  English, 
and  is  a  thorough  Hebrew  and  Chaldee  scholar,  has  read  all  the 
Talmud,  and  understands  French.  He  is  a  "  puer  ingenui  vultus," 
and  certainly  of  fine  capacity  ;  but  unless  he  obtains  some  relief 
he  wilL  go  mad.  He  showed  me  his  phylacteries.  His  change 
of  views  was  occasioned  by  the  simple  perusal  of  a  New  Testa- 
ment, seen  first  by  him  since  he  grew  up,  and  given  him  by  a 
clergyman  in  Germany.  John  Miller  is  going  to  Richmond  to 
assist  Plumer  in  the  redaction  of  the  Watchman,  and  in  preach- 
ing. A  late  drunkard  of  our  town  once  said  that  the  soil  about 
Dutch  Neck  was  like  self-righteousness ;  the  more  a  man  had  of 
it,  the  worse  he  was  off.  Young  Wadsworth,  late  of  the  Semi- 
nary, now  of  Troy,  is  said  to  be  a  phoenix  of  eloquence ;  he  is  in 
Philadelphia.2 

1  The  decision,  by  a  vote  of  83  to  35,  was  that  three  ministers  (though 
without  a  ruling  elder)  constitute  a  quorum  of  Presbytery. 

2  Now  pastor  of  the  Fifth  church  there. 


374  WHILE   PROFESSOR  IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Princeton,  May  30,  1843. 
My  father  and  uncle  set  out  this  week  for  "  the  old  Colony 
and  Dominion  of  Virginia,"  I  am  not  well,  but  potter  about  in 
my  garden  on  the  few  clear  days ;  my  truck  looks  promising, 
and  it  is  a  great  amusement  to  me.  [Jos.  B.]  Stratton  is  gone 
to  supply  Natchez,  [now  the  Pastor.]  Dr.  Lindsly  and  Dr.  Ed- 
gar both  have  sons,  physicians,  coming  to  the  Seminary.  I  have 
had  two  visits  from  an  old  man  who  was  in  the  battle  of  Prince- 
ton.    My  weight  is  just  132  lbs. 

Tylerton,1  June  12,  1843. 
You  will  judge  from  the  papers  that  we  have  all  been  Tyler- 
mad  ;  sundry  of  us  have  been  so.  I  feel  anxious  that  it  should 
be  generally  known,  that  the  programme  of  the  part  to  be 
enacted  by  the  Faculty  of  the  College,  was  printed  and  posted, 
and  the  appointment  made  on  our  grounds,  without  consultation 
with  us.  As  a  faculty  we  did  nothing.  Several  of  us  were  pres- 
ent in  the  throng.  The  President  and  suite,  viz.,  WicklifFe,  wife 
and  two  daughters,  Spencer,  &c,  went  to  the  Episcopal  church  in 
the  morning,  and  to  the  Presbyterian  at  night.  Between  services 
a  grand  dinner.  They  left  us,  with  music  and  a  great  cortege, 
about  8  this  morning.  A  large  number  of  naval  and  some  army 
officers  were  at  Com.  Stockton's  in  uniform.  As  the  cavalcade 
passed  [Mr.  J.  S.]  Green's,  departing,  [Rev.]  Dr.  [Ashbel]  Green 
came  out ;  on  which  Tyler  rapidly  dismounted  from  his  chariot 
and  four  and  uncovered  himself  to  the  old  man :  the  only  im- 
pressive scene  in  the  melodrama. 

Princeton,  June  15,  1843. 

All  your  malignant  evil  speaking  concerning ,  may  be 

accounted  for  from  the  chagrin  you  experience  at  not  being  in- 
vited to  orate.  Notwithstanding  what  you  say,  I  must  honour 
the  King :  not  that  I  did  much  for  King  John  III. :  but  I  am  op- 
posed to  all  ultra-democracy,  of  which  the  very  extreme,  I  take 
it,  is  to  make  our  tribute  of  respect  dependent  on  mere  popular 
like  or  dislike.  [After  referring  to  a  medical  friend,  for  whom 
he  wished  to  find  some  public  employment,]  His  mildness, 
reading,  &c,  would  make  him  a  good  principal  of  an  Insane 
Asylum.  Could  he  not  be  spirited  up  to  an  agitation  of  the 
public  in  behalf  of  such  an  institution  in  Trenton  ?  He  might 
write  a  lecture  and  deliver  it  in  our  chief  towns.2  My  father  is 
heard  from  as  far  on  as  Waynesborough.    He  preached  four  or  five 

1  The  President  of  the  United  States  had  just  been  visiting  at  Princeton. 

2  This  suggestion  was  made  two  years  before  the  Legislature  of  New 
Jersey  established  the  Insane  Asylum  near  Trenton 


1833—1844.  375 

times  at  Charlottesville,  and,  from  Dr.  Cabell's  letter,  must  have 
been  in  his  very  best  mood.  The  college  tee-total  society,  of 
which  Maclean  is  the  soul,  has  more  than  a  hundred  pledges : 
exclusive  of  an  eminent  professor,  [himself,]  who  is  suspected  of 
daily  potations  of  Oporto.     I  preached  last  evening  from  Prov.  i. 

32.     Dr. [in  New  York]  is  down  again,  and  uttering  the 

Macedonian  cry.  I  can  certify,  of  personal  observation  this 
morning,  that  some  toads  are  still  found  in  Princeton :  "  Person- 
ally appeared  before  me,"  &c,  &c.  Give  our  kind  regards  to 
and  circumjacent  friends.  A  new  pamphlet  on  the  sister- 
question  sent  to  me  from  Natchez.  It  has  some  hard  arguments 
in  it,  some  quite  puzzling  ones. 

Princeton,  June  24,  1843. 
A  little  tropical  weather  after  all.  Dr.  O'Shaughnessy,  of 
Calcutta,  (Prof.  Phys.,)  has  been  here.  Brisbane,  the  Fourierist, 
and  some  aids,  are  looking  out  for  a  farm  of  a  thousand  acres  in 
this  neighbourhood,  whereon  to  exemplify  their  socialism.  The 
following  is  from  the  Leipsic  Acta  Eruditorum  :  "  Jacobi  Alex- 
andri  paradoxam  opinionem  de  motu  terras  circa  lunam,  ecu 
planetce  secundaria  circa  primarium,  recensuimus  in  Actis,  A. 
1728,  p.  127."  I  write  a  fresh  lecture  every  week  on  Latin 
literature,  wliich  I  read  to  the  Sophomores,  over  and  above  their 
regular  recitations.  Musgrave  has  published  an  8vo  volume 
against  the  Methodists.  Henry  Van  Dyck  picked  50  quarts  of 
strawberries  yesterday  morning :    I  have  none  worth  naming. 

• has  become  a  regular  hack,  and  writes  on  every  topic  which 

promises  to  catch  the  million  :  this  may  do  for  a  laureat,  but  it 
is  not  the  plan  of  a  poet.  There  are  some  things  often  mention- 
ed but  seldom  seen:  yesterday,  for  the  first  time,  I  saw  the 
death  of  a  cow.  At  the  present  rate  every  family  ought  to  take 
the  Sunday  School  Journal.  I  propose,  next  Friday,  to  publish, 
with  my  name,  a  card  in  the  Princeton  Whig,  calling  attention  to 
it.  Suppose  you  do  the  same,  simultaneously.  I  acknowledge 
the  seven  [Acts  vi.]  are  not  called  deacons,  but  I  suppose  no  one 
ever  doubted  that  these  are  they ;  the  duties  being  so  much  the 
same.  It  is  a  case  wThere  universal,  uncontradicted  tradition  goes 
fir  with  me,  as  in  the  case  of  the  change  of  the  Sabbath. 


Princeton,  July  19,  1843. 
I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  render  you  the  assistance  you  ask 
on  the  next  Lord's  day.     Not  only  have  I  to  preach  for  Dr.  Rice, 
but  early  next  morning  I  have  to  examine  a  class,  at  our  Quar- 
terly Examination,  to  which  I  could  not  be  back  in  time.     I  have 


376  WHILE   PKOFESSOR   IN   PEINCETON   COLLEGE. 

been  very  much  debilitated  this  summer,  and  lately,  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life,  had  to  sit  down  in  the  midst  of  a  sermon,  from 
a  sudden  affection  of  the  head. 

There  is  more  of  the  influenza  within  a  few  days,  than  we 
have  had.  Of  ecclesiastical  news  there  seems  to  be  none.  Last 
Sunday  afternoon  Dr.  Green  preached  to  my  Africans.  Though 
his  voice  laboured,  the  sermon  was  excellent,  and  towards  the 
close  very  impressive.  My  father,  when  last  heard  from,  was  in 
Bath  co.,  Va.  Sam  has  gone  on  to  accompany  him  home.  Mr. 
Rogers,  of  Northern  India,  has  been  here.  Mr.  Walsh,  late  of 
the  Seminary,  is  about  to  go  to  that  mission.  Smyth's  new  work 
on  Presbyterianism  is  out.  Joseph  Tracy  is  making  an  abridg- 
ment of  his  former  one.     If  should  follow  the  example 

of  some  of  the  Oxonians,  and  turn  Romanist,  it  would  lower  his 
dignity  very  much  to  be  ordained  sub-deacon,  deacon,  &c.  A 
short-hand  teacher  is  enlightening  us  at  this  time.  I  begin  to 
need  spectacles  to  read  long-hand.  It  is  not  one  of  the  agreeables 
of  our  college  arrangements,  that  our  hardest  work  and  heaviest 
examinations  come  in  the  heat  of  summer :  our  terrible  "  Final " 
begins  on  the  7th  of  August.  Do  you  hear  of  any  colleges  about 
to  doctor  us  this  fall  ?  What  a  grand  method  it  would  be  to  sell 
D.D.s  as  they  do  commissions  in  the  British  army !  They 
would  then  be  sure  to  fall  on  such  of  us  as  long  for  them,  while 
others  who  care  not  for  them  might  be  spared  all  trouble.  Some 
painters  have  been  pottering  about  the  outside  of  our  house  for 
more  than  a  month  ;  what  with  ladders,  daubing,  and  smell,  it  is 
decidedly  worse  than  house-cleaning.  I  never,  in  my  craziest 
moments,  feel  the  slightest  desire  to  share  the  greatness  or  fame 
of  kings,  grandees,  poets,  grand  authors,  orators,  or  the  like  ;  but 
I  often  feel  a  sort  of  envy  for  quiet  folks,  whom  I  see,  far  from 
all  publicity,  carrying  on  some  humble  household  labour.  These 
Fourier-systems  would  make  every  one  live  in  public,  and  ob- 
literate little  family-circles,  and  all  that  we  call  Home.  One  of 
my  neighbours  lately  caught  a  bull-frog,  which  had  a  whole 
cat-bird  in  his  insides  ;  he  also  caught  a  pike,  with  a  sucker  six 
inches  long  in  its  stomach.  These  marvels  you  will  report  to 
your  Lyceum.  Judge  Tucker,  of  the  University  of  Va.,  had  for 
many  years  a  periodical  rheumatism  in  one  knee,  recurring  with 
perfect  accuracy  every  13th  day :  it  has  for  a  year  past  been  ex- 
changed for  a  syncope,  returning  for  some  months  at  the  same 
interval,  but  now  oftener.  The  legislature  of  Virginia  gave  the 
widow  of  Prof.  Davis  $12,000  for  the  copyright  of  a  work  of  his 
on  Criminal  Law.1 

1  The  death  of  Professor  Davis  is  mentioned  on  page  315. 


1833—1844.  377 

Princeton,  August ,  1843. 
My  father  has  returned.  He  was  gone  sixty-four  clays,  and  in 
that  time  delivered  thirty-two  public  discourses.  So  Pusey  was 
really  suspended :  Vide  his  letter  of  the  2d  inst.  A  man  came  last 
week  into  the  office  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  [New 
York]  with  a  bag  of  money,  laid  it  on  the  table,  and  said  it  was 
for  the  China  Mission,  on  condition  no  questions  should  be  ask- 
ed :  the  contents  were  $10,000.  Such  an  event  ought  to  be  laid 
before  our  people,  to  show  them,  by  a  scale  they  all  too  well  un- 
derstand, how  some  Christians  rate  the  Mission  work. 

Princeton,  Sept.  5,  1843. 
I  am  truly  glad  to  hear  that  your  resort  to  the  hill-country  has 
done  you  good.  My  stay  at  the  Cape  [May]  was  very  delightful, 
but  very  short ;  I  arrived  there  on  Monday  evening,  and  came 
away  on  Saturday  morning  of  the  same  week.  Yet  my  spirits  were 
much  refreshed,  and  I  think,  if  I  could  have  stayed  three  weeks, 
1  should  have  been  made  quite  well.  The  Seminary  has  opened 
with  a  larger  accession  than  is  usual  at  this  point  of  time.  More 
are  expected,  as  several  commencements  are  yet  to  come  off. 
The  "  Princeton"  [a  Navy  Steam-ship]  is  to  be  launched  this 
week.  We  had  Dr.  May  of  Alexandria  [Episcopal  Theological 
Seminary]  at  Cape  ditto  ;  a  very  agreeable  man  ;  as  near  being 
a  low  churchman  as  any  I  have  seen.  When  called  on  by  me, 
he  made  an  extempore  prayer  at  a  meeting.  I  also  made  myself 
acquainted  with  Judge  Stroud  [of  Philadelphia]  formerly  of  our 
college.  I  see  all  connexion  between  Bokum  and  the  Jews'  Society 
is  dissolved  by  proclamation.  Did  I  ever  tell  you  of  a  little 
quarrel  I  had  this  summer  with  Bokum  %  It  arose  from  my 
"  accusing  him  of  injudiciousness."  Thereupon  ensued  a  corre- 
spondence, &c.  I  have  been  honoured  with  a  picture  of  Hustee- 
coluck-chee,  alias  John  Douglass  Bemo.  He  is  on  his  way  back 
to  the  Seminoles.  Eleven  of  the  last  class,  Andover,  have  agreed 
to  go  together  to  Iowa.  Quere  :  whether  all  missionary  enter- 
prises among  us  ought  not  to  yield  precedence  to  the  work  of 
evangelizing  the  Southern  slaves  ?  Ministers  ought  to  be  among 
them,  in  sufficient  numbers,  even  if  they  were  to  be  emancipated 
to-morrow  ;  so  that  the  question  has  no  limitation  from  that  of 
Abolition.  Next  in  order,  I  think,  come  the  Indians,  wrhose  con- 
dition is  now  more  favourable  than  that  of  any  heathen  tribes  on 
earth,  for  receiving  the  gospel.      The  prestige,  however,  of  this 

mission  =   0     Will  go   to  %     No,    I   guess.     If  he 

does,  he  will  go  away  from  home.  There  is  nothing  in  a  pro- 
fessoral  place  at  all  resembling  the  worship  which  a  popular 
city-pastor  receives. 


378  WHILE  PEOFESSOE   IN   PELNCETON   COLLEGE. 

Princeton,  Sept.  15,  1843. 
I  have  read  Young's  sermon,  [afterwards  a  "  Campbellite  Bap- 
tist : "]  he  must  be  an  Arian.  His  fundamental  articles  make 
no  mention  of  Trinity,  Atonement,  or  even  Incarnation.  He  ob- 
jects to  such  terms  as  Trinity,  Triune,  three  in  one,  coessential 
and  coeternal.  When  a  man  objects  to  creeds,  he  always  has  a 
reason  for  it.  I  perceive  he  is  out  upon  the  Corn-laws.  I  hope 
to  re-open  my  house  on  the  1st  prox.  Beds,  stabling,  the 
choicest  wines,  (in  part  of  the  stock  of  the  late Esq.,)  omni- 
buses passing  twice  a  day,  &c.  Dr.  Rice  thinks  he  has  a  disease 
of  the  heart.  He  is  like  to  go  to  Augusta,  Ga.,  for  the  winter. 
I  have,  for  a  rarity,  to  marry  a  couple  on  Saturday  night.  Our 
venerable  friend  Mr.  John  McMullin  has  been  released  at  last : 
all  my  thoughts  of  him  are  pleasant.1  Mrs.  Smith,  relict  of  Dr. 
John  B.  Smith,  is  dead  in  Indiana,  ast.  82.  Capt.  Stockton  is  or- 
dered out  for  a  four-months'  cruise  in  the  "  Princeton."  What 
a  difference  between  us  and  the  English,  in  regard  to  school- 
books  !  They  still  use,  in  all  their  great  schools,  the  grammar 
of  Edward  VI.  I  have  a  copy  of  it.  It  is  full  of  forms,  and 
primary  rules,  but  few  observations.  Our  American  Bibles 
vary  exceedingly  from  the  standard  British  ones,  in  small  points, 
especially  of  orthography.     Dr.  Hodge's  organ  has  come. 

Princeton,  Sept.  20,  1843. 
I  am  conscious  of  no  indebtedness  in  regard  of  letters,  but 
being  more  good  for  nothing  than  common,  1  shall  vent  the  con- 
tents of  noddle  on  you.  On  Monday,  a  very  ingenuous-looking 
young  man,  calling  himself  McMana,  applied  with  much  humility 
for  aid  to  get  to  Albany.  He  offered  to  leave  b®oks  in  pawn, 
&c,  and  showed  a  certificate  of  church-membership  from  Mr.  W. 
S.  Potts  of  St.  Louis.  In  the  evening,  Prof.  Henry,  going  to  the 
depot,  happened  to  get  into  the  same  hack  with  this  man,  and 
(it  being  dark)  shortly  heard  the  fellow  take  great  liberties  with 
his  name,  asserting  that  he  had  dined  with  Prof.  H.,  and  more- 
over declaring  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia.  At  the 
depot  he  saw  Prof.  H.,  and  tried  to  hide  behind  a  platform. 
My  brother  Sam  pulled  him  out,  and  H.  extracted  from  him 
the  money  he  had  begged,  and  the  certificate  of  church-member- 
ship.    The  Hon.  Mr. ,  in  the   Quarterly  Register,  in   a 

piece  lamenting  the  decay  of  classic  learning,  recommends  the 
Bible  as  a  corpus  juris  divinai."     This  is  the  eventful  day   at 

1  Mr.  McMullin  was  an  elder  of  the  Third  Church  of  Philadelphia,  when 
Dr.  A.  Alexander  was  pastor,  and  afterwards,  and  until  his  death,  of  the 
Sixth  Church. 


1833—1844.  379 

Easton  :  visions  of  gigantic  Ds  float  before  my  mind.  "  Be- 
tween the  acting  of  a  dreadful  thing,  &c,"  v.  Shakspeare.  Our 
annual  Examination  is  now  being  holden.  I  wish  I  had  a  num- 
ber of  the  Christian  Mirror  to  show  you.  There  is  a  piece  in  it 
about  Princeton,  lauding  every  thing  to  the  skies.  Inter  alia, 
much  as  follows ;  (I  don't  pretend  to  give  exact  words  :)  speaking 
of  Dod : — "  whose  colloquial  powers  are  no  less  extraordinary  than 
those  reported  of  Johnson,  Sir  James  Mcintosh,  and  Coleridge 
.  .  .  The  profound  metaphysician,  mathematician,  divine — pupil 
of  Sir  Christopher  Wren  and  Palladio."  This,  as  Sam  Slick  says, 
is  cutting  it  very  fat. 

Princeton,  September  25,  1843. 
I  neglected  to  say  to  you  that  we  will  give  you  a  bed  during 
Commencement  times,  and  a  napkin  at  my  father's.  Do  not 
imagine,  my  dear  sir,  that  any  elevation  of  rank  on  my  part  will 
prevent  me  from  exercising  all  the  condescension  which  is  seemly 
towards  my  humbler  friends.  Come  freely,  and  lay  aside  all 
the  dread  which  the  circumstances  are  fitted  to  inspire.1 

Trenton,  October  2,  1843. 
I  am  disposed  to  make  a  stand  on  this  position,  viz.,  that 
wherever  our  church  has  made  great  advances,  it  has  been  by 
the  pressing  of  converting  truth.  The  following  words  are  uni- 
formly spelled  thus,  in  standard  English  Bibles  ;  I  mean  certain 
places  in  all  editions :  '  Ax,  horseleach,  morter,  brasen,  throughly, 
whiles,  Rahel,  Judaea,  houshold,  enquire,  sope,  jubile,  intreat, 
asswage,  pluckt,  caterpiller,  lathe."  Dr.  Brownlee  has  had 
a  paralytic  stroke,  from  which  he  is  not  expected  to  recover.2 
We  are  hereafter  to  have  Commencement  in  June,  and  a  sum- 
mer vacation.  The  faculty,  who  are  most  interested  in  not  go- 
ing wrong  in  such  a  matter,  are  unanimously  for  it.  It  was  op- 
posed by  only  four  Trustees.  In  order  to  bring  it  about,  we 
have  to  make  the  next  nine  months  equal  to  twelve,  by  working 
double  tides,  and  having  only  a  fortnight  of  vacation,  from  open- 
ing of  next  term  till  the  close  of  the  succeeding  one.  Your 
friend,  Dr.  Kidd,3  was  a  crony  of  old  Mr.  Potts's,  and  dedicated 
one  of  his  works  to  him,  in  connexion,  I  think,  with  Dr.  Green. 
He  published,  about  1815,  a  large  octavo,  on  the  Trinity ;    a 

1  The  sportive  allusion  is  to  his  having  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity  from  Lafayette  College.  This  honour  was  doubled  upon  him,  in 
1854,  by  Harvard  University. 

2  Dr.  Brownlee  survived  until  February,  1860. 

3  I  had  inquired  of  him  concerning  a  Professor  Kidd,  of  Aberdeen,  who 
had  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Princeton  in  1818. 


380  WniLE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

very  heavy  and  abstruse  work,  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  de- 
rive a  metaphysical  argument  from  mere  reason. 

Princeton,  October  24,  1843. 
When  I  parted  with  you  on  the  10th,  I  did  not  expect  to  go 
to  Synod ;  but  that  night  I  repented  and  went.  I  got  to  Newark 
about  10  P.M.  Next  morning  I  awoke  early,  and  finding  it 
clear  and  frosty,  I  traversed  the  streets  and  surveyed  the  mar- 
kets. I  breakfasted  at  the  Park  House  with  Kinney  and  Mc- 
Donald, and  their  wives.  At  9  I  ascended  the  cars  for  Morris- 
town,  and  found  myself  in  company  with  Mr.  Helm  of  Salem. 
I  have  seen  no  cars  more  agreeable.  We  arrived  at  Morristown 
about  half-past  10,  having  gone  through  a  rolling  country  ;  fer- 
tile looking;  snug  houses,  clean  hamlets,  signs  of  comfort;  in  a 
word,  a  little  New  England.  Morristown  is  a  pleasant  but  ir- 
regular village,  on  high  ground,  in  sight  of  hills.  Mr.  Johnson, 
elder  of  Mr.  Kirtland,  here  joined  us,  and  we  three  went  to- 
gether to  Newton.  Dr.  Rice,  Maclean,  and  Talmage  had  lodged 
in  Morristown,  and  taken  an  extra.  Mr.  Kirtland  was  detained 
by  a  funeral,  and  Mr.  Dumont  by  the  illness  of  his  wife.  We 
took  a  four-horse  stage-coach,  and  began  to  climb  the  hills  ;  and 
from  this  to  Newton  we  had  a  perpetual  succession  of  ups  and 
downs.  Yet  even  among  the  mountains  the  roads  are  smooth  ; 
often  however  mere  galleries,  cut  around  precipitous  ledges. 
The  inequalities,  and  the  zig-zag  of  the  trail,  made  it  eight  hours 
before  we  got  to  Newton  at  7.  It  was  35  miles.  We  had 
passed  through  places  called  Denville,  Dover,  Roekaway,  Sparta, 
(a  pleasant  village,  where  Torrey,  formerly  of  Rio,  is  New-School 
minister.)  I  was  enchanted  all  the  way  with  the  mountain  and 
valley  prospects.  Like  the  Virginia  valley,  but  not  so  much 
distant  mountain  range,  and  of  course  less  bold  than  the  Alle- 
ghany. Many  iron-works,  and  much  limestone.  Millions  of  loose 
rocks  in  the  fields  ;  yet  settlements  close  together,  and  many 
fine  houses.  The  Synod  had  been  four  hours  in  session.  Gray 
had  preached,  and  McLean  was  in  the  chair :  Rodgers  and  Im- 
brie  clerks.  We  went  in,  and  found  a  missionary  meeting  in 
progress.  Morrison  from  India  had  spoken  ;  Lowrie  was  speak- 
ing ;  then  followed  Dr.  Janeway.  Davidson  prayed,  and  the 
choir  (though  a  good  one)  balked  in  a  tune.  Perhaps  you  would 
like  the  names  of  the  bishops  :  From  the  North-west,  Foster, 
Hand,  and  Colton  ;  from  Elizabeihtown  Pby.,  Williamson,  Hunt, 
Ogden,  Murray,  (Kirtland,  2d  day,)  Cochrane,  J.  Cory,  B.  Cory, 
Street,  and  Imbrie ;  from  New  Brunswick,  Comfort,  Janeway, 
Rice,  Rodgers,  Deruelle,  Maclean,  Davidson,  McLean,  Van- 
doren,   Malum,    Hale,  Worrell,  and   Schenck ;    from    Raritan, 


1833—184:4.  381 

Kirkpatrick,  Studdiford,  Hunt,  Olmstead,  Hull,  Williams,  and 
Sherwood  ;  from  Newton,  Shafer,  Castner,  Longmore,  Gray, 
Yeomans,  Nassau,  Jonnston,  Webster,  Junkin,  Lewers,  Irwin, 
Worrell,  Tully,  McGee,  McYVilliam,  Mack,  and  Lowrie ;  from 
West  Jersey,  Beach  Jones,  Helm,  and  Lawrence.  I  lodged  at 
Dr.  Shafer's.  We  were  treated  with  great  kindness.  They  live 
well  in  Sussex  ;  it  is  a  land  of  milk  and  honey,  and  their  buck- 
wheat cakes  are  unrivalled.  Their  butter  equals  Goshen,  and  is 
their  chief  export.  Every  thing  went  on  pleasantly  at  Synod. 
There  was  no  judicial  business ;  there  were  no  angry  words. 
There  was  much  conversation  on  the  progress  of  religion  and  of 
our  benevolent  church-schemes.  A  uniform  plan  of  raising 
money  was  reported,  adopted,  and  recommended.  The  Synod 
yielded  assent  to  the  proposal  for  a  new  synod  in  Pennsylvania. 
On  Wednesday  Morrison  spoke  an  hour  on  Foreign  Missions. 
Though  a  very  Moses  in  elocution,  he  deeply  affected  every  one 
with  his  statements.  I  never  before  had  such  a  notion  of  the 
missionary's  contact  with  thousands  of  the  heathen.  Murray  fol- 
lowed with  a  very  spirited  and  effective  speech.  In  the  evening 
there  was  a  meeting  for  domestic  missions  ;  full  house  and  pul- 
pit.     Deruelle   prayed,  and   and   orated :    the  one 

as  fine  as  silk,  the  other  as  coarse  as  cordage :  is  a  splen- 
did declaimer ;    his  organ   is  incomparable.     abused  the 

Episcopalians  beyond  aught  I  ever  heard  in  public :  many  of 
them  were  there.  Inter  alia,  he  called  (horresco  referens)  the 
sign  of  the  cross,  "the  sign  of  the  beast."  On  Thursday  19th, 
some  resolutions  for  the  Free  Church  passed,  nem.  contradicente. 
Our  presbytery-minutes  occasioned  much  mirth,  by  the  Latin  of 
the  recorded  exegeses  :  it  was  horrible  indeed  ;  and  wras  pounced 
upon  by  some  of  the  Newtonian  Latinists.  They  must  have 
been  penned  by  some  Bunyan  among  us  :  "  the  Latin  I  borrow." 
e.g.  "  An  opera  bona  necessaria  sit?"  The  next  meeting  to 
be  at  New  Brunswick ;  where  Dr.  D.  is  effecting  a  painting  in 
distemper  back  of  the  pulpit.  He  introduced  a  resolution  as- 
sertory of  what  is  falsely  called  the  strict  mode  of  baptism.  He 
withdrew  it,  after  satisfying  himself  that  his  view  was  the  pop- 
ular one.  The  business  was  all  done  at  1  P.  M.  on  Thursday. 
We  spent  the  afternoon,  however,  in  devotion  ;  addresses  by  Dr. 
Rice,  Maclean,  Vandoren,  and  McLean :  and  there  was  preaching 
at  night  by  "P.  P.  clerk  of  this  parish"  [himself]. 

I  found  a  number  of  former  pupils  in  Synod,  and  there  wTere 
residing  in  Newton,  Martin  Ryerson,  Geo.  Ryerson,  Thomas 
Ryerson,  Shafer,  Thomson,  (the  surrogate,)  and  McCarter ;  all 
students  of  ours ;  from  whom  I  received  much  attention. 
Friday,  the  20th,  was  a  fine  day,  but  I  saw  quite  thick  ice,  under 


3f,C?;  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON    COLLEGE. 

the  shade  of  a  mountain,  as  late  as  half-past  nine.  Father  Com- 
fort  offered  me  a  seat  in  his  vehicle,  and  the  journey  homeward 
was  truly  delightful.  The  old  man  fought  all  his  battles  o'er 
again,  and  was  fine  company.  He  knew  every  cross-road,  and 
almost  every  house.  We  passed  several  little  crystal  lakes,  and 
abundance  of  hills  and  valleys.  We  had  in  company,  in  other 
carriages,  McLean,  Vandoren,  and  Schenck.  Our  way  was 
through  Hackettstovvn,  Schooley's  Mountain,  where  we  drank  of 
the  waters  ;  German  valley,  wrhere  we  dined  ;  Germanstown,  in 
Hunterdon  ;  Lamington,  Pluekamin,  Somerville,  Harlingen,  and 
Kingston.  We  passed  the  natal  spots  of  the  McDonnells,  I.  V. 
Brown,  and  S.  C.  Henry.  We  lodged  at  Major  Talmage's  near 
Somerville,  where  we  had  profuse  hospitality.  I  saw  Dominie 
Messier,  and  called  on  Dominie  Chambers  and  Dominie  Labagh 
of  Harlingen.  I  was,  by  a  kind  Providence,  returned  home  in 
safety  by  4  P.  M.  on  Saturday,  after  a  very  delightful  week.  I 
passed  through  nine  counties,  viz.,  Mercer,  Middlesex,  Essex, 
Morris,  Sussex,  Warren,  Hunterdon,  Passaic,  and  Somerset. 
Not  a  word  was  said  about  Elders'  impositions,  [of  hands  in  or- 
daining Ruling  Elders,]  Wife's  sister,  or  the  Psalm  Book.  I  be- 
lieve every  member  of  the  Synod  went  away  with  a  pleasant 
feeling.  Old  Dr.  Shafer  is  a  most  affectionate  and  pious  man. 
I  have  volunteered  to  preach  for  Helm  on  the  5th  of  November, 
or  Gunpowder-day.  1  learn  from  Mr.  Lowric,  who  got  here  on 
Saturday,  that  the  Philadelphia  Synod  were  in  the  trenches,  and 
like  to  be  some  days,  on  the  elder  and  quorum  question. 

Princeton,  November  2,  1S43. 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  stop  on  my  return  from  Salem,  as  the 
opening  of  our  term  will  be  so  near.  The  awakening  among  the 
Jewrs,  at  Pesth,  see  last  Missionary  Herald,  is  a  striking  event. 
There  have  been  two  more  deaths  by  small-pox,  but  it  has  not 
extended  beyond  the  family,  nor  to  any  vaccinated  subject.  Gov. 
Haines  [of  New  Jersey]  wras  my  classmate.  Dr.  Miller  speaks 
of  his  mother  as  an  eminent  Christian.  Rich.  Johnson  is  ex- 
pected here,  to  be  feted.  John  Owen,  in  his  famous  work  on 
Congregationalism,  after  declaring  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as 
a  minister,  who  has  no  congregation,  asserts  expressly,  that  the 
church  has  no  power  to  send  men  to  preach  to  the  heathen,  or 
to  any  people  not  gathered  into  a  church.  This  is  a  corollary 
to  be  sure.  He,  as  were  all  the  New  England  pilgrim  fathers, 
was  stiff  for  ruling  elders.  All  the  early  New  England  churches 
had  them.  He  (O.)  argues  plausibly,  that  the  Bible  knows  no 
visible  organized  church,  except  a  particular  congregation.  This 
was  also  the  New  England  tenet.     I  trust  those  members  of 


1833—1844.  383 

legislature  who  profess  godliness,  will  do  something  to  bring 
their  unconverted  colleagues  to  church,  &c.  Morrison  preached 
and  spoke  here  on  Sunday.  Four  young  men  of  the  Seminary 
are  assigned  to  China.  One  of  these  and  another  during  the  long 
vacation,  paid  two  thousand  family-visits  in  the  pines ;  every- 
where giving  advice,  books,  &c.  One  of  the  four,  Culbertson. 
[Rev.  M.  S.  C,  now  at  Shanghai,]  was  an  army-officer,  and 
highly  honoured  at  West  Point ;  chosen  to  go  on  some  military 
mission  to  France.  I  have  a  black  synonyme  or  homonyme 
in  Africa,  [in  one  of  the  Mission  Schools.]  Nevins  has  pub- 
lished a  pamphlet  intituled  "  The  Anxious  Seat."  The  Western 
[Theological]  Seminary  [Alleghany  city]  has  forty  students. 
Clow,  our  college  steward,  is  lord-mayor,  and  I  am  yours,  with 
much  sleepiness. 

Princeton,  November  21,  1843. 

I  preached  on  Sunday  for -.     He  is  the  best  specimen  I 

know  of  a  country  pastor,  for  demeanour,  piety,  and  sound  learn- 
ing ;  a  good  theologian,  and  a  ripe  Hebraist  and  classical  scholar. 
None  but  a  Hercules  should  attempt  three  services.    At  his  house 

I  met  Dr. ,  a  surgeon  in  the  army.     He  has  been  several 

years  in  the  south  and  west ;  his  last  post  being  Fort  Gibson. 
Last  summer  he  went  far  into  the  Indian  prairies,  with  a  com- 
mand of  mounted  dragoons,  under  Capt.  Boon,  a  son  of  the  fa- 
mous hunter  of  Kentucky.  Their  business  was  the  protection 
of  the  Santa  Fe  traders.  He  showed  me  specimens  of  the  salt- 
rock,  with  which  extensive  tracts  of  that  country  are  covered. 
He  has  been  constantly  among  the  Indians.  He  ridicules  the  no- 
tion of  savage  life  being  favourable  to  health,  and  says  he  never 
saw  more  disease  among  any  people.  Thousands  die  in  infancy. 
They  have  perpetual  coughs  and  pleurisies.  Their  doctors  have 
scarcely  any  remedies,  no  knowledge  of  herbs,  and  little  credit 
among  the  people,  except  as  conjurers.  They  had  a  sorry  fellow 
for  chaplain,  at  Fort  Gibson.  He  found  a  soldier  with  a  bottle 
of  rum,  ordered  him  to  deliver  it,  and  on  refusal  drew  a  pistol 
on  him.  On  one  occasion,  preaching,  he  chose  to  expound  the 
phrase  "  fear  and  trembling."  "  Fear,  my  brethren,"  said  he, 
"  is — is — is — the  emotion  which  fills  your  breast  upon  the  ap- 
proach of  an  enemy."  This  is  like  the  New  England  parson, 
who,  in  preaching  before  a  court,  prayed  "  that  all  their  decis- 
ions might  be  overruled.''''  You  will  seldom  find  a  more  enchant- 
ing drive  than  the  upper  end  of  the  river-road  to  Lambertville ; 
I  mean  in  summer.  Studdiford  has  an  English  MS.  of  a  tract 
of  Wicklif's  in  good  preservation,  on  vellum,  which  is  at  least 
four  hundred  years  old.    You  should  see  it.    A  work  of  thrilling 


384  WHILE   PROFESSOR   LN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

interest  has  appeared,  intituled  "  Letters  to  a  very  young  Lady : " 
it  is  not  certain  whether  by  Chalmers  or  Macaulay.1  It  is  likely 
to  move  both  hemispheres.  I  fear  a  church  can  never  be  sup- 
ported at  Titusville ;  the  district  is  too  small,  and  nobody  is 
likely  to  attend  from  Pennsylvania.2  Dr.  Phillips's  people 
[Wall  Street  Church,  New  York]  have  bought  ground  up  town, 
[Fifth  Avenue.]  I  am  told  that  Merle  d'Aubigne  makes  nothing 
beyond  expenses  by  his  original  work,  few  copies  of  the  French 
being  sold.  Suppose  you  and  I  get  him  to  send  us  a  copy  in 
advance,  and  give  him  part  proceeds  of  the  translation,  which 
would  have  a  great  sale.  We  have  admitted  more  than  seA'enty 
students,  of  whom  more  than  twenty  are  communicants.  From 
a  concurrence  of  causes,  my  teaching  labours  are  trebled  this 
year.  In  Charlotte  Elizabeth's  Magazine,  this  dashing  woman 
declares  Cowper's  melancholy  to  have  been  a  judgment  on  him 
for  translating  Homer :  an  odd  prolepsis,  surely,  inasmuch  as 
he  tried  to  hang  himself  shortly  after  he  was  of  age,  and  never 
thought  of  his  translation  until  he  was  more  than  fifty.  All  she 
ever  will  write  will  do  less  for  the  gospel  than  Cowper's  Task, 
Truth,  Charity,  Expostulation,  and  Hymns.  His  translation, 
like  his  other  works,  was  the  refuge  from  a  madness,  which  but 
for  this  would  have  driven  him  to  suicide,  or  at  least  to  the  cells. 
Though  he  is  not  our  only  Christian  poet,  he  is  certainly  (of  the 
great  ones)  our  only  evangelical  one.  The  cruelty  of  the  asper- 
sion is  affecting.  The  woman  is  deaf  herself.  When  Charles 
the  Second  taunted  Milton  with  losing  his  sight,  as  a  judgment, 
Milton  reminded  him  that  his  majesty's  father  had  lost  his  head. 
And  when  Warburton,  in  a  like  vein,  told  old  Quin,  that  all  the 
regicide  judges  came  to  a  bloody  end,  the  actor  replied,  "  The 
same,  your  lordship  may  observe,  is  true  of  the  twelve  apostles." 
Missionary  Morrison  preached  on  Sunday  at  Pennington.  Dr. 
Hare  departs  tomorrow,  [for  Philadelphia  ;]  he  does  not  abandon 
his  school  scheme. 

Princeton,  December  11,  1843. 
I  send  you  a  catalogue  of  the  Seminary.  The  commercial 
turn  of  the  Seminary  is  evident  from  the  accession  of  "  Byers  " 
and  "  Sellers."  Mr.  Webber  has  been  a  Texan  major.  Thomas 
Thomas  is  a  Welshman.  Mr.  Byers  is  a  Nova-Scotian  licen- 
tiate. W.  Scudder  is  a  Ceylonese.  I  do  not  know  any 
thing  which  I  ever  read  so  much  from  a  sense  of  duty,  as  the 

1  A  work  of  his  own,  published  by  the  Sunday  School  Union,  pp.  251. 

2  This  proved  a  groundless  fear.  The  enterprise  has  flourished  so  well 
that  a  handsome  church  edifice  has  already  succeeded  the  one  first 
occupied. 


1833—1844,  385 

"  Message :  "  it  teaches  one  nothing,  and  gives  no  amusement. 
On  Thanksgiving  Day,  I  preached  on  the  blessing  of  Peace. 
We  were  providentially  prevented  by  the  storm  from  having 
our  parents  to  dine  with  us,  as  projected^  but  through  divine  fa- 
vour we  had  the  whole  remainder  of  our  large  family.  It  was 
an  event  to  be  recorded  with  thanksgiving,  as  it  has  not  occurred 
for  many  years,  nor  is  likely  ever  to  occur  again  ;  at  least  at 
such  a  season.  We  endeavoured  to  rejoice  and  be  merry,  and 
ate  and  drank  :  2  Sam.  vi.  19.  We  cannot  in  English  compress 
like  the  Latins  :  this  morning  I  read  with  my  class  Juvenal's 
nemo  mains  felix.  My  father  has  a  severe  catarrh ;  so  has  Dod  ; 
so  has  Dr.  Miller ;  so  has  Dr.  Hodge.  The  latest  Oxford 
Bibles  contain  the  following  orthographic  anomalies  :  "  subtil, 
sycomore,  agone,  goodman,  intreat,  injoin,  subtilly,  sneesed, 
fetcht,  ringstraked,  scrowl,  Nicolaitanes,  vallies."  I  have  a 
serious  request  to  make  of  you,  in  which  my  feelings  are  very 
much  interested.  There  ought  to  appear  an  article  in  our 
Princeton  paper  on  Drinking  and  drinking-houses ;  and  I  wish 
not  to  be  the  writer.  Do  me  the  favour  to  send  me  such  a 
piece  on  the  following,  brief,  sharp,  and  short :  "  Beer-houses ; 
danger  even  of  fermented  liquors ;  groups  of  young  men  at 
doors  of  such  places  ;  effect  on  good  name  ;  the  hind  of  men  who 
frequent ;  the  sudden  fall  of  many  not  reputed  drunkards ;  de- 
lirium tremens,  &c."  The  whole  intended  to  warn  young  men, 
and  to  show  that  such  persons  attract  public  attention.  Chalmers, 
in  a  written  report,  has  a  sentence  much  like  this  :  "  there  are 
other  channels,  the  foundations  of  which  are  conncctable  with  our 
object."  Prof.  Dod  begins  this  evening  a  course  of  lectures  on 
Architecture  in  the  Seminary,  ladies  to  be  admitted ;  Monday 
and  Wednesday  evenings.  So  [Daniel]  O'Connell,  lawyer  like, 
is  going  to  slip  through  the  meshes  of  the  law.  There  are  said 
to  be  30,000  witnesses  on  his  side.  Dr.  Chalmers  has  sent  for 
the  Repertory,  and  requests  a  review  of  his  Romans.1  [Pro- 
fessor] Stuart  ought  to  understand  the  Revelation ;  he  has  been 
lecturing  on  it  25  years.  In  Den's  Theology,  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic text-book,  high  Predestinarianism  is  taught,  exactly  as  Tuv- 
retine  teaches  it.  I  see  Sydney  Smith  writes  common-shore 
[sewer]  exactly  as  it  is  pronounced.  The  probable  withdrawing 
of  Calhoun  from  the  presidential  race,  will  greatly  brighten  up 
Van  Buren's  prospect.  I  pray  against  the  annexation  of  Texas  j 
it  would  spread  slavery  over  Mexico,  and  I  fear  add  a  century 

1  The  theological  works  of  Dr.  Chalmers  were  reviewed  by  Mr.  Alexander, 
in  the  Repertory  of  January,  1841,  and  those  on  education  and  ecclesias- 
tical economy  in  the  number  for  October,  1842.  Part  of  the  first  article 
was  by  his  father. 

VOL.  I.—17 


386  WHILE   PKOFESSOK   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

to  its  existence  in  the  United  States.  Nothing  but  the  opening 
of  new  cotton  and  sugar  lands  within  twenty  years  has  prevented 
the  abolition  of  slavery  (at  least  in  regard  to  post-nati)  in  Mary 
land,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee.  If  a  wall  were  built 
around  these  States,  the  slaves  would  eat  their  own  heads  off  in 
a  twelvemonth. 

Princeton,  December  30,  1843. 
Dr.  Cunningham  has  been  here  for  several  days  ;  but  this  is 
not  his  main  visit.  He  is  altogether  the  most  satisfactory  for- 
eigner I  have  seen.  By  the  Scotch  papers  I  perceive  he  ranks 
among  the  first  four  or  five  in  the  Free  Church.  Height  about 
6  ft.,  and  large  in  proportion ;  a  stout  but  finely  formed  man ; 
very  handsomely  dressed,  and  in  an  eminent  degree  the  gentle- 
man, in  every  thing  but  excess  of  snuff.  Age,  I  reckon,  about 
41  ;  spectacles.  A  shock  of  thick  curly  hair.  He  has  no  airs 
of  patronage.  Powerful  reasoning  and  sound  judgment  seem  to 
be  his  characteristics ;  and  he  is  a  walking  treasury  of  facts, 
dates,  and  ecclesiastical  law.  I  heard  him  for  an  hour,  on 
Friday,  in  a  speech  to  the  students.  Indescribable  Scotch  into- 
nation, (but  little  idiom,)  and  convulsion  of  body,  but  flowing, 
elegant  language,  and  amazing  power  in  presenting  argument. 
Though  his  manner  is  rugged  and  uncouth,  and  he  has  no  sign  ol 
imagination,  yet  when  he  gets  on  tender  topics  of  religion,  he  is 
so  scriptural,  and  so  sound,  that  one  is  affected  by  what  he  says. 
I  have  seldom  listened  to  a  man  with  more  instruction.  New 
and  Old  School  in  New  York  have  joined  in  regard  to  him,  and 
he  has  preached  for  both  sides,  On  Sunday  he  is  to  preach  for 
Drs.  Phillips  and  Potts.  On  the  26th  and  27th  I  was  in  Bruns- 
wick— visitation,  [of  committee  of  Presbytery,]  Rodgers  and  I 
were  the  only  foreign  bishops,  Good  assemblies.  Three  weeks 
ago  McClelland  preached  in  the  Second  Dutch  church,  on  pro- 
fane swearing.  He  said  that  on  a  recent  occasion  he  had  gone 
to  Rahway  in  the  cars,  and  had  Gounted  seventy  oaths.  Also 
"  It  was  once  customary  to  rend  the  garments  on  hearing  a  false 
oath :  if  this  were  customary  here,  we  should  all  go  naked." 
"  The  sin  prevails  from  the  President  in  his  bed,  to  the  beggar 
on  his  dunghill."  My  father's  address  at  Lexington  [College] 
is  printed ;  but  the  fashion  of  sending  a  copy  to  the  author  has 
not  been  introduced  there.  On  Christmas  day  we  were  favoured 
of  Providence  to  meet,  all  of  us,  at  my  father's,  with  three  dis- 
tant relations.  My  father  preached  an  Advent  sermon.  New 
Year's  day  is  the  New  York  saints'  day.  I  am  concerned  at 
having  to  say  that  good  old  Dr.  Miller  is  quite  ill,  with  pleurisy. 
The  loss  of  him  would  be  a  sad  blow  to  us,     I  think  him  one  of 


1833—1844.  387 

the  most  conscientious  and  pious  men  I  ever  knew.  His  be- 
haviour in  a  parlour-controversy  is  an  example  to  every  one,  and 
has  often  put  me  to  shame.  According  to  the  New  England  de- 
cision about  incest,  a  man  may  now  marry  his  step-mother ; 
thus  it  is  likely  to  be  no  longer  so  odd  a  thing  "  that  one  should 
have  his  father's  wife."  Cunningham  says  the  prejudice  against 
reading  sermons  is  still  very  general  in  Scotland,  and  that  com- 
mitting to  memory  is  the  prevalent  method ;  the  Moderates 
have  always  read.  Cunningham  is  to  be  professor  of  Church- 
polity,  &c,  with  Chalmers,  \Velsh,  and  Duncan,  in  their  new 
college,  which  is  already  in  operation.  I  have  had  a  file  of  "  the 
Witness,"  which  gives  all  the  speeches  in  October.  The  men  I 
should  like  to  hear  are  five,  three  ministers  and  two  elders  :  1. 
Chalmers;  2.  Guthrie;  3.  Crichton;  4.  Gordon;  5.  Dunlop.  My 
wife  and  I  desire  to  wish  you  and  yours  every  blessing  in  the 
new-year.  For  a  motto,  I  will  give  you  "  Is  any  thing  too  hard 
for  the  Lord  ?  " 

Princeton,  January  25,  1844. 
Did  you  observe  how  distinctly  Dr.  Cunningham  said  juty 
for  duty?  He  says,  Lighton,  (Leigliton^)  and  so  I  find  it  writ- 
ten in  old  Scotch  books.  We  have  about  $500  subscribed  in 
Princeton,  [for  Free  Church.]  Potts,  I  think,  is  gaining  on 
Wainwright,  [in  newspaper  controversy  on  Episcopacy.]  The 
latter  has  no  more  logic  than  a  pudding.  Our  present  plan  of 
Presbyterial  visitation  is  a  great  waste  of  labour.  If  the  com- 
mittee were  all  together,  they  might  confer,  and  stir  one  another 
up.  As  it  is,  the  visit  becomes  a  simple  protracted  meeting, 
and  that  of  the  least  profitable  sort.  Poor  Dr.  Rice,  who  is  a 
most  affectionate  father,  has  heard  of  the  death  of  his  second  daugh- 
ter, wife  of  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Forman,  of  Versailles,  Ky.  The  Dr. 
has  some  good  signs  in  his  congregation.  From  eight  to  twelve 
seeming  conversions  within  a  week  or  two.  I  have  taken  some 
pains  to  examine  the  series  of  texts  preached  on  by  Whitefield  and 
Wesley  :  few  of  them  are  odd,  or  even  uncommon  ;  they  are  the 
familiar,  evangelical,  everlasting  verses,  which  God  has  owned  in 
all  ages.  I  have  been  reading,  with  great  delight,  the  Life  of  Dr. 
Waugh,  a  Scotch  minister  who  died  about  fifteen  years  ago  in  Lon- 
don. He  was  a  man  of  great  eloquence,  and  a  leader  in  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society.  The  average  of  his  sermons  for  forty- 
six  years  was  three  a  sabbath,  and  about  400  over.  I  have 
consulted  several  Scotch  and  one  English  copy  of  the  catechism, 

1  Dr.  Alexander  for  a  long  time  followed  the  Moravian  custom  of  adopt- 
ing a  "  year-word,"  or  text  for  the  year ;  and  while  a  pastor  in  New  York, 
gave  a  sermon  upon  it  to  his  congregation  on  the  first  Lord's-day  of  every 
year. 


388  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

and  find  in  all,  scriptures  in  the  plural.  Wines  is  coming  back 
here.  A  student  in  the  Seminary  lives  on  bread  and  water.  I 
have  heard  that  [Lyman]  Coleman,  (brother  of  the  cross-ban- 
neret) [Editor  of  "  The  Banner  of  the  Cross,"  an  Episcopal  peri- 
odical in  Philadelphia,]  is  about  to  issue  an  anti-prelatic  book, 
composed  by  him  at  Berlin,  under  the  guidance  of  Neander. 
["  The  Apostolic  and  Primitive  Church,"  with  Introduction  by 

Neander.]     Mrs. ,  an  excellent  old  lady,  but  not  a  respecter 

of  Priscian's  head,  being  once  at  my  father's,  when  two  of  our 
Greeks  were  there,  turned  round  and  said,  "  Am  they  Scotch  ?" 
I  have  heard  an  affecting  story  of  poor  Nordheimer.  He  fore- 
saw his  death,  and,  calculating  pretty  well  when  it  would  come, 
gave  double  recitations  as  long  as  he  could  sit  up,  so  that  his  class 
might  lose  nothing.  His  Grammar  is  lauded  in  Gesenius's  last 
edition  of  Lexicon.  There  is  a  great  stir  among  the  Baptists  at 
Penn's  Neck,  on  the  straight  turnpike  from  Trenton  to  Bruns- 
wick. Dr.  Scudder  is  to  be  here  this  week.  Dod  is  lecturing 
twice  a  week  to  crowds  of  Seminarists  and  ladies,  on  Architec- 
ture. He  has  reached  his  tenth  lecture.  I  wonder  if  Cunningham 
wrill  wake  up  the  Philadelphians  much.  He  is  a  powerful  fel- 
low ;  and  a  noble  instance  of  what  may  be  done  without  any 
pathos  or  any  decoration.     How  I  rejoice  that  Father  Pollock 

[page  200]   has  had  the  hearing  of  him ! has  one  good 

quality — he  is  afraid  of  nobody.  I  believe  him  also  to  be  abso- 
lutely ignorant  of  personal  rancour  in  controversy  :  he  would  be 
the  first  man  in  town  to  ask  his  enemy  to  dinner,  after  oceans  of 
abuse ;  and  that  not  of  policy,  but  out  of  real  good  will.  Dr. 
Miller,  after  a  sore  attack,  begins  to  walk  about  the  house. 
Grace  seems  to  work  in  him,  under  this  trial.  I  have  a  book 
(some  150  pp.)  nearly  ready  for  Sunday  School  Union,  ["  Good — 
Better — Best."]  It  is  a  narrative,  but  not  aimed  at  children.  Sub- 
ject :  the  three  methods  of  relieving  human  misery  ;  to  show 
that  doing  good  to  men's  souls  brings  other  relief  in  its  train. 

Princeton,  February  20,  1844. 
The  Scotch  delegates  thicken  upon  us  :  we  have  had  [Rev. 
Dr.]  Burns  and  [Elder]  Fergusson,  and  are  daily  expecting 
Lewis,  who  has  arrived  at  New  York.  Burns,  you  know,  is  in 
Witherspoon's  pulpit,  at  Paisley:  he  has  been  settled  there  thirty- 
three  years.  He  is  one  of  the  most  learned  men  in  Scotland — has 
edited  Halybur ton's  works,  Woclrow's  history,  and  is  author  of 
Memoirs  of  Prof.  McGill.  Burns's  manner  in  the  pulpit  (gesture 
excepted)  is  more  outre  than  Cunningham's.  But  his  sermon 
was  noble,  rich,  original,  scriptural,  and  evangelical,  and  in  dic- 
tion elegant :  and  his  closing  prayer  was  seraphic.     Fergusson  is 


1833—1844.  389 

a  smallish  man,  about  37  :  about  the  dress  and  ways  of  a  com. 
mon  weaver  ;  no  apparent  shirt.  I  was  thunderstruck — especial- 
ly when  I  found  that  Chalmers  had  picked  him  out.  But  my 
wonder  ceased  when  I  heard  him,  on  the  evening  of  the  ]  8th. 
He  spoke  an  hour  and  three-quarters  by  the  watch — I  wish  it 
had  been  twice  as  long.  In  the  first  half  of  his  speech  he  erred,. 
by  causing  too  much  laughter.  His  vis  comica  is  amazing.  In 
the  latter  part  he  arose  to  a  height  of  passion  such  as  I  have  sel- 
dom witnessed.  A  critic  would  have  condemned  every  thing  in 
the  elocution  and  gesture — but  the  eloquence  was  penetrating 
and  transporting.  I  found  Addison  affected  precisely  as  I  was. 
In  a  word,  it  is  utterly  vain  for  me  to  communicate  to  you  any 
idea  of  the  degree  of  his  power.  As  he  rose,  his  diction  became 
elegant  and  sublime.  And  yet  he  is  only  a  merchant  of  Dundee. 
A  bad  sore-throat  prevails  here.  My  father  has  been  serious- 
ly, perhaps  dangerously,  ill  with  it.  There  is  certainly  a  more 
general  attention  to  religion  here  than  I  have  ever  known,  but 
nothing  like  excitement.  Scores  of  persons,  who  have  neglected 
ordinances  for  years,  come  to  every  thing.  Some  of  our  most  sub- 
stantial men  and  women  are  affected.  I  suppose  a  hundred  copies 
of  the  "  Way  of  Life,"  [by  Dr.  Hodge,]  and  the  "  Great  Change," 
[by  Dr.  Bedford,]  have  been  sold  here  within  a  few  weeks.  The 
latter  has  been  blessed  to  the  awakening  of  a  number.  A  most 
visible  effect  has  taken  place  on  our  tavern-haunters.  In  college 
we  have  little  appearance  of  revival.  Deruelle  preached  a  very 
good  sermon  here  last  week.  Burns  thinks  Chammers  (so  they  all. 
call  him)  will  be  out  in  the  summer.  Dr.  Miller  has  recovered. 
I  went  to  the  African  church  on  Sunday  to  hear   [Elymas  P.] 

Rogers,  and  heard  a  black  named .      He  preached  on  Saving 

Faith,  from  the  text,  "  In  your  faith  possess  ye  your  souls." 
Happily,  he  did  not  name  chapter  and  verse.  With  a  lecture 
of  an  hour  every  morning,  a  recitation  every  afternoon,  and  once 
or  twice  a  week  a  sermon  at  night,  I  am  kept  in  pretty  good  ten- 
sion. Burns  says  he  preaches  four  times  on  Sunday,  a  good  part  of 
his  time.     I  am  told  Fergusson  failed  in  speaking  in  Philadelphia. 

Princeton,  March  T,  1844. 

Mr.  Lewis  of  Dundee  spoke  twice  here  this  week.  He  is  a 
gentlemanly  man,  and  gave  us  a  delightful  gospel-sermon.  On 
leap-day  [Feb.  29]  I  married  a  black  couple :  the  bridegroom 
and  bridemaid  were  both  one-eyed. 

Since  I  began  this  letter,  a  mournful  event  has  occurred — the 
death  of  Mrs.  [B.  H.]  Rice.  She  was  ill  about  seventeen  days.  Her 
fever  was  violent  and  unyielding  from  the  beginning.  It  left  her, 
for  several  days  before  her  death,  in  a  state  of  extreme  prostration. 


390  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Her  mind  was  all  peace,  -without  a  single  cloud  or  anxiety,  and 
she  declared  her  triumph  in  Christ.  Her  friends,  though  deeply 
grieved,  are  filled  with  a  sense  of  divine  grace  as  displayed  in  her 
remarkable  faith  and  hope.  Poor  Dr.  Rice  will  feel  his  loss 
more  hereafter.  I  know  no  man  who  leaned  more  upon  a  wife, 
nor  any  woman  more  remarkably  fitted  to  cheer  a  desponding 
husband.  She  was  as  pious,  open-hearted,  benevolent,  and  self- 
sacrificing  a  person  as  I  ever  saw  ;  and  it  is  a  general  expression 
in  town,  that  every  one  has  lost  a  personal  friend.  Thus  my 
good  old  father  has,  within  a  month,  lost  the  oldest  and  the 
youngest  of  his  brothers  and  sisters.  He  has  one  brother  aod 
two  sisters  surviving.  I  was  at  Worrell's  [Monmouth  co.]  visita- 
tion on  Saturday  and  Sunday,  and  had  some  hard  work.  Next 
Sunday  is  our  Communion.  About  thirty  will  make  profession 
of  faith.  The  seriousness  is  not  abated.  Jt  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  that  no  one  means  of  awakening  has  been  so  much  blessed 
here,  as  the  putting  of  books  into  people's  hands  ;  especially, 
"  The  Great  Change,"  and  "  The  Way  of  Life."  We  have  had 
no  inquiry-meetings,  and  latterly  no  increase  of  preaching. 
Domestic  prayer-meetings  have  been  a  good  deal  multiplied. 
My  father  has  not  regained  his  strength,  though  he  passes  for 
well. 

Princeton,  March  16,  1844. 
Dr.  Cunningham  is  here  again  ;  chiefly  to  gather  some  hints 
about  theological  instruction.  He  has  been  laid  up  with  lumbago. 
He  grows  in  my  esteem  as  a  man  of  knowledge,  piety,  and  con- 
summate prudence. — (Sunday.)  I  heard  Cunningham  this  morn- 
ing, in  the  Seminary  chapel.  Text,  2  Cor.  v.  14, 15.  He  explained 
the  text,  as  I  have  for  twenty  years  found  myself  constrained 
to  understand  it :  "  if  one  died  (airiOavev)  for  all — then  all  died," 
(cnriQavov.)  The  sermon  was  a  most  able  one,  uniting  the  high- 
est degrees  of  plainness,  argument,  and  unction.  He  read  it,  but 
exactly  as  he  made  his  address.  There  was  no  ornament  or  illus- 
tration. In  the  evening  Dr.  C.  preached  ;  Heb.  vii.  26,  "  Seeing 
he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us."  Fifty  minutes.  I.  The 
nature  of  the  intercession.  II.  Practical  application ;  in  regard 
(1,)  to  the  sins  of  believers ;  (2,)  to  the  circumstances  of  believ- 
ers ;  (3,)  to  their  prayers  ;  (4,)  to  their  prospects  and  ultimate 
happiness. .  It  was  a  noble  sermon,  as  plain  and  unillustrated  as 
before,  but  mighty  in  argument,  and  robustly  eloquent.  A  very 
touching  passage,  seemingly  for  poor  Dr.  Rice.  In  his  prayer 
he  used  that  phrase  of  our  excellent  (Presbyterian)  liturgy, 
"  bless  this  corner  of  thy  vineyard."  Quaere  de  hoc :  how 
many  corners  has  this  polygon  ?  are  all   the  churches  at  the  cor 


1833—1844.  391 

tiers  ?  He  nevertheless  prayed  with  great  solemnity  and  devo- 
tion. In  private,  I  am  full  of  admiration  for  his  considerate  and  dis- 
creet and  gentlemanlike  demeanour  and  words. — [Monday.)  Sen- 
nakerim  called  here  just  now  p.  p.  c,  with  a  younger  brother. 
He  has  been  in  America  seven  years,  and  goes  back  to  Stamboul,  as 
a  naturalized  citizen,  and  M.D.  He  has  always  behaved  himself 
very  well.  None  of  our  outlandishmen  have  been  less  offensive. 
Dr.  Rice  admitted  36  on  profession  of  their  faith.  For  the  sake 
of  a  testimony  for  truth  and  godliness,  I  wish  Frelinghuysen 
could  be  elected  Vice  President.  I  do  not  think  I  shall  vote  for 
Clay.  I  think  Potts  and  Wainwright  have  been  at  it  long 
enough,  and  should  be  choked  off.  A  new  periodical,  (probably) 
to  be  called  the  Scottish  Review,  ["  North  British  Review,"]  will 
begin  next  month.  The  first  number  will  have  articles  by  Chal- 
mers, Candlish,  Sir  David  Brewster,  Welsh,  &c.  *  It  will  not  be 
merely  religious.  They  want  American  articles,  and  will  pay 
£15  a  sheet.  Reviews  of  American  books  of  travel  are  specially 
mentioned.  Dr.  Chalmers  says  (in  a  note  I  heard  read  just 
now)  that  his  class  numbers  209  :  Dr.  Lee's,  (University  of 
Edinburgh,)  30.  A  tract  of  my  father's  has  been  published  in 
Armenian.  The  papers  have  given  our  late  LL.D.  to  John,  in- 
stead of  Alexander  Dunlop.  They  are  very  different  men.  The 
latter  is  the  chief  legal  defender  of  the  Free  Church.  His  an- 
swer to  the  Dean  of  Faculty  (Hope)  is  both  a  cogent  and  an 
elegant  thing.  Dunlop  is  lineally  descended  from  two  of  the 
greatest  leaders  of  the  Scotch  Kirk,  (Dr.  Carstairs,  the  friend  of 
William  III.,  and  Dr.  Robertson,  the  historian.) 

Prixceton,  March  22,  1844. 
Dr.  Burns  has  been  here  ;  and,  spite  of  my  prejudices,  I  must 
say  he  preached,  on  Wednesday  evening,  one  of  the  very  noblest 
discourses  I  ever  heard.  The  text  was,  Zee.  xiii.  7,  "  Awake,  O 
sword,"  etc.  It  was  teeming  with  Scripture,  but  even  the  most 
familiar  texts  were  made  brilliant  by  their  setting  and  connexion. 
I  did  not  see  him  in  private.  You  must  read  Webster's  speech 
in  the  Girard  College  case  :  it  is  a  noble  defence  of  the  Bible, 
the  ministry,  and  religious  training.  I  am  to  have  a  recitation 
four  days  in  the  week,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  all  summer. 
You  see  Dr.  Potts  has  gone  up  town,  [University  Place  Church.] 
Smyth's  [of  Charleston]  sermon  on  the  Free  Church  is  out  in 
Edinburgh.  The  Edinburgh  Witness  (of  which  I  have  had  the 
reading  lately)  is  conducted  with  great  power.  Plan  of  the 
Record ;  but  the  editor,  Hugh  Miller,  is  a  genius,  and  a  writer 
of  extraordinary  force  and  originality.  He  was  a  common  mason 
at  Cromarty,  is  now  a  leading  geologist,  and  author.     His  severi- 


392  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN"   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

ties  are  like  those  of  Brougham  ;  who,  by-the-bye,  is  coming  out 
in  a  book  against  us, 

Princeton,  April  9,  1844. 

If  it  had  been  in  my  power  I  should  have  hastened  to  Trenton 
upon  receiving  your  note.  But  I  was  suffering  from  an  attack 
of  sore-throat  and  influenza.  I  am  particularly  glad  to  hear  that 
your  brother  George  is  better ;  though  from  what  you  have  said 
from  time  to  time  I  gather  that  his  case  is  serious.     What  you 

say  of is  really  melancholy,  if  not  alarming.     His  giving 

up  music  is  like  King  Saul's  flinging  the  javelin  at  David.     The 

Rev.  Tract  Agent is  here.     He  is  a  pleasant,  scholarly, 

gentlemanly  man,  and  made  a  fine  impression,  even  on  some 
among  us  who  like  few  things  from  the  pulpit.  Coal-porter 
[Colporteur]  is  like  to  be  a  famous  word  in  Anglo-American. 
You  must  be  sure  to  attend  the  Methodist  Conference  in  your 
city.  When  I  was  at  the  last  one  in  Trenton,  I  thought  it  the 
most  decorous  ecclesiastical  body  I  ever  saw.  So  old  Mr. 
Duponceau  [of  Philadelphia]  is  dead.  Soon  there  will  be  none 
left  of  the  magnates  we  used  to  look  up  to,  and  the  great  men 
will  be  our  own  coevals.  Soon  you  will  be  startled  with  the 
compellation  of  "  Father  Hall," — "  the  venerable  father,  who  last 
addressed  you," — "  the  dear  old  man  !  I  call  him  my  spiritual 
father" — "  years  should  speak,"  &c.  You  ought  to  follow  up 
your  piece  in  the  Presbyterian,  on  Church-schools.  It  is  a  good 
string,  and  this  is  a  good  time.  Only  this  morning  I  had  a  let- 
ter from  Richmond,  entreating  for  a  man  to  set  up  a  Female 
Seminary  there ;  "  what  we  want,"  he  says,  "  is  to  get  a  first-rate 
Presbyterian  school,  and  thus  be  relieved  of  the  necessity  of 
having  our  daughters  educated  Episcopalians." 

You  see  the  Abolitionists  are  out  upon  the  Scotchmen,  for 
fingering  the  wages  of  iniquity,  [receiving  donations  for  the  Free 
Church  from  slaveholders.]  They  will  learn  a  lesson  as  to  the 
animus  of  American  anti-slavery  men.  Having  to  go  to  College 
at  6i  A.  M.,  I  find  my  "  matinal  labours,"  as  Walsh  calls  them, 
somewhat  onerous.  Dr.  Yeomans  wrote  to  me  that  they  had 
115  students  in  Lafayette  College.  Parke  Godwin,  the  leading 
Fourierite,  is  an  alumnus  of  the  College  and  Seminary.  Cooke 
represents  the  scheme  as  becoming  formidable,  from  the  numbers 
taken  in.  What  a  delightful  book  might  be  made  about  Phila- 
delphia, if  somebody  would  do  what  Watson  ["  Annals  of  Phila- 
delphia"] tried  to  do: — antiquities,  growth  of  city,  views  of 
all  the  old  buildings,  abundance  of  pictures,  Penn,  Benezet, 
Franklin,  Morris,  Rush,  Wistar,  White,  Collin,  Eastburn, 
Girard,   Duponceau,  Peale,  &c.      Could  not   you  recall  some 


1833—1844.  393 

of  the  incidents  of  your  youth  1  Capt.  Cox  ?  David  Allen  1  old 
Carswell  1  Mr.  McElwaine  1  [all  of  his  father's  church  in  Pine 
street.]  I  am  more  and  more  convinced,  that  the  greatest  prep- 
aration for  preaching  extempore,  is  to  know  the  English  Bible 
by  heart.  An  old  black  man,  78  years  old,  has  learned  to  read, 
within  six  months,  in  this  place.  This  being  election-day,  there 
has  been  not  a  little  cursing  of  the  "  parsons,"  who  all  vote  the 
Clay  ticket,  if  any.  You  see  that  Pettit  has  made  another  speech 
in  Congress,  [against  chaplains,]  and  again  has  had  no  echo.  I 
wish  old  Adams  would  take  him  in  hand.  Hammit,  of  Congress, 
was  a  Methodist  preacher  in  Virginia  when  I  lived  there.  The 
Irish  Catholics  have  been  in  treaty  for  an  old  stone  house  just 
back  of  my  garden,  for  a  mass-house.  If  they  succeed,  you  are 
invited  to  the  consecration. 

»  Princeton,  April  14,  1844.1 

Though  I  thought  a  great  deal  about  you,  I  did  not  dare  to 
write  until  I  received  John's  letter,  which  contained  such  com- 
fortable statements,  that  I  feel  as  if  the  opening  were  plain.  I 
need  scarcely  say  I  sympathize  with  you  and  your  mother,  most 
deeply,  under  this  affliction.  It  is  true  of  your  family,  as  of 
ours,  that  death  has  spared  you  long,  only  to  make  the  blow  of 
bereavement  more  severe.  My  recollection  of  George  goes 
back  to  a  very  early  period,  and  my  renewed  acquaintance  with 
him,  not  many  months  ago,  brought  me  into  still  nearer  acquaint- 
ance with  his  kind  and  affectionate  qualities.  But  I  will  not 
enlarge  upon  those  considerations,  which  only  serve  to  aggravate 
your  loss.  I  know  you  feel  it  in  your  inmost  soul.  I  know  in 
some  degree,  what  an  interest  you  took  in  your  brother's  pros- 
perity, and  that  his  death  must  inflict  a  corresponding  wound. 
And  I  think  it  very  likely,  that  under  the  first  impulse  of  the 
trial,  you  find  yourself  the  subject  of  entirely  new  experience, 
and  in  danger  of  being  "  swallowed  up  of  overmuch  sorrow." 
And  a  certain  time  must  elapse,  before  you  can  respond  alto- 
gether to  those  statements  of  divine  truth,  which  are  applicable 
to  your  present  condition,  and  which  you  will  afterwards  feel  in 
all  their  force.  It  is  my  wish  and  prayer,  that  you,  and  your 
bereaved  mother,  and  all  the  family,  may  be — not  simply  com- 
forted— but  what  is  infinitely  better,  sanctified  by  means  of  this 
affliction.  For  surely,  if  George  is  in  heaven,  as  we  are  per- 
mitted to  think  he  is,  what  have  we  more  to  wish  for  him  1 
what  have  we  more  to  wish  for  ourselves  1     Don't  think  of  him 

1 1  insert  this  letter  of  condolence  on  the  death  of  a  brother,  notwith- 
etanding  it  was  first  addressed  to  my  sister. 


394  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

as  suffering,  and  dying — all  that  is  past — it  is  no  more  to  him 
than  the  suffering  of  your  infancy  is  to  you — think  of  him  as 
"  with  Christ,"  "  present  with  the  Lord," — adoring  the  infinite 
grace  which  saves  sinners.  The  moment  he  departed,  all  the 
anxious  prayers  you  ever  put  up  for  him  were  in  an  instant 
answered.  Now  let  me  very  earnestly  recommend  to  you,  as 
a  duty  you  owe  to  Christ,  not  to  brood  over  the  dark  part  of  a 
dispensation  which  has  so  very  bright  a  side.  O  that  we  may 
all  be  led  to  look  more  at  the  slightness  of  the  hold  we  have  on 
friends,  and  be  prepared  to  go  with  them ! 

I  have  said  these  few  words,  not  as  believing  there  was  any 
information  to  be  given  you,  but  as  a  testimony  that  you  are  not 
forgotten  in  your  afflictions.  And  I  beg  that  you  will  assure 
your  mother  and  sister  of  my  tender  condolence.  But  how  shall 
1  speak  of  his  widow  1  The  Lord  must  comfort  her ;  I  trust  He 
does  ;  I  am  sure  He  will.  I  felt  disposed  to  write  to  her,  but  did 
not  feel  that  I  had  any  call  to  intrude  in  this  way,  so  soon  after 
an  unspeakable  trial. 

Every  member  of  my  father's  family  feels  the  blow  which 
has  fallen  on  yours.  We  have  ourselves  had  a  great  loss,  in  the 
death  of  Aunt  Rice.  God  grant  that  each  of  us  may  be  pre- 
pared in  the  clay  of  His  coming  ! 

I  do  not  look  for  a  reply  until  such  time  as  you  shall  feel 
able  to  say  something  more  calmly  than  you  now  can. 

Princeton,  May  6,  1844. 
has  written  an  article  [for  a  religious  paper]  on  the 


Elder  Question,  [the  right  of  Ruling  Elders  to  participate  in  the 
act  of  ordination.]  The  chief  points  are  these  :  1.  The  Scrip- 
tures ascribe  to  the  people  an  important  part  in  the  government 
of  the  church.  2.  Ruling  Elders  are  the  representatives  of  the 
people,  in  the  exercise  of  this  power,  and  are  so  called  in  our 
Standards.  3.  The  office  is  therefore  of  divine  authority.  4. 
The  power  of  elders  is  only  that  of  the  people  whom  they  rep- 
resent. 5.  Ruling  Elders  are  never  said  in  our  Standards  to  be 
the  Presbyters  of  Scriptures  ;  who  (as  we  always  contend  against 
the  prelatists)  are  bishops.  (Turn  to  our  Form  of  Government 
on  this  point.)  6.  Ruling  Elders,  being  representatives  of  the 
people,  are  not  invested  with  the  authority  to  ordain.  This  con- 
troversy is  working  great  evil  in  the  Southern  churches.  I  would 
willingly  give  them  the  quorum-principle,  if  they  would  give  up 
agitation  on  the  other.  David  H.  Bogart,  a  young  lawyer  of 
this  place,  was  buried  to-day.  Dr.  Rice  preached,  and  Chap- 
lain Starr  read  the  Episcopal  service,  as  part  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows'  ceremony.     What  a  poverty  of  invention  among  these 


1833—1844.  395 

O.  F.,  that  they  must  needs  borrow  slavishly  the  cast-off  sprig- 
throwing  into  the  grave,  from  the  Free-masons.  Addison  is 
about  completing  a  bargain  with  Wiley  &  Putnam  for  the  publi- 
cation of  his  Commentary  on  Isaiah.  He  will  print  it  in  a  very 
leisurely  manner,  as  it  is  not  fully  written  out.  It  will  be 
chiefly  for  clerical  readers,  &c,  and  will  make  a  large  8vo 
volume.  He  has  laboured  very  much  at  it,  and  has  gone  over 
almost  every  part,  repeatedly  with  pupils.  I  hear  no  word  of 
my  communication  to  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal 
[Methodist]  about  Summerfield.  I  can  think  of  no  reason  why 
they  should  reject  it.  [It  was  published.]  Oblige  me  by  look- 
ing into  two  or  three  of  the  last  numbers,  as  I  do  not  see  the 
paper. 

Princeton,  May  8,  1844. 

I  send  you  a  catalogue  of  our  college.  You  will  find  only 
five  errors  in  Cortlandt  Van  Rensselaer's  name. 

Very  much  against  my  wish,  I  have  to  preach  in  New  York 
[Duane  Street  Church]  next  Sunday.  Some  time  ago  they 
wrote  to  my  father,  to  know  whether  I  would  entertain  a  call 
from  them.  I  answered,  through  my  father,  very  decidedly,  in 
the  negative.  On  the  strength  of  this,  I  accepted,  with  others 
here,  an  invitation  to  preach  for  them.  Now  I  learn,  with  regret, 
that  they  still  mean  to  press  the  matter.  I  earnestly  begged  off, 
but  they  would  not  allow  it. 

I  am  now  authorized  to  write  a  tract  on  Early  Rising.  I 
attend  college  prayers  every  morning,  and  spend  an  hour  with 
a  class  before  breakfast. 

Shocking  work  in  Philadelphia  !  [Destruction  of  a  Roman 
Catholic  Church  by  a  mob.]  I  am  afraid  of  the  consequences 
of  this  Native  American  organization.  Bishop  Kenrick  murders 
Scripture  in  a  manner  worth  of  the  Anti-Bible  party,  in  the  end 
of  his  pacific  proclamation. 

One  of  our  hens  has  eight  ducklings.  Three  other  hens  are 
mothers,  and  two  more  will  soon  be.  I  never  alighted  on  any 
home-attraction,  which  is  so  fertile  in  amusement  for  the  children. 
Feeding,  eggs,  chicks,  and  ducklings,  give  them  never-ending 
variety  ;  especially  as  we  have  a  regular  Chicken  College,  roll- 
call,  lectures  on  Clucking,  Swimming,  &c.  Let  me  recommend 
a  coop  in  your  back-court.  Capt.  Crabb,  U.  S.  N.,  my  next- 
door  neighbour,  sometimes  gets  twenty-eight  eggs  per  diem. 

The  new  Pilgrim's  Progress  is  elegant,  but  $4  will  make  it  a 
book  for  the  rich.  The  sumptuousness  does  not  befit  John 
Bunyan.  Retzsch  ought  to  illustrate  it,  in  his  outline  way — 
broad  and  antique*     The  only  picture  in  the  book  which  pleases 


396  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

me,  is  Cruiksliank's  Vanity  Fair.  Charles  Lamb  has  a  capital 
letter  to  Bernard  Barton,  against  the  misplaced  elegance  of 
Southey's  English  edition.  I  see  they  have  not  followed 
Southey  in  retaining  Bunyan's  genuine  street-English,  such  as 
"  I  thought  you  would  a  come  in  with  violence." 

A  sloop,  built  on  the  canal,  at  Rocky  Hill,  passes  by  us,  on 
regular  trips,  to  and  from  Texas,  (Galveston.) 

There  will  be  five  churches  up  town  in  New  York,  wdrich 
will  hear  one  another's  organs.  Duane  Street  will  be  left  alone 
below. 

Princeton,  June  29,  1844. 
I  have  had  a  disorder  which  has  relaxed  me  a  good  deal.  I 
have  also  had  a  call  from  Duane  St.  which  has  a  similar 
effect.1  I  have  to  speak  at  New  York  the  day  after  to-morrow, 
and  Commencement  is  just  over.  These  are  reasons  enough  for 
not  writing  before,  and  for  not  writing  eloquently  now.  The 
New  York  business  I  should  settle  very  speedily,  if  it  were  left 
to  my  feelings ;  my  friends,  especially  my  father,  warn  me 
against  a  hasty  determination.  On  the  first  vote  (by  ballot) 
when  every  one,  without  nomination,  expressed  his  individual 
preference,  I  had  -30;  [scattering  21,  blank  3.]  On  the  fifth 
ballot,  I  had  47  ;  [scattering  6,  blank  3.]  On  the  last  (viva 
voce)  I  had  55  and  there  was  1  against.  I  have  been  reperusing 
Campbell's  Gospels,  with  much  pleasure.  He  directs  one's 
attention  to  little  variations  of  the  common  version  from  the 
Greek,  which  escape  one  even  in  reading  the  latter  alone.  Char- 
lotte Elizabeth,  who  is  one  of  the  most  influential  writers  of  the 
age,  has  published  a  letter  to  Bishop  Alexander  [of  Jerusalem] 
in  which  she  remonstrates  with  him  for  not  having  his  children 
circumcised.  Charlotte  should  take  the  name  of  Zipporah. 
Quite  a  sect  is  rising  in  England,  who  think  the  Jews,  when  con- 
verted, should  retain  their  ceremonies. 

Princeton,  July  4,  1844. 
You  perhaps  have  heard  of  certain  matters,  concerning 
which  the  true  version  may  be  welcome.  The  Duane  people 
have  agreed  to  call  me.  The  vote  was  not  unanimous.  I 
spoke  with  none  of  them  in  New  York.  While  there,  I  was 
visited  by  Mr.  Greeley,  a  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Tyler,  and  Mr. 
Dana,  nephew  of  Dr.  D.  of  Newburyport ;  both  Bostonians,  and 
introduced  by  John  C.  Green,  with  whom  Mr.  D.  had  been  inti- 
mate in  China.     They  are  a  deputation  from  the  Committee  of  the 

1  He  had  preached  in  the  Duane  Street  church  as  yet  only  on  May  12th. 


1833—1844.  397 

Bowdoin  St.  Churcn,  formerly  Dr.  Beecher's,  and  more  lately  Mr. 
Winslow's.  Their  mission,  to  get  me  to  candidate.  On  learn- 
ing about  the  Duane  business,  they  professed  to  be  concerned,  and 
returned,  I  believe,  to  Boston,  requesting  me  not  to  decide  the 
matter.  "We  had  a  large  assembly  at  the  University  chapel,  but 
the  heat  and  dyspnoea  were  terrible.1  Burleigh  pronounced  a  fine 
Christian  poem,  and  was  received  with  plaudits.  Dr.  Potts  is  to 
have  a  noble  Gothic  church ;  the  walls  are  up.  I  heard  Dr.  Taylor 
in  Grace  church.  His  manner  is  very  uncommon,  sui  generis, 
but,  to  me,  exceedingly  striking.  I  heard  Andrews  at  the  Taber- 
nacle, and  am  not  surprised  at  his  great  popularity.  About 
2,500  were  out ;  I  observed  I  was  the  only  person  who  stood 
during  prayer.  I  visited  the  Princeton  and  the  North  Carolina  ; 
and  on  the  latter  attended  a  party,  at  which  I  saw  the  officers  of 
the  two  Mexican  steamers  in  full  dress  ;  they  danced  ;  some  of 
them  are  mulattoes.  Bache  says  the  prejudice  of  colour  is  abso- 
lutely gone,  in  Spanish  America.  I  saw  a  party  of  Iowa  Indians 
at  the  mission-rooms,  in  full  dress  ;  they  were  just  about  to  em- 
bark for  England.  They  are  the  party  of  "  White  Cloud."  I 
became  acquainted  in  New  York  with  Sir  Wm.  Burnaby,  an 
English  proprietor  in  Bermuda  ;  a  pleasant,  Roger  de  Coverley 
sort  of  man.  We  are  all  packed  up  for  the  Cape.  This  busi- 
ness of  the  call  has  given  me  unspeakable  anxiety.  The  twofold 
solicitation,  if  I  may  so  call  it,  makes  me  pause  and  ask,  whether 
Providence  does  not  mean  to  unsettle  me  from  my  semi-secular 
post.  On  examination,  I  do  not  find  that  I  am  drawn  New  York- 
ward,  so  far  as  I  know,  by  any  attraction  of  a  worldly  nature. 
Ease,  quiet,  friends,  retirement  &c,  are  all  here.  I  clo  feel  a 
strong  desire  to  preach.     I  am  in  a  strait. 

Cape  May,  N.  J.,  July  10,  1844. 
Your  acceptable  letter  came  to  hand  last  evening.  By  the 
same  mail,  two  of  same  date,  from  Boston,  about  the  church  of 
St.  Bowdoin.  This  island  is  the  same  which  Thomson  describes 
in  his  Castle  of  Indolence  :  "  a  dreamie  land  of  drowsihede  it 
was."  The  "  salt-air  "  vindicates  every  thing  ;  canine  appetite, 
nakedness,  sloth,  and  double  naps.  Mr.  [now  Bishop]  Oden- 
heimer  is  here  ;  he  and  I  at  present  represent  the  two  parts  of 
the  church  militant.  Musicians  abound.  A  troupe  of  Italians 
are  very  delightful.  Dr.  May  of  the  Alexandria  Seminary,  who 
was  my  pleasant  companion  last  summer,  is  not  to  be  here  till 
the  16th.  My  wife  and  children  go  in,  of  course,  with  me, 
and  give  me  occupation  enough  in  the  surf.     It  has  been  uncom- 

1  On  the  31st  Juno  he  delivered  the  annual  oration  before  the  literary 
societies  of  the  University  of  New  York. 


398  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

monly  fine  to-day.  The  number  of  visiters  at  present  is  about 
1,000.  There  are  a  number  of  new  houses,  especially  private 
cottages.  One  Capt.  Hart  and  one  Fotterall,  have  Chinese  houses, 
very  grand.  We  were  on  the  steamboat  Rob.  Morris,  when  an 
accident  befell  the  engine.  The  boat  was  detained  at  Newcastle 
from  11  on  Saturday  to  5  A.  M.,  on  Sunday.  Five  or  six  of  us, 
out  of  300,  remained  over  the  Sabbath.  I  was  most  hospitably 
entertained  by  Chancellor  Johns,  who  is  one  of  the  principal 
persons  there,  and  a  very  instructive  host.  His  father,  set.  86, 
old  Judge  Johns,  is  as  erect  and  merry  as  a  bird,  and  has  chewed 
tobacco  enormously  for  seventeen  years.  He  was  chief  justice  for 
fifteen  years,  in  which  [Rev.]  James  P.  Wilson  was  lawyer.  I  no- 
ted a  number  of  anecdotes  about  him.  I  preached  twice  there,  and 
have  preached  once  here.  Newcastle  is  like  an  old-world  village 
— a  sleepy  hollow  ;  but  they  have  a  regular  sea-breeze,  and  good 
bathing.  The  air  here  is  restorative  in  a  high  degree  to  me. 
I  wish  you  were  here,  if  only  for  a  week. 

I  have  had  great  anxieties  about  my  duty  in  regard  to 
Duane  St.  I  have  very  earnestly  wished  to  be  fully  employed 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry  ;  but  I  never  thought  of  so  respon- 
sible a  charge.  My  visit  to  New  York  greatly  impressed  me  with 
the  mighty  field  on  which  even  a  moderate  man  might  operate 
from  that  centre.  I  have  no  notion  of  abandoning  the  down- 
town, which,  to  me,  is  the  city  proper,  in  both  New  York  and 
Philadelphia. 

(  Thursday.) — I  failed  to  get  this  off  yesterday.  Politics  here 
dull.  The  chief  question  is  between  Poverty  Beach  and  the 
Light-House.  Trade  flourishes.  The  apple  business  rising. 
Ginger-bread  dull.  A  handsome  operation  in  straw  hats  has 
attracted  attention.  Oysters  as  per  last  quotation.  Crabs 
rising. 

My  kind  regards,  and  those  of  the  "  Capers  "  (sic  in  lingua 
insulari,  verbo  nempe  pro  hujus  insulas  incolis  usurpato)  wait 
on  you  all.      Yours  very  much. 

Cape  May,  N.  J.,  July  15,  1844,  6  A.  M. 
Yesterday  I  preached  twice,  once  at  Cold  Spring,  once  at  the 
Mansion  House,  (Ludlam's.)  There  are  many  more  opportuni- 
ties of  doing  good  than  I  could  have  imagined.  I  humbly  trust 
that  I  have  been  enabled  to  gain  the  ear  of  a  number  of  Quakers. 
What  delightful  inmates  of  a  public  house  educated  Friends 
are !  You  feel  sure  they  will  never  swear,  drink,  or  fight. 
They  are  too  clannish ;  but  to  this  they  owe  the  maintenance  of 
their  peculiarities.  Young  Dr.  Parrish,  Dillwyn  Parrish,  their 
sister,  and  their  wives,  are  here.     They  are  highly  educated  and 


1833—1844.  399 

refined.     is  here.     It  is  a  lesson  to  one,  to  observe  how 

this  good  and  really  sensible  man  has  coddled  himself,  and  sacri* 
ficed  to  Fear,  until  the  grass-hopper-burden  is  always  on  his 
back.  I  retract  some  of  my  opinions  of ;  notwithstand- 
ing his  intolerable  manner  and  undeniable  lack  of  nous,  he  is,  I 
really  think,  one  of  the  most  God-fearing  young  men  I  ever  saw. 
The  care  of  a  family  makes  me  somewhat  less  free  than  on  my 
former  visits,  but  I  have  seldom  passed  a  week  of  less  trouble  of 
mind  than  the  last ;  and  this  notwithstanding  the  pendency  of 
two  serious  questions.  The  Bowdoin  St.  Church  have  made  me 
out  a  call ;  but  the  consent  of  the  Pew-proprietors  is  awaited, 
and  certain  days'  notice  is  required  for  this.  The  call  from 
New  York  weighs  more  heavily  on  me.  To  go  thither,  I  plainly 
see,  will  cut  up  by  the  roots  my  goodly  tree  of  literary  shade 
and  family  quiet,  and  deprive  me  of  a  support  from  parents, 
brothers,  and  elder  ministers,  on  which  I  have  leaned  most  pleas- 
antly, but  too  long.  I  shall,  if  I  go,  seem  to  many  to  go  for  the 
gaud  of  a  large  stipend  ;  this  is  of  no  weight,  however,  in  the 
great  account.  If  I  go,  it  will  be  under  this  feeling,  which  I  own 
grows  upon  me,  /  dare  not  stay. 

Cape  Island,  July  17,  6  A.  M.,  1844. 
Your  very  acceptable  letter  came  to  me  by  yesterday's  mail 
in  company  with  269  new  bathers.  Three  hundred  are  expected 
this  evening.  Three  hundred  sat  down  to  tea  at  the  Atlantic 
last  evening.  There  cannot  be  less  than  1,500  in  all.  Kooms 
are  not  to  be  had  for  love  or  money  ;  people  are  sent  several 
miles  into  the  country,  or  laid  out  on  dining-room  floors.  We 
nave  more  than  100  here,  chiefly  Quakers.  Our  table  is  reputed 
the  best.  Three  bands  of  music  give  us  harmony  to  satiety. 
I  preached  twice  on  Sunday,  once  at  Ludlam's  to  a  very  large 
audience.  The  New-School  Elders  and  people  seem  as  cordial 
With  me  as  the  others.  I  do  hope  that  ugly  wound  is  to  be 
healed.  It  is  a  little  Philadelphia  clown  here,  riots  excepted.  I 
wish  you  were  here.  A  week  would  give  you  strength  for  all 
summer.  Every  evening  I  have  to  change  my  coat,  and  sleep 
under  a  blanket ;  nor  have  I  had  the  feeling  of  unpleasant  heat 
since  I  came,  except  when  at  some  distance  from  the  beach. 
Our  head-waiter  Brookes  speaks  French  and  Spanish  fluently  ; 
and  keeps  all  the  accounts.  Old  Alexander  Wilson  (Quaker 
preacher)  is  here,  and  had  an  opportunity  in  our  parlour.  Mr. 
Eckel,  of  Barnes's  church,  is  here,  and,  I  fear,  approaches  his 
end.  Though  it  is  before  breakfast,  I  hear  a  band  of  music  play- 
ing on  the  strand.  Chaplain  Grier  and  son  have  arrived,  also 
John  K.  Kane,  Lapsley,  Atwood,  Dunton,  Cleaveland.     More 


400  WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

letters  from  Boston.  I  am  to  be  a  Congregationalist ;  but 
New  York  claims  rather  preponderate. 

Princeton,  August  9,  1844. 
The  college  opened  yesterday.  Thus  far,  about  fifty  matricu- 
lates. It  is  a  sign  of  getting  old,  that  I  find  numbers  of  my  old 
college  friends  bringing  sons  on.  All  the  letters  I  get  from  Bos- 
ton indicate  unanimous  welcome.  I  do  not  think  of  turning 
Congregationalist,  and  they  say  nothing  of  turning  Presbyterian ; 
that  settles  the  point,  so  far  as  I  can  see  it  with  my  present  facts. 
Dr.  Hodge,  Prof.  Henry,  Mr.  Packard,  and  Dr.  Maclean,  are  the 
only  persons  who  strenuously  oppose  my  leaving  Princeton. 
But,  in  my  heart  of  hearts,  I  think  they  all,  in  their  calculations, 
discount  too  liberally  from  the  value  of  the  preached  word. 
Several  of  them  are  men  whom  I  scarcely  dare  oppose,  in  a  pru- 
dential question  ;  yet,  in  my  most  solemn  hours,  I  declare  to 
you,  their  arguments  have  little  weight  with  me,  because  I  so 
profoundly  believe  preaching  (including  parochial  teaching)  to 
be  God's  great  ordinance.      O  how  much  I   need   prayer  and 

counsel !     I  am,  after  all,  undecided.     Give  my  love  to . 

We  shall  welcome  her  at  No.  499  Bowdoin  St.,  or  No.  1  Duane 
St.,  or  No.  3  Steadman  St.,  [Princeton,]  as  the  case  may  be. 
Stilling's  life,  which  everybody  reads,  was  published  at  an  ob- 
scure town  in  Pennsylvania,  a  number  of  years  ago,  and  I  then 
read  it :  it  fell  dead  from  the  matrix.  So  much  for  having  the 
entree  of  the  book-market.  I  think  the  book  will  do  good  among 
people  who  will  not  read  an  evangelical  book. 

Princeton,  Atigust  21,  1844. 
I  have  asked  myself  repeatedly  ubi  gentium  you  are,  that  you 
do  not  reply  to  my  last  esteemed  favour.  Not  to  keep  you  in 
darkness,  I  now  break  through  my  silence,  to  say  that  I  have 
accepted  the  call  to  New  York.  I  feel,  as  you  may  imagine,  al- 
most terrified  at  what  I  have  done.  Yet  I  have  no  doubt  as  to 
the  moral  rightness  of  what  I  have  done :  success  is  a  different 
thing.  "  Events  are  God's."  The  last  two  or  three  months 
have  been  a  season  of  mental  struggle.  I  have  had  to  breast  a 
current  of  advice  and  powerful  reasoning,  from  some  friends  of 
ours,  who  are  no  mean  argumentators,  against  my  intimate  con- 
victions ;  and  I  have  felt  with  them,  that  leaving  Princeton  is 
leaving  home.  At  the  same  time,  even  in  view  of  possible  failure, 
I  have  quite  a  comfortable  hope  that  God  will  not  forsake  me, 

and  this  sustains  me  more  than  usual.     says  that  the 

opinion  is  openly  expressed,  every  day  more  and  more,  in  his 
part  of  Virginia,  that  slavery  is  a  curse,  economically,  and  that 


1833—1844.  401 

the  annexation  of  Texas  is  defended  at  the  hustings,  on  the 
ground  that  it  will  tend  to  drain  off  the  black  race  into  that 
tropical  region,  in  which  the  races  are  already  mixed,  and  the 
prejudice  of  colour  unknown.  My  father  has  been  ill,  but  now 
goes  about :  so  does  Dr.  Miller,  though  still  feeble.  We  have 
matriculated  about  sixty -four  new  students,  two  from  Massachu- 
setts. 1  am  very  hard  at  work,  giving  my  course  to  the  Seniors 
before  October  1st. 

Princeton,  September  3,  1844. 
Several  things  have  put  me  in  the  vocative,  or  case  of  O  ! 
1.  A  catarrh,  now  in  its  13th  day;  2.  Another  disorder,  in  its 
2d  do. ;  and  3.  A  sermon,  which  has  just  been  finished,  after 
several  days  hammering  at  it.  My  good  old  father  is  unwell 
again.  The  difference  between  temperature  of  day  and  night,  at 
this  season,  is  a  cause  of  many  disorders ;  much  more,  I  think, 
than  even  the  abundance  of  fruit.  The  agitation  of  the  public 
mind  at  our  election-crises  is  a  very  injurious  paroxysm.  De- 
mocracy must  be  a  cornucopia,  to  balance  such  evils ;  proces- 
sions, rallies,  torch-bearings,  "  yaller-kiver  "  minstrelsy,  poles, 
coons,  banners,  lies,  idle  days  and  weeks,  gaping  for  office  by 
ten  for  one  who  gets  it,  rotation,  absorption  of  mind  in  matters 
too  high  for  such  minds,  endless  restlessness,  sacrifice  of  regular 
trades,  &c,  for  temporary  office,  loquacity  and  debate,  ending  in 
alienation,  disappointment,  chagrin,  and  disaffection  to  lawful 
authorities.     Such  are  the  heads  of  my  next  political  brochure. 

When  you  have  opportunity,  do  not  fail  to  talk  with ,  on 

his  own  subject,  on  the  general  or  fundamental  principles.  Half 
an  hour  with  him  is  quite  equal  to  any  8vo  volume  I  ever  read, 
lie  loves  to  be  questioned,  and  never  talks  for  display  or  argu- 
ment. I  rejoice  that  Walsh  has  the  Consulship,  [Paris;]  his 
Americanism  deserves  it.  I  never  tire  of  his  ana,  [in  his  letters 
to  the  Intelligencer,]  which  are  copious  during  the  vacation  of 
Congress.  By-the-bye,  I  think  the  National  Intelligencer  the 
very  best  of  our  papers,  for  dignity  and  honesty.  It  is  wonderful 
how  deep  a  Papist  poor  B.  has  become  :  I  can  liken  it  to  nothing 
but  a  man's  filling  his  eyes  up  with  ounces  of  wax  :  it  is  part 
of  his  religion  to  see  nothing  and  hear  nothing ;  so  I  am  told  by 
those  who  know.  The  Seminary  has  more  students  than  for 
ten  years  before.  Watson's  Annals  [of  Philadelphia]  is  fine,  as 
to  facts,  but  what  a  style  !  it  is  that  of  the  youngest  milliner's 
'prentice.  Dr.  Green  goes  on  with  his  autobiography.  I  prize 
his  company  :  he  is  living  on  the  verge  of  heaven.  I  always 
envied  his  most  comfortable  fixedness  of  opinion  on  all  subjects. 
Several  Princetonians  enter  the  Seminary  ;  my  brother  Samuel, 


402  WHILE   TROFESSOK   IN   PRINCETON   COLLEGE. 

Arclid.  Rice,  William  A.  Dod,  and  Frederick  Kington.  All 
have  been  law  students,  and  the  third  a  lawyer.  [J.  S]  Green 
[Esq.]  has  sent  at  least  seven  pupils  to  the  ministry.  [George] 
Bush  sends  specimen-proofs  of  two  works  of  his  in  the  press. 
The  one  entitled  Anastasis  will,  I  fear,  go  against  the  catholic 
doctrine  of  resurrection.  Did  I  speak  to  you  about  an  article 
on  the  "  New  Jerusalem  Church,"  in  Rupp's  new  volume,  on  all 
the  religions  1  It  is  by  a  Virginia  planter,  and  is  the  best  article 
in  the  book,  in  point  of  style  and  scholarship.  While  I  write, 
some  one  of  the  numerous  bawling  processions,  with  cheers  and 
hip-hip-hurrahs,  music,  &c,  is  passing :  cause  unknown.  I  bid 
you  good-night. 

Princeton,  September  11,  1844. 
I  am  not  shaken  in  any  degree  by  what  A.1  says  of  the 
Free  Church.  I  am  aware  that  many  seceders  retain  this  old 
grudge,  after  all  the  causes  are  removed.  The  worst  that  can 
be  said  of  the  Free  Church  is  that  their  retractation  (it  is  such 
in  effect)  has  been  tardy,  and  that  a  false  consistency  makes  them 
loth  to  eat  up  their  old  sayings.  True  it  is,  that  they  were 
truculent  and  absurd  against  Voluntaryism.  I  have  a  painful 
and  threatening  cough,  now  in  its  twenty-first  day.  I  resisted  all 
housing,  &c,  went  to  New  York,  Staten  Island,  &c ;  but  it  is 
obstinate.  I  must  stand  ready  to  see  the  predictions  of  some 
verified,  as  to  my  capacity  for  pastoral  labour.  Staten  Island 
is  another  Isle  of  Wight.  I  was  altogether  surprised  and  en- 
chanted. A  very  gem  :  sea,  bay,  rivers,  vales,  mountains,  in- 
comparable verdure,  villas,  absence  of  all  high-roads  and  noise. 
From  one  point,  you  see  the  Atlantic,  New  York,  Brooklyn, 
Newark,  Elizabethtown,  Rahway,  and  immeasurable  tracts  of 
sea  and  land.  Sunday  morning  I  drove  six  miles  to  Richmond, 
the  county-town,  to  hear  Dr.  Moore,  eldest  son  of  the  old  Bishop. 
Fancy  the  very  ideal  of  an  English  country  church  ;  on  a  green 
hill  top,  with  a  stretch  of  prospect  over  a  narrow,  sinuous  valley, 
through  which  a  pretty  river  flows  towards  the  "  Kills."  It  was 
well  filled,  and  Mr.  Peet  of  Rahway  preached.  In  the  P.  M.  I 
went  to  Fort  Richmond,  to  worship  with  Brownlee's  church, 
(Dutch :)  here  I  heard  James  Romeyn ;  and  a  more  extraor- 
dinary man  I  never  heard.  Fulness  of  matter,  every  step  sud- 
den and  unexpected,  genius,  strength,  fire,  terror,  amazing  and 
preposterous  rapidity,  contempt  of  rule  and  taste.  It  was  an 
awful  discourse ;    1   Thess.  v.  3.     It  is  one  which  I  shall  not 

1  A  clergyman  of  the  Scottish  Relief  Synod,  who  had  spoken  to  his  cor- 
respondent, in  derogatory  terms,  of  the  newly  professed  liberality  of  the 
Free  Church. 


1833—1844.  403 

soon  forget.  In  New  York  I  overworked  myself,  looking  for 
lodgings,  and  found  none  answering  all  conditions.  Therefore, 
by  urgent  advice  of  my  elders,  I  took  a  house,  83  White  Street, 
east  of  Broadway,  between  Broadway  and  Elm  Street,  south 
side  of  White  ;  two  stories  :  look  at  a  map  of  New  York  ;  you 
will  see  the  yards  are  larger  than  usual  there.  But  how  unlike 
a  Philadelphia  house !  $600  rent.  After  I  had  taken  it,  I 
learned  that  its  first  occupant  had  been  the  first  pastor  of  our 
church,  Dr.  Romeyn.  Installation  probably  Oct.  3.  But  not 
unless  we  hear  from  Moderator  Webster  pretty  shortly. 


END    OF    VOL.    I. 


INDEX  TO  VOL.  I. 


Abbott's  Young  Christian,  310. 
Abed,  253,  255. 
Abelard,  117. 
Adams,  J.,  125. 

"       J.  Q.,  73,  95,  96,  97,  99,  110,  112, 

118,  124,  126. 
Adams,  N.,  234. 
Affliction,  142,  173,  184,  195,  218,  223,  245, 

246,  257.    (.And  see  Condolence.) 
Aiken,  59. 
Aikman,  78,  176. 
Alexander,  A.,  2,  10,  11,  12,  47,  148, 150, 

156,  160,  167,  189,  228,  232,  238,  247,  251, 

268,  279,  309,  310,  342,  343,  363,  372,  374, 

376,  377,  386,  389,  390,  391. 
Alexander,  J.  A.,  66,  109,  111,  134,  135,144, 

148,  151,  167,  181,  188,  206,  219,  232,  268, 

315,  346,  389,  395. 
Alexander,  Stephen,  217,  218,  363. 
"  W.  C,  47,  73,  131,  132. 

Alexanders.  41. 
Alleine,  34ll 
Al ward,  336. 
America,  Spanish,  72. 

"  South,  85,  113. 

American  Literature,  36. 
Anagram,  306. 
Anatomy,  74. 
Anglomania,  233,  268. 
"  Ann  Conover,"  225. 
Apostolic  Succession,  283,  296,  369. 
Apprentices,  225,  285. 
Antinomians,  320. 
Archives  du  Christianisnie,  169. 
Arm-chair,  258. 
Arminians,  53,  54,  62. 
Arminius,  243. 
Armstrong,  J.  F.,  199,  361. 

\V.  J.,  12. 
Assembly,  General,  78,  103,  156,  166,  169, 

188,  189,  238,  251,  252,  303,  357,  373. 
Atonement,  149. 

Babbage,  266. 

Bache,  290,  293,  359. 

Bacon,  Lord,  77,  210. 

Baird,  124,  362. 

Ballads,  Christian,  319. 

Baltimore,  89,  172,  185. 

Baptism,  296. 

Barber,  89. 

Barlow,  122. 

Barnes,  134.  149,  154,  155,  161,  166,  170, 177, 

237. 
Barrow,  137,  214,  215. 


Baxter,  Richard,  77,  214,  284,  303,  320. 

"       Robert,  209. 
Bayard,  251,  273,  287. 
Beecher,  255. 
Bellami,  87. 
Belleville,  125. 
Benton,  72. 
Berkeley,  70. 
Berrien,  129,  137. 
Bethune,  322. 
Beza,  206. 
Bible,  30,  54,  62,  64,  220,  233,  249,  255,  256, 

325,  378. 
Bible  in  education,  217,  219,  (and  above.) 

"      at  family  worship,  285,  2S8. 

"      Natural  History,  153,  208. 

"      Charts,  308. 
Bickersteth,  184,  190,  237. 
Bile,  129. 
Binney,  234. 
Biography,  85. 
Blacks,  162,  227,  260,  263,  289,  294,  295,  296, 

297,  301,  307,  334,  340,  355.     (See  Slavery 

and  Colonization.) 
Blackwood's  Magazine,  266,  310,  320. 
"  Blood  on  Door  Post,"  191. 
Boccacio,  128. 
Bonaparte,  Napoleon,  105,  306,  322. 

"  Joseph,  12,  82,  125,  132,   146, 

150. 
Borrow,  368,  370. 
Borsieri,  247,  251. 
Bossuet,  70,  216. 
Boston.     (See  Bowdoin  Street.) 
Boston  Recorder,  241. 
Boswell,  78. 
Bourdaloue,  70,  216. 
Bound  Brook,  253. 
Bouquet,  Lines  with,  59. 
Bowdoin  St.  Church,  396,  400. 
Boyle,  210. 
Brainerd,  David,  53,  85,  166,  254. 

"        J.  G.  C,  46,  78. 
Branch,  Secretary,  140. 
Brearley,  199. 
Breckinridge,  John,  211,  266,  279,  284, 296 

334. 
Breckinridge,  R.  J.,  240,  242. 
Breviarv,  260. 
British  Officer,  60. 
Broussais,  147. 
Brown's  Philosophy,  67,  70. 
"      David,  22. 
"      I.  V.,  129,  130. 
"      Rezeau,  150, 157. 


406 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    I. 


Brownlee,  379. 
Brownson,  311. 
Bruce,  97. 
Bruen,  134. 

Buchanan,  Missionarv,  54. 
"        Poet,  105/127. 
Buckncll,  35. 
Burckhardt,  206. 
Burke,  103,  107. 
Burnett,  257. 
Burns,  388,  391. 
Burr,  236,  244. 
Bush,  234,  274,  292,  402. 
Butler's  Reminiscences,  69,  78. 

"         French  Church,  84. 

"         Lives  of  Saints,  218. 

"         Analogy,  73. 
Buzzard,  103. 
Byron,  10,  73,  312. 
Bythner.  167. 

Calhoun,  J.  C,  99,  158. 

Calvin,  187,  212,  235,  243,  276,  342,  367,  368. 

"        an  Indian,  184. 
Calvinism,  32,  52,  61,  70,  169,  215,  224,  239, 

253,  358. 
Cambridge  Journal,  69. 
Camp  at  Trenton,  281,  282,  284. 
Campbell's  Gospels,  396. 
Canal,  Delaware  and  Raritan,  89,  119,  122, 

138 
Candidates  for  pulpit,  329. 
Carey,  W.,  54. 
Carnahan,  328. 
Caroline,  boat,  262. 
Carrington,  96,  97,  352. 
Carter's  Travels,  127. 
Caruthers,  313. 
Case,  125. 

Cassels,  337,  338,  346. 
Castanis,  286. 
Castaway,  343. 
Catechisms.  205. 
Cecil,  165,  216. 

Chalmers,  29,  68,  70,  74,  258,  3S5 
Charlotte  County,  94. 

"         Court-house,  94,  115,  269,  313. 
"  Elizabeth,  384,  396. 

Charnock,  256. 
Cliaucer,  67,  68. 
Chemistry,  124. 
Cherokees,  146. 
Child  "  100  years  old,"  257. 
Children,  writing  for,  225,  231. 
Children,  factory,  225. 
Cholera,  190,  193,  195,  206,  217. 
Christ,  Life  of,  205,  298,  338. 
Christ,  Genealogy,  151. 
Christian  Advocate,  23,  40,  48,  62,  115. 
"  Observer,  174,  216,  238,  290. 

"  Spectator,  150. 

Christmas,  Rev.,  82,  134, 176. 
Churchman,  359. 
Cicero,  58,  106,  118,  169,  239,  328. 
Clam-classes,  265. 
Clark,  John,  272. 
Classical  Studies,  5,10,  78. 
Class  Meetings,  167. 
Claude,  86. 
Clay,  157,  219,  326. 
Cleaveland,  81. 
"Cleon,"  258. 
Cliosophic  Society,  26,  71,  242. 


Clubs,  2,  209. 

Coldeu  on  Masonry,  129. 

Coleman,  388. 

Coleridge,  46,  129,  214,  217,  229,  234,  261. 

College,  19,  42,  87,  207,  212,  239,  260,  300 

332,  341,  343,  400. 
College,  Girard,  241,  265,  293. 
Colleges,  107,  262,  359. 
Colonization,  279,  297,  301,  308. 
Colossians,  345,  347. 
Columbus,  122. 
Comet,  3. 

Comfort,  Rev.,  270,  382. 
Commencements,  26,  144. 
Commentary,  124,  134,  153. 
Communion  163,  172. 
Concordance,  187. 
Condolence,  142,  246,  277,  393. 
Confession  of  Faith,  32. 
Congregationalism,  382. 
Congress,  238. 
Cornell,  321. 

Controversy,  225,  226,  227,  234,  254. 
Conversations-Lexicon,  132. 
Conversion,  4,  20,  45. 
Cooper's  Novels,  34,  67 
Corinthians,  367. 
Corneille,  129. 
Court-day,  100. 
Cowley,  73. 

Cowper,  7,  8,  11,  48,  50,  53,  73,  117,  384. 
Cox,  192. 
Crabbe,  290,  297. 
Cramp's  Popery,  185. 
Credit  System,  288. 
Creeds,  32. 
Cromwell,  136. 
Cuban,  67. 

Cunningham,  386,  387,  38S,  390. 
Cuvier,  78 
Cyprian,  115. 

Daille,  294. 
Dana,  335. 

Danville  College,  159. 
Darwin,  213. 
David's  Psalms,  221. 
Davidson,  381. 

Davies,  53,  74,  77,  137,  235,  302,  304,  351. 
Davis,  315,  376. 
D.  D.,  376,  379. 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  36,  89,  141. 
Death,  27,  35,  64,  75,  107,  172,  175,  176,  224 
Decapolis,  342. 
Decoration,  Civic,  238. 
Demasism,  275,  285. 
Demme,  290. 
Democracy,  239. 
Demosthenes,  58. 
Deruelle,  381,  389. 
Despondency,  17,  43,  47,  59. 
Dick,  321. 
Dickens,  372. 
Dickey,  183. 
Doane,  217,  324. 

Dod,  217,  256,  274,  362,  379,  385,  3S8. 
Doddridge,  138,  150,  176,  184. 
Dort  Synod,  169. 
Drawing,  242. 
Dryden,  73 
Duane,  Wm,,  140. 

Duane  Street  Church,  365,  395,  396,  399 
400. 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    I. 


407 


Duffield,  187. 
Dunlop,  391. 

"        Roman  Literature,  120,  127. 
Duponceau,  392. 
Durand,  86. 
Dwight,  136. 

Earthquake,  343. 
Ecclesiasticus,  285. 
Editing,  1-10. 
Education,  9,  21,  219. 

"       "  Annual,"  211. 
Edwards,  53,  70,  71,  77,  165,  186,  221. 
Elder  Question,  394. 
Eliot,  54. 

Elijah,  Life  of,  204. 
Elocution,  268. 
Ely,  51,  220. 
Encyclopaedia,  Edinburgh,  69. 

"  Americana,  141. 

English,  Old,  106,  213,  300. 
Episcopacy,  212,  213,  231,  294. 
Epitaphs,  342. 
Erasmus,  115,  117,  126,  243. 
Erskine's  Evidences,  24. 
Euripides,  242. 

Ewing,  Chief  Justice,  82,  120,  194,198,200. 
"        Dr.  F.  A.,  200,  208,   205,  301,  320, 
369. 
Examination,  College,  312. 
Extempore  Preaching,  37. 

Facts,  297,  301. 

Fenelon,  242,  244. 

Fergusson,  388. 

Ferrar,  204. 

Fichte,  121,  212. 

Finch,  SO. 

Finney,  164, 186. 

Fire,  231. 

Fisher,  69. 

Flavel,  256. 

Flechiere,  70. 

"  Flower  Book,"  194. 

Foster,  369. 

Fourierists,  375, 376. 

Fox,  137,  181. 

Francke,  157,  166. 

Frederick  of  Prussia,  146. 

Free  Church,  373,  381,  3S6,  387,  402. 

Freeholds,  365. 

Frelinghuysen,  147. 

French,  29,  36,  70,  113,  205,  242. 

"       Church,  169,  279. 

"      Croquis,  209. 

"      Infidelity,  309. 

»      Poetry,  123. 

"      Pun,  139. 

"      Revolution,  105,  147,  154. 
Frontis,  86. 
Fuller,  76,  85,  213. 
Fyler,  21. 

Gall,  205. 

Gazette,  London,  204. 

"        National,  40,   58,  61,  67,  69,  73, 
127,  129,  131,  134,  135,  136,  141,  147,  247. 
Geography  of  Bible,  134,  189,  344 
Geology,  SO,  81. 
Gerhardt,  151. 
Gerlack,  222,  232,  262. 
German  Hymns,  151,  306,  323. 

"        Language,  Literature,  and  Theol- 


ogy, 112,  113,  114,  115,  121,  136,  212,  221, 

222,  223,  225,  242,  274,  290,  306. 
Germantown,  171. 
Gesenius,  164,  325,  388. 
Gibbon,  47,  77,  78,  85,  125,  135. 
"  Gift  to  Afriicted,"  238. 
Giles,  93,  137. 

Girard  College,  241,  265,  293. 
Gladstone,  283. 

Gleanings,  Bib.  Antiq.,  189,  205. 
Glendy,  90. 

"  God  Forbid,"  305,  307. 
Goethe,  132,  133. 
"  Good,  Better,  Best,"  294,  388. 
Goode,  238,  359. 
Goodrich,  116. 
Gordon,  69,  235,  304. 
Gough's  "History,"  137. 
Government,  forms  of,  125. 
Grammar,  127,  242,  326. 
Graves,  Rev.,  211. 
"Great  Chance,"  3S9,  390. 
Greece,  33,  113,  245. 
Greek,  304. 

Green,  Dr.,  21,  23,  2S4,  337,  374,  376,  40L 
Grimke,  147. 
Griscom,  S9. 
Grotius,  115,  116. 
Guericke,  212. 
Gulick,  230. 
Gurney,  J.  J.,  280. 
Guyon,48. 
Gymnastics,  130. 

Haines,  382. 
Haldeman,  129. 
Halifax,  Va.,  97 
Hall,  Basil.  134. 

"      Robert,  36,  137,  155,  216. 
Halle,  105. 
Halsey,  31,  80,  81. 
Halyburton,  70. 

Hampden  Sydney,  107,  116,  302,  303. 
Hamilton,  198. 
Handel,  70. 
Hanover  Church,  302.  303. 

"        College,  (South)  244. 
Hare,  348,  384. 
Hargous.  129,  139,  238. 
Harlan,  339. 
Harold,  86. 
Harris,  Peter,  295,  297,  328. 

"      Mammon,  310. 
Harrison,  326,  329. 
Hart,  148,  217. 
Hartley's  Evidences,  73. 
"  Harvest,"  195. 
Hayden's  Geology,  81. 
Hayley,  117. 
Health,  6, 43,  46,  107,  108,  114,  16S,  172.  182, 

188,  228,  236,  238,  239,  256,  373,  375. 
Heat,  83. 
Keber,  109. 
Hebrew,  141,  163,  166,  180,  1S2,  212,  347. 

"        Questions,  245,  246,  249. 
Hegel,  212,  223. 
"  Help  to  Gospels,"  167. 
Hen^stenberg,  158,  223,  260. 
Henry,  Matthew,  168. 
"       Patrick,  351,  353. 
"      Philip,  342. 
«      Professor,  205,  222,  227,    318,  319, 

378. 


408 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    I. 


Henry,  S.  C,  244,  365,  366. 

Herder,  61. 

Hexameter,  66. 

Hicksites,  137,  182. 

Hillyer,  313. 

History,  Ecclesiastical,  85. 

Hoby,  242. 

Hodge,  11,  15.  65,  71, 104,  109,  112,  113,  150, 

156,  217,  223. 
Hodgson,  41. 
Hogan,  82. 

Holland's  Summerfield,  139. 
Homer,  5,  97,  127. 
Hooker,  Mrs.,  323. 
Hopkinsians,  72,  149,  250. 
Hopkinson,  86,  110,  156. 
Horace,  10,  40,  71,  78,  83,  345. 
Home,  347,  348. 
Horsley,  86. 
Hosack,  81. 
How,  155. 
Howe,  137,  155, 158. 
Howell,  233,  244. 
Hug,  238,  347,  348. 
Hume,  85. 

Hundredth  Letter,  127. 
Hurlbut,  239. 
Hurley,  49. 
Hunt,  129. 
Hunter,  78. 
Huss,  324. 
Hutton,  36. 
Hypocrite,  185. 

Imputation,  221. 

Inconsistency,  174. 

India,  247,  358. 

India  Rubber  Shoes,  71. 

Indians,  184,  377,  383,  397. 

"  Infant's  Library,"  219,  263. 

Infidelity,  149,  323. 

Ingleside,  348,  350,  352. 

Intemperance,  120,  144,  150,  155,  229,  237, 

243,  286,  299,  308,  323,  335,  346,  347,  350, 

385. 
Installations,  99,  119. 
Introductions  to  Bible,  190,  222,  233,  255, 

256,  347. 
Irving,  Edward,  35,  56,  65,  68,  181,  209. 

"      Washington,  109,  122,  124. 
Italian,  125,  247,  251. 

Jackson,  46,  73,  95,  107, 112,  113,  114,  158, 

190. 
"  Jacob  and  Joseph,"  217,  247. 
Jacotot,  192,  194. 
Jahn,  189. 
James,  H,  273. 
James  River,  104. 
Jamestown,  104. 
Janeway,  26,  28. 
Jarratt,  302,  304. 
Jay,  184. 
Jenkyn,  230. 

Jews,  214,  263,  287,  316,  346,  372,  373. 
Job,  290. 
Johlson,  181. 
Johns,  398. 

Johnson,  67, 127,  235,  323. 
Jones,  C.  C,  337. 

"      J.  H,  252. 

"     Sir  W.,  81. 
Josephus,  247. 


Julius,  225. 
July  4th,  81, 130. 
Justification,  387. 
Juvenal,  324,  385. 
Juvenile  Letters,  1-12. 

Kant,  121. 

Kate  Hall,  342. 

Kemble,  240. 

Kenrick,  185. 

Kent,  231. 

Kidd,  379. 

Kilpin,  230. 

Kinney.     (See  Newark  Advertiser.) 

Kirchenfreund,  151. 

Kirk,  Rev.,  110,  118,  128,  157,  219,  279,  344 

Kollock,  328. 

Krebs,  13. 

Lafayette,  66,  82, 105,  128. 

"        College,  324. 
Lake  Poets,  46. 
Lambertville,  383. 
"  Lame  John,"  309,  318. 
Lane's  Egvpt,  276. 
Lang,  300/321. 

Languages,  126.     (See  Hebrew,  Latin,  etc.) 
Laryngitis,  269. 

Latin,  69,  70,  105,  118, 120,  381,  385. 
Laussat,  89. 

Law,  The,  37,  38,  39,  108. 
Law's  "  Call,"  76. 
Lawrenceville,  129. 
Leavitt,  231. 

Lee's  Grammar,  166,  206. 
Leeser,  180,  182,  371. 
Le  Grand,  102,  349. 
Legislature  of  New  Jersey,  141,  248. 
Leighton,  150, 180,  277. 
Lenox,  81. 

Letter- Writing,  7,  40,  43. 
"  Letters  to  Young  Lady,"  384. 

"  "  Younger  Brother,"  208. 

"        Russell's";  214,  273. 
Lewis,  389. 
Lexicon,  221, 346. 
Library  of  Knowledge,  193. 
Licensure,  84,  88. 
Lightfoot,  153. 
Limonade,  239. 
Lindsly,  15,  24,  31. 
Liturgy,  238. 
Livingston,  74,  135. 
Lizars,  74. 

Locke,  6,  212,  219,  324. 
Lockhart,  255 
Long  Branch,  24. 
Longfellow,  316. 
Lowrie,  346,  370. 
Lucian,  233. 
Lunatic  Asylum,  374. 
Luther,  53,  56.  134, 194,  288,  299,  317. 
Lybrand,  12. 
Lyttelton,  329. 

Macaulay,  309. 

Magazines,  36,  37,  106,  108,  115,  149,  214, 

215,  238,  242,  327. 
Magee  on  Atonement,  86,  149. 
Magie,  David,  275. 
"Man  of  Sin,"  287. 
Mania  a  potu,  155. 
Manual  Labor  School,  113. 


INDEX    TO    VOL.    I. 


409 


March,  265. 

Marion  College,  240,  244.  270.      . 

Marriage,  143. 

Marshall,  Mungo,  83. 

Marsh  man,  54. 

Martin   artist,  139. 

Martyn,  Henry,  50,  53,  85,  167,  174. 

Mason,  J.  M.,221. 

MassilUn,  70,  216. 

Mastodon,  25. 

Mathematics,  52. 

Maxwell,  103,  355. 

May,  Cape,  132,  377,  397. 

"      Rev.,  39,  51,  377,  397. 
McCalla,  154,  177,  360,371,  377. 
McCarrier,  51,  52. 
McClelland,  386. 
Mcllvaine,  191,  217,  238. 
McLeod,  159. 
McMullen.  378. 
McNeely,  198. 
Meade,  349. 
"  Measures,"  186,  227. 

Mechanic,  American,  146, 283.  (See  Quill.') 
Melancthon,  56,  115. 
Memoirs,  243. 
Merle  D'Aubigne,  363. 
Mesmerism,  368. 
Metaphysics,  54,  121,  359,  364. 
Methodists,  149,  150,  1S6,  204,  236,  278,  320, 

336,  349,  375. 
Middleton,  85,  174. 
Milledoller,  74. 
Millennium,  258. 
Miller,  Dr.,  109, 155,  204,  206.  344,  386. 

"       Hugh,  391. 
Milner,  236,  325. 
Milton,  32,  73,  107,  114,  115,  116,  124,  125, 

126,  173. 
Mineralogy,  80. 
Miniature,  95. 

Ministry,  72,  79,  83,  193,  228,  247. 
"  Misadelphia,"  160. 
Misca,  238. 
Missions,  157,  161,  206-211,  212,   215,  232, 

236,  283,  361. 
Missions,  A.  B.  C.  F.,  150,  157,  236,  276. 
"         Map  and  Manual,  221,  222. 
"         Home,  241. 
Mitchelmore,  210. 
Mocking-bird,  98,  103,  269,  332. 
Moffat,  264. 
Moliere,  113. 
Money,  282. 
Monk,  Maria,  238. 
"  Monkey,"  194. 
Monteith,  113. 
Moon  Hoax,  231. 
Moravians,  57. 
More,  Hannah,  117,  220,  240. 
Mormons,  320. 
"  Morning  Journal,"  140. 
Morristown ,  380. 
Mottoes,  243,  298. 
Mulberries,  279,  285. 
Murray,  381. 
Music,  214,  218. 

Names,  260. 

Nasmith,  160. 

Natchez,  369. 

National  Intelligencer,  322. 

"        Gazette.    (Bee  Gazette.) 
YOU  I. — 18 


1  Nature,  188. 

|  Neander,  113,  213,  222,  230,  239. 

Nesbit,  253,  256. 

Nestorians,  317. 

Nettleton,  115,  164,  167,  ISO,  227,318. 

Nevin,  189,  255. 

Nevins,  90,  219,  3S3. 

Newark,  234.  244. 

Newark  Advertiser,  146,  238,  246,  258,  262, 
266,  269,  285,  367. 

Newark  College,  284. 

New  Brunswick,  88,  253. 

Newcastle,  398. 

New  Haven  Theology,  135,  168. 

New  Jersey,  120. 

Newspaper,  140,  285,  338. 

Newton,  J.,  48,  53,  117,  105, 176,189,  300. 

Niagara,  46,  76,  78,  79. 

Nichol,  321. 

Nordheimer,  276,  325,  388. 

Norfolk,  104,  328. 

Observer,  N.  Y.,  232,  284. 

Odenheimer,  372,  397. 

Odd  Fellows,  394. 

"O.  K.,"  315. 

Old  Age,  255. 

Onderdonk,  123,  231. 

"  Only  Son,"  205. 

Ordination,  99. 

Orthography,  274,  379,  3S5,  396. 

Outram,  86. 

Ovid,  8,  328. 

Owen,  150,  221,  230,  382. 

Oxford  Tracts,  260,  289,  294,  296,  335. 

Packard,  164,  217,  219,  225,  241,  290,  292, 

306. 
Paine,  122. 
Paley,  117,  216. 
Panama  Mission,  124. 
Paris,  105. 
Parker,  222. 
Parnell,  156,  358. 
Parr,  239. 
Pastor  at  Charlotte,  94,  98,  118. 

"         Trenton,  119,  202. 
Pater  son,  116. 
Patton,  65,  88,  112. 
Pay  son,  166. 
Pearce,  85. 
Penn,  210. 

Penn-square  Church,  371. 
Penny  Magazine,  213,  327. 

"      Paper,  254. 
Persia,  109. 
Petersburg,  91, 114. 
Philadelphia,  3,  4,  14,  S6,  1C9, 132,  370. 
Philadelphian,  320, 
Philological  Society,  112. 
Phrases,  Incorrect,  306. 
Piety,  73. 
Pike,  174. 
"  Pilot,"  34. 
Planters,  127. 
Playfair,  73. 
Plumer,  354,  373. 
Pocahontas,  104. 
Poetry,  by  J.  W.  A.,  59,  158,  258,  262,  315, 

317. 
Polemics,  40. 
Poles,  160. 
Politics,  358,  401. 


410 


INDEX    TO    VOL.    I. 


Pollock.  James.  199,  248,  388 

Pollok,  111,  157. 

Pope,  32,  117,  128,  310,  312,  346. 

Popery,  1S5,  192,  208,  226,  239,  247,  287,  322. 

Potts,  George,  47,  250. 

"      Wrn.,  8.,  328,  378. 
Powhatan,  104. 
Prayer,  173,  174,  184,  261,  311. 

"      Meetings,  366. 
Preaching,  71,  74,  86,  94,  215,  268,  333,  334, 

362,  384,  387.     (See  Sermons.) 
Presbytery,  27S,  284,  302. 
"  Presbvterian,"   The,   160,   161,   197,203- 

207,  209,  278. 
Presbyterian  Church,   183,   206,   223,  226, 

251,  268,  327,  359,  363,  369.     (See  Barnes, 

General  Assembly,  etc.) 
Prescott,  266. 
Priestley,  86. 
Princeton,  passim. 

"  Press,  45,  51,  65,  73,  77,  194. 

Prison.  162. 

Professor  in  College,  207,  208,  403. 
Professors  of  Religion,  57. 
"  Progress,"  213. 

Pronunciation,  212,  242,  266,  286,  353,  385. 
Proselytes,  239. 
Protestants,  255. 
Protevangelium,  345. 
Proudfit,  209. 
Pupils,  Private,  335. 

Quakers,  36,  37,  137,  181,  1S2,  292,  296,  320, 

371. 
Quakers'  Trial,  182  . 
Queenston,  220. 
Question  Books,  2S4,  292. 
Quill,  Charles,  146,  266,  268,  271,  279. 

Raleigh,  115,  125. 

Randolph,  93,  94,  95,  96,  98,  99.  101,  114, 

131,  270,  350,  356. 
"  Rase-corss,"  141. 
Ranch,  327. 
"  Record,"  312. 
Redemptioners,  325. 
Redwood,  67. 
Red-bird,  103. 
Reed,  40,  47. 
Reformation,  363. 
Religious  Counsels,  14,  18,  25,27,  29,  34, 

38,  62,  64,  74,  75,  77,  84,  85,  94,  165. 
Repertory,    Bibheal,   65,  71,   73,  117,   126, 

12S,  138,  140,  143,  150,  151,  156,  157,  158, 

160,  161,  176,  177,  181,  1S4,  186,  205,  208, 

209,  221,  235,  246,  250,  255,  268,  275,  287, 

312,  323,  370,  385. 
"  Remember  me,"  111.  115. 
"  Retirement,"  95. 
Review,  American  Quarterly,  96, 102,  105, 

113,  115,  135,  213,  247. 
Review.  Edinburgh,  72,  2S3,  370. 

"     '  "  (Presbyterian),  215. 

"        L'terary  and  Theolog'cal,  250. 

"        North  American,  84,  102. 

"         North  Britsh,  391. 

"   .     Quarterly,  (London)  69,  72,  102, 

325,  370. 
Revivalef  Letters,  122. 
Revivals,  116,  160,  162,  163,  172,  176,  177, 

185,  204,  226,   237,  252,  253,  801,  336,  346, 

361,  370. 
Revolution,  154. 


Revue  Encyclopedique,  132. 

Rheinwald,  212. 

Rice,  B.  H.,  92,  174,  228,  244,  387,  389. 

"      J.  H..  183,  234,  293. 

"      Mrs.,  186,  201. 
Richardson's  Dictionary,  240. 
Richter,  290. 
Ridgely,  96. 
Ringseis,  223. 
Rives,  314. 
Rivet,  174. 
Robertson,  Dr.,  85. 

Noah,  116. 
Robinson,  337,  344. 
Romeyn,  74,  403. 
Roscoe,  85. 
Rose,  167. 

Rosenmuller,  117,  126,  190. 
Ross,  14. 
Rotteck,  323. 
Round-Table,  68. 
Rowan,  159. 
Roy,  186. 
Russell's  Letters,  214,  273. 

"  Sacramenta1  Discourses,"  325. 

Sandemanians,  273. 

Sandwich  Islands,  266,  277,  327. 

Saratoga,  170,  171,  229. 

Sartori,  119,  138. 

Savage,  2,  237. 

Saxe  Weimar,  115. 

Scaliger,  106. 

Schaff,  151. 

Schiller,  113, 128,  129,  130,  136,  141,  309. 

Scholz,  126. 

Schools,  Public,  122,  123. 

Schwartz,  54. 

Sciot,  286. 

Scott,  Dr.,  56,  85. 

"      Sir  W.,  105,  111,  255,  264. 
"      "  Jane,"  205. 
Scougal,  77. 

"  Scripture  Guide,"  190. 
Searle,  47. 
Sectarism,  240. 
Seixas,  89. 
Self-denial,  50. 
"  Semeur,"  326. 
Serm-cent'enary,  287. 
Seneca,  328. 
Sennakerim,  391. 
Separatists,  295. 
Sermons  (and  see  Preaching'),  189,  203 

"        Barrow,  137,  214,  215. 

"         Baxter,  214,  364. 

"         Bossuet,  70,  216. 

"        Bourdaloue,  70,  86,  216. 

"        Cecil,  216. 

"        Chalmers,  68,  74. 

"        Charnock.  256. 

"        Davics,  53,  74,  77,  137,  216. 

"        Edwards,  77,  216. 

"         English,  215. 

"         Epfscoprd,  216. 

"        Flavel,  256,  364. 

"         Flech^re,  70. 

"         Griffin,  293. 

"        Hall,  36,  137,  214,  216. 

"         Hare,  304. 

"        Howe,  137. 

"        Irving,  35,  56,  68. 

"        Jay,  216. 


INDEX   TO    VOL.    I. 


411 


Sermons,  Massillon,  70,  21G 

"        Kevins,  90. 

"        Melville,  275. 

«        Newton,  216. 

"        Paley,  216. 

"         Sherlock,  214,  216. 

"         Taylor,  68,  214,  215. 

"         Tholuck,  231,  233. 

"         Wolfe,  216. 
Servetus,  235. 

Shakespeare,  S,  10,  47,  71,  79,  213. 
Sharpe,  2. 
Slielley,  112. 
Sherlock,  214,  216. 
Sigourney,  218. 
Simeon,  211. 
Simpson,  218. 
Sioux,  79. 

Skinner,  75,  124,  275,  289. 
Skipwith,  356. 
'•  Slatted  over,"  132. 
Slavery,  SS,  93,  117,  272,  306,  351,  352,  353, 

354,  377,  3S5,  400. 
Socinians.  53,  86,  149,  16S,  290,  311. 
Southard,  120,  12S,  144,  201. 
Southev,  305. 

South  Hanover  College,  244. 
Spaulding,  226. 
Spanish  Debars,  146. 
Spectator,  310. 
Spencer,  99. 
Spenser,  86. 
Spite-hall,  343. 
Sprague's  Ode,  36. 
Spring,  289. 
'•  Spy,"  Wirt's,  210. 
Stael,  De,  74,  105,  117,  233. 
Staten  Island,  402. 
Staudlin,  121. 
Steel-pens,  82. 
Stephens,  335. 
Stewart,  C.  S.,  62. 

"        Dugald,  69,  70,  72. 
Stilling,  400. 
Stockton,  Betsey,  294. 

"  Commodore,  309,  359,  374, 378. 

Stone,  134,  234. 
Stoves,  243,  315,  317,  340. 
Stuart,  J.,  2. 

"       Trof.,  385. 
"  Student's  Notes,"  43,  47. 
Study,  course  of,  15,  106,  121,  249. 
Stump  Speeches,  99. 
Studdiford,  385. 
Style,  195. 

Summerlield,  71,  81,  139,  362,  395. 
Su   day-Schools,  189,  205,  206,  235,  243,  244, 

251,  257,  291.     (See  S.  S.  Union.) 
Sunday-School  Journal,  160,  1S9,  191,  192, 

193,  196,  209,  217,  276,  280,  286,  375. 
Survilliers.     (See  Bonaparte.) 
Suydam,  318,  327. 
Swedish  Churches,  338. 

"        Translation,  263. 
Svnod,  177,  270,  340,  380. 
Systems  of  Theology,  1S6,  236. 

Tahernacle,  Broadway,  250. 
Talma^e,  45. 
Tariff,  206. 
Tauchnitz,  259. 
Taylor,  Isaac,  187,  195. 

"        Jeremv.  67,  68,  214,  215,  277,  306. 


Temperance.     (See  Intemperance.) 

Temporal  Charity,  142. 

Tennents,  165,  304. 

"  Ten  Thousand  a  Year,"  318,  321. 

Terence,  126,  127, 136. 

"  Terror  of  Lord,"  245. 

Texas,  137. 

Texts,  387. 

"      illustrated— 

Gen.  3  :  15,  345. 
Exod.  2  :  6,  325. 
2  Sam.  23  :  5-17,  307. 
Ezra  7  :  1-5,  153. 
Job,  290. 
Psalms  6,  175.    *- 
"        77  :  7,  204. 
"      104,  188. 
"       116,  175. 
Isaiah  7  :  14,  158. 
"      7:3,  151. 
"      8:  3,151. 
"      8:4,  151. 
"      9:6,  152. 
"       37,  175. 
"       65  :  20,  257. 
Ezekicl  39-40,  263. 
Matthew  1,  151. 
"        1 :   23,  151. 
"        12  :  30,  368. 
Luke  3  :  23-38, 153. 
Luke  13  :  24,  63. 
John,  (Gospel,)  65. 
Acts  6  :  1-6,  375. 

"     8  :  37,  32. 
Romans  3  :  4,  305. 
"  5,  221. 

"         9  :  15,  32. 

1  Cor.    1  :  13-15,  296. 

"       3  :  22-23,  357. 
"       4:1-9,15,369. 
'•'       7  :  29-31,  16S. 
"       9  :  27,  343. 
"     10  :    2,  296. 
"     14  :  35,  287. 

2  Cor.,  364. 

"    1:9,  173. 

"     4-5,  173. 

"    4:7,  28. 

"     5  :  11,  245. 

"     5  :  14-15,  390 

"     6:4,  369. 

"     7:1,  365. 

"     9  :  1-2,  369. 

"     9:8,  365. 

"  11  :  23,  369. 
Gal.  3  :  18-19,  62. 
Eph.  1 :  4,  55. 
Phil.  2  :  2-3,  158 
"  3  :  10,  165. 
"  4  :  13,  165. 
Col.  3 :  1-2,  345. 

"  3  :  17, 165. 
1  and  2  Thess.,  28 

1  Tim.,  2  :8,366. 

2  Tim.,  1 :  9,  55. 
Hebrews  13  :  5,  17 
James  5  :  14, 174. 
2  Peter  3  :  13,  257. 

1  John  2  :  26-27,  326 

Key.  16,  191. 
Thanksgiving,  139,  3S5. 
Thelwall,  89. 
Theolo  r  eal  Course,  178. 


412 


INDEX   TO    VOL.    I. 


Theological  Dictionary,  145. 

"  Seminary,  (Princeton,)  12,  13, 

41,  45,  177,  228,  368,  384. 

"  Seminary,  (Western,)  353. 

•:  Study,  5. 

Tholuck,  231,  233^  242. 
Thomas,  26. 
Thomson,  215. 
Thomson's  Seasons,  S,  110. 
Thorwaldsen,  241. 
Ticknor,  127. 
Tilghman,  234. 
Titles,  262. 
Tobacco,  73,  105. 
Todd's  Manual,  230. 
Torrey,  342. 
Townley,  82. 
Townsend's  Bible,  190. 
Tract  Society,  310. 
Trades'  Unions,  237,  240. 
Transcendentalism,  274,  363. 
Translations,  116. 
Travels,  33,  82,  110,  131. 
Trenton,  11,112,  119,  202,  206.  255,  329,331, 

333,  356. 
Trevelyan,  247. 
Tucker,  107,  376. 
Turretine,  71,  181, 187,  221. 
Tutor,  42,  87. 
Tyler,  374. 

Union,  Am.  Sunday-School,  154,  157,  169, 
171,  190,  196,  197,  203,  232,  233,  240,  241, 
243,  247,  251,  292,  296,  314. 

Unitarians.     (See  S'ochiians.) 

University  of  New  York,  397. 

"  Virginia,  107,  116,  305,  314. 

Urqnhart,  160. 

Usher,  287. 

Van  r.uren,  243,  341. 

Velocipede.  3. 

Venable,  352. 

Ventilation,  319. 

Vermont  Chronicle,  240. 

Vertot,  135. 

Vethake,  137,  148,  169. 

Vielleville,  130. 

l:  Views  in  Palestine,"  190. 

Vineyard,  Comer  of,  390. 

Virgil,  126. 

Virginia,  33,  79,  86,  89,  91,  269. 

Visiting,  Pastor's,  128. 

Vitrirga,  242. 

"  Vivian  Grev,"  112. 

Voltaire,  70,  i46,  233,  256. 

Voorhees,  199. 

Vroom,  219. 

Waddel,  83,  210,  235,  353. 
Wadsworth,  373. 


"Wales,  New  South,  300. 
Walker's  Dictionary,  242. 
Walpole,  343. 

Walsh,  123,  126,  156,  226,  246.  247,  310,  314, 
322,  325,  326,  343,  362,  401.     (See  Gazctt* 
and  Amer.  Quarterly  Rew'zw.) 
War,  236. 
Ward,  54. 
Washington,  138,  139. 

"  Judge,  125. 

Waterburv,  14,  82,  128. 
Watkins,  101. 
Watson,  Annals,  392,  401. 

"        Bishop,  31,  73. 

"        Divinity,  181,  187. 
Watts,  23S,  316. 

"     John,  157. 
Waugh,  387. 

Waverley  Novels,  71,  111. 
"  Way  of  Life,"  389,  396. 
Wayland,  229. 
Weatherby,  43. 
Webster,  Daniel,  33,  154,  261. 

"         Noah,  120,  132,  240. 
Werter,  Sorrows  of,  133. 
Wesley,  72, 123,  167,  187,  387. 
Wharfs,  221. 
Whatelv,  369. 

Whig  Society,  22,  26,  71,  242,  257. 
Whip-poor-will,  103. 
White,  Bishop,  135,  217,  242,  263,  294. 
Whitefleld,  56,  165,  235,  387. 
Wilberforce,  267,  268,  273. 
Williams,  J.  W.,  247. 
Wilson,  Bishop,  184. 

"         J.  P.,  35,  75,  109, 184,  263,  339. 
Winchester,  139,  337. 
Wirt,  144,  182,  210,  339,  348. 
Witherspoon,  82. 
Wiseman,  347. 
"  Witness,"  Edinburgh,  391. 
Witsius,  221. 
Wolfe,  216. 

Wolff,  257,  260,  264,  339. 
Women,  Sufferings,  163. 

"        Name,  240. 
Woodsons,  355. 
Woolsey,  81. 

Wordsworth,  46,  60.  131,  213,  234 
Working  Man,  146,  2S3. 
Wyatt,  101. 

Yale  College,  237. 

Year-word,  387. 

Yeomans,  206,  248,  251,  279.  301. 

Young,  378. 

"  Youth's  Friend,"  243 

Zealand,  New,  300. 
Zinzendorff,  236. 
Zoology,  226. 
Zuingle,  323,  324,  325. 


END    OF    VOL.    I. 


i<J 


W.   l  \  t^cu^t^eL^ 


FORTY    YEARS' 


FAMILIAR     LETTERS 


JAMES  W.  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 


CONSTITUTING,  WITH  THE  NOTES, 


A    MEMOIR    OF    HIS    LIFE 


EDITED  BY  THE  SURVIVING  CORRESPONDENT, 

JOHN  HALL,  D.D. 


TWO     VOLUMES     IN     ONE. 
VOL.    II. 


NEW  YORK : 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER  &  CO.,  654  BROADWAY. 

1870. 


E^tsttfd,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 

CHARLES    S  CRIB  NEE, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Souttdra 

District  of  New  York. 


JOHX  F.  TROW, 

rttlNTKH,  STEHEOTYPER,    AND   EI.ECTItOTYPER, 

50  Greene  Street,  New  Yoik. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Letters  while  Pastor  of  Duane  Street  Church,  New  York,  .         .         5 

1844—1849. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Letters  while  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary,  Princeton,       99 

1849—1851. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Letters  during  his  first  visit  to  Europe,     .         .         •  •       .         .134 

1851. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Letters  while  Pastor  of  the  Fifth  Ayenue  Church,  New  York,     163 
1851— 1857. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Letters  during  his  second  yisit  to  Europe, 238 

1857. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Letters  during  the  remainder  of  his  Pastorate  in  New  York,       .     271 

1857—1859. 


4  CONTENTS    OF   VOLUME   II. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Concluding  Note, 291 

1859. 

Appendix, 305 

1.  Charge  at  the  Ordination  and  Instalment  of  his  Correspondent. 

2.  Additional  Letter   from  Europe  in  1851. 

3.  Additional  Letters  from  Europe  in  185*7. 

Index 873 


CHAPTER    IX. 


LETTERS    WHILE    PASTOR    OF    DUANE    STREET 
CHURCH,    NEW    YORK. 


1844— 1849. 

New  York,  Octooer  4,  1844. 
I  was  licensed  just  nineteen  years  ago,  this  day.  Last  even- 
ing I  was  installed.  My  father  preached.  Dr.  Potts  gave  me  a 
good  charge,  very  kind,  but  somewThat  laudatorial.  Dr.  Krebs 
charge  to  the  people.  Mr.  Greenleaf  presided.  Dr.  Spring 
made  the  last  prayer,  in  a  very  memorable  manner ;  it  was  a 
prayer  of  great  pathos.  The  house  was  full.  The  presentation 
to  the  people  was  long,  wearisome,  exciting,  but  accompanied 
with  such  circumstances  as  cheer  and  humble  me.  I  slept  little 
and  am  tremulous  with  a  cup  of  unwonted  coffee.  Till  advised, 
address  J.  W.  A.,  "  Care  Hugh  Auchincloss  &  Sons,  49  Beaver 
Street.  "  ' 

New  York,  October  10,  1844. 
Where  shall  I  begin  about  this  Babel1?  I  ought  to  begin  by 
expressing  my  thanks  to  benignant  Providence  for  the  pleasant- 
ness of  every  thing,  and  especially  the  warm  reception  I  have 
had.  We  are  not  yet  admitted  to  our  new  house,  but  remain 
with  our  good  friends  [the  late  Mr.  Hugh  Auchincloss]  in  Bar- 
clay St.  We  hope  to  set  up  our  tent  this  week.  I  have  the 
back  room,  2d  story,  for  my  study,  which  I  regard  as  the  chief 
room  in  a  parson's  house.  Ours  is  only  a  two-story  house. 
From  my  window  I  have  a  constant  view  of  the  "Tombs." 

1  Dr.  Alexander  preached  his  first  sermon,  after  the  instalment,  October 
Cth,  from  Psalm  li.  12  ;  and  in  the  afternoon  from  Matthew  xi.  16-19. 


6  WHILE    PASTOB    OF    DUANE    ST.    CHURCH,    NEW  YORK 

I  preached  all  day,  on  Sunday ;  and  Monthly  Concert  on 
Monday.  Attendance  good,  but  nothing  which  need  cause  any 
resort  to  the  police,  as  yet.  As  for  myself,  the  worst  I  have 
experienced  is  bodily  fatigue.  Running  all  day,  and  dead  sleep 
all  night.  Yesterday  I  attended  my  first  funeral,  and  my  first 
clinical  case.  In  the  evening,  Mr.  Auchincloss  took  a  raft  of  us 
to  the  Tabernacle,  to  see  and  hear  the  Campanologians.  They 
are  really  Tyrolese,  and  in  costume.  It  passes  belief.  They  are 
seven,  and  the  music  is  as  exact  as  a  Geneva  box.  I  wished  for 
Dr.  Ewing.  Inter  alia,  they  gave  the  overture  to  Fra  Diavolo, 
with  every  rapid  and  every  chromatic  passage  perfectly,  and  all 
the  varieties  of  pianissimo  and  fortissimo.  The  bells,  on  a  rough 
count,  are  30 — 40.  ^Each  man  has  a  cluster  before  him.  But 
they  do  not  stick  to  this  arrangement,  but  snatch  up  one  another's 
bells  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning.  At  a  distance,  exactly  like 
common  table  or  hand-bells,  the  largest  about  three  pints 
measure.  On  examination,  the  handles  are  leathern,  stiff  and 
elastic,  and  within  are  cushions  so  that  no  shake  but  in  a  certain 
plane  will  give  a  sound.  I  presume  the  vibration  is  checked  by 
a  slight  twirl  of  the  wrist,  such  as  throws  the  clapper  against 
the  cushion.  The  audience  about  4,000.  I  saw  the  Rev.  Symmes 
C.  Henry  and  daughter  there.  My  sexton  is  a  treasure  ;  both 
intelligent  and  pious,  and  withal  as  humble  and  ';  bid-able  "  as  a 
Helot.  His  name  is  Peter  Tarlsen,  from  Mandel,  near  Christian- 
sand,  in  Norway.  Of  course  his  vernacular  is  Danish  ;  but  he 
has  twelve  years'  worth  of  English.  He  is  my  man  Friday,  and 
does  all  manner  of  chores  for  me,  being  this  moment  toting  my 
books  from  the  basement.  We  have  the  Croton,  but  no  bath- 
room. Indeed,  New  York  is  immeasurably  behind  Philadelphia 
in  all  that  concerns  neatness  &c.  E.  g.  we  have  no  back  alley  ; 
nor  has  one  house  in  a  thousand.  I  told  you  I  have  the  house 
where  Dr.  Romeyn  once  was.  I  have  found  out  a  number  of 
very  agreeable  neighbours.  We  have  every  thing  near.  Centre 
Market  is  about  three  Philadelphia  squares  off;  Broadway, 
seven  doors  ;  the  Harlaem  railway-route,  about  two  squares. 
The  market  folk  send  every  thing  home  for  you,  and  all  sorts  of 
trades-people  come  to  one's  house,  on  receiving  a  note  through 
the  Despatch-post.  The  thing  which  most  strikes  me,  is  the  loss 
of  time  by  the  immense  distances.  For  instance,  Presbytery  met 
at  Chelsea,  three  miles  from  the  Battery.  One  hundred  guns 
this  afternoon  in  the  park.  These  are  days  of  general  muster. 
Presented  one  bag  of  coffee  and  one  box  black  tea ;  one  barrel 
flour,  one  do.  sugar  ;  item,  one  rocking  chair,  and  one  arm  ditto. 
Stolen,  one  pile  of  boards  from  the  "  stoop."  I  wish  you  to 
say  to  my  Trenton  friends,  especially   in  your  street,  that,  in 


1S44— 1849.  7 

the  extraordinary  hurry  of  departure,  having  one  house  dis- 
mantled, and  the  other  unfurnished,  I  was  barely  able  to  say  adieu 
to  my  Princeton  friends  ;  nay,  one  or  two  of  them  I  had  to  leave 
ungreeted.  The  processional  politics  of  New  York  amounts  to 
a  furor.  Thousands  must  be  spent  on  banners  and  music  alone, 
not  to  speak  of  drink  and  time.  I  think  I  have  spent  half  a 
dollar  a  day  on  omnibuses.  The  weather  has  been  delightful. 
Unless  I  err,  there  is  a  great  desire  for  real  pastoral  attention, 
and  for  Christian  profit. 

New  York,  October  23,  1844. 
I  verily  believe  the  exchange  is  against  Trenton  ;  but,  for  an 
ensample,  I  write.  Last  night,  or  this  morning,  was  allotted  [by 
the  "  Millerites  "]  for  the  day  of  doom.  Some  went  out  and 
encamped  at  Harlaem.  On  Monday  evening  I  heard  the  Rev. 
Mrs.  Bishop,  of  the  True  Israelites  persuasion,  at  the  Tabernacle  ; 
which  is  now  "a  house  of  merchandise."  Her  delivery,  gram- 
mar, Scripture-citation,  &c,  excellent.  Her  main  point  was  the 
exaltation  of  woman.  This  day  has  been  one  of  great  hubbub  : 
the  Young  Whigs'  celebration.  A  live  eagle  ;  three  live  coons  ; 
procession  of  trades  ;  cavalcade  of  some  thousands  ;  bands  and 
banners  sans  number.  Nothing  gratified  my  eyes  so  much  as 
the  Boston  delegation,  amounting  to  hundreds  :  fine  fellows  all. 
Willis  has  started  a  daily  ;  and  for  New  York  gossip  and  idle, 
but  witty  badinage,  it  deserves  well.  Kirk  called  yesterday. 
I  have,  in  my  flock,  Mrs.  Renwick,  the  "Jane"  of  Burns:  she 
knew  the  poet  well.  The  New  Yorkers  mean  to  have  a  new 
paper:  both  new  and  old  synods  have  jumped  together  in  this, 
and  in  assaulting  the  American  Tract  Society,  about  Merle's 
book.1  I  find  myself  in  a  very  central  situation  for  my  charge. 
The  church  and  lecture  room  are  easj*  to  speak  in.  Mr.  Andrew 
and  two  daughters,  of  my  parish,  have  just  arrived  from  England. 
Capt.  Auchincloss  is  every  day  expected  from  Rio.  My  friends 
here  have  attended  very  properly  to  my  wants  in  the  grocery 
line.  The  fair  of  the  American  Institute  is  worth  seeing.  Serious 
talk  of  a  railway  in  Broadway,  to  exclude  the  omnibuses,  which 
peril  life  every  moment.  A  member  of  our  congregation  was 
killed  by  an  omnibus,  some  months  since.  Leeser  called  on  me, 
on  Sunday  ;  he  had  been  supplying  the  pulpit  of  Rabbi  Lyon 
in  Crosby  Street.  Rabbi  Isaacs  lives  just  round  a  corner  from 
me ;  and  two  synagogues  arc  near.  The  omnibuses  of  the 
better  sort  are  lined  with  velvet  or  plush,  spring  cushions,  some 

1  Dr.  Merle  d'Anbigne's  History  of  the   Reformation,  which  had  been 
slightly  altered  in  the  republication. 


8  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 

of  them  having  mahogany  arms  dividing  seat  from  seat.  Wain- 
wright  and  Richmond's  edition  of  the  Potts  controversy  is  mean 
beyond  common  meanness.  The  annotator  is  bold  in  billings- 
gate. Our  door  bell  hardly  ceases  to  vibrate.  I  have  laid 
my  people  under  an  injunction  to  furnish  me  in  writing,  with 
their  respective  names  and  number  of  house.  Dr.  Potts  has 
not  yet  elected  elders.  I  hope  you  will  come  on  very  soon  ; 
bed  and  all  readv  ;  the  "Tombs"  in  the  rear;  1  am  in  the 
"  bloody  Sixth  Ward." 

Yours  most  interruptedly. 


-  New  York,  October  30,  1844. 
Last  night,  after  my  return  from  lecture,  who  should  come 
in  but  Packard,  on  his  way  to  Boston.  On  Saturday  night  I 
heard  the  guns  announcing  the  Great  Western  ;  these  big  things 
are  now  quite  punctual.  Smyth  [of  Charleston]  came  in  the 
Western,  bringing  81,500  worth  of  books  with  him.  He  was 
called  up,  impromptu,  in  the  Farewell  Missionary  meeting,  on 
Sunday,  and  made  an  admirable  address.  Brown  (for  China) 
sailed  yesterday.  Mr.  Masters  [an  elder  of  Duane  street]  is 
ill  with  fever.  Mr.  Auchincloss  had  a  touch  of  illness  on 
the  28th.  Mr.  Hinsdale  has  left  us  for  Brooklyn.  Mr.  Beers, 
our  only  remaining  elder,  is  up  the  river.  On  Monday  evening 
I  heard  Major  Mordecai  Manasseh  Noah,  on  the  Restoration  of 
Israel ;  an  hour  and  a  half:  rain,  but  full  house.  Doctrine  :  the 
Jews  are  to  be  restored  to  their  own  land.  .  Inference  :  Christians 
should  aid,  by  procuring  for  Israelites  a  secure  tenure  of  land  in 
Palestine.  He  proposed  to  the  Society  for  Conversion  of  Jews, 
to  deliver  several  lectures  under  their  auspices.  The  outcry 
against  Merle's  History  as  altered  by  the  Tract  Society  is  very 
absurd.  The  book  is  exactly  what  it  was,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses :  and  its  influence  is  rendered  a  hundredfold  greater  by 
the  Society  taking  it  up.  I  have  carefully  collated  all  the  pas- 
sages in  question  ;  and  while  I  think  the  alterations  needless,  I 
would  not  give  one  cent  for  the  difference.  Certain  New 
School  men  are  bent  on  awakening  a  Newr  School  secturism, 
as  against  all  Union  Societies.  They  mean  to  have  a  Publica- 
tion Board.  These  jealousies  are  horrid.  I  do  not  wonder 
that  some  pastors  feel  themselves  at  length  constrained  to  do 
all  their  works  within  their  own  parish.  I  cannot  but  think 
that  spiritual  religion  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  our  churches  in  this 
city.  Never  have  I  heard,  in  the  same  amount  of  visiting,  so 
little  savoury  discourse.  1  believe  Puseyism  triumphs,  (  sot 
because  Presbyterians  fight  so  little,  brag  so  little,  an  1  stickle 


1844—1849.  9 

so  little ;  so  saith ,)  but  because  our  actual  state,  in  Pres- 
byterian churches,  has  so  little  to  awaken  and  Jill  the  affections. 
Old  spiritualism  (Pollockisra)  [i.  199]  is  no  more.  ReVivalism 
is  no  more.  The  only  activity  visible  is  a  mere  business  bustle 
in  regard  to  organisms  and  agencies.  Must  we  not  go  deeper 
than  we  have  gone  %  I  am  deeply  affected  with  a  sense  of  this. 
But  how  to  begin  1  At  home,  we  need  most  of  all.  1  have  shut 
up  books,  and  live  in  the  streets  and  houses,  all  the  available 
hours  of  the  day.  Bush  is  out  with  his  anti-resurrection  book. 
g^HT"  Expect  him  to  turn  Swedenborgian.     [This  took  place.] 

and  family  in  the  Great  Western,  from  third  visit  abroad. 

He  says  he  saw  much  of  Carlyle.  C.  and  Tennyson  had  a  night 
with  him  just  before  he  left  London.  Pipe-smoking,  with 
wash-basin  on  table  for  spittoon.  Carlyle  is  in  talk  as  in  his 
books ;  only  "  more  so."  As  Addison  is  printing  [Isaiah] 
with  Wiley  &  Putnam,  I  have  the  entree  there,  and  enjoy  a 
grand  gloat  on  the  arrival  of  each  steamer.  The  English 
books  are  reaching  a  sumptuosity  which  constitutes  a  branch 
of  luxe  quite  new  in  the  world  ;  e.  g.  Murray's  4to  edition  of 
Byron.  While  I  write,  the  grand  Whig  procession  is  advancing : 
Vanitas  vanitatum.  The  under-current  of  religious  activity  in 
this  city  strikes  me  with  unexpected  force,  as  strong  and  branch- 
ing into  a  vast  number  of  charities.  I  did  not  conceive  that  so 
much  was  effected  in  regard  to  seamen,  tract  distribution,  and 
care  of  poor.  The  increase  of  foreigners  is  amazing  :  I  perceive 
it  in  the  increase  of  foreign  newspapers  in  New  York,  signs  of 
stores,  and  lingos  in  shop  and  market.  Liveries  are  all  the  go 
again  :  everywhere  coachmen  with  white  neckcloths,  of  true  dis- 
senting cut.  I  am  just  called  down  to  talk  with  a  man  from 
Rome  (N.  Y.)  who  heard  me  preach  on  Sunday,  and  is  under 
great  distress  of  mind. 

Tsew  York,  November  18,  1844. 
Mr.  Masters  was  buried  on  Thursday.  The  body  was 
brought  to  our  church,  contrary  to  New  York  usage.  Dr.  Potts, 
and  Dr.  Cummins  of  Florida,  an  old  friend,  assisted.  I  spoke 
from  John  xvii.  24.  Large  assembly,  including  some  of  the 
chief  merchants  of  New  York.  We  have  lost  the  leading  mind 
in  our  church.  In  the  use  of  his  pen,  Mr.  Masters  took  rank 
with  scholars.  As  a  merchant,  he  was  sagacious  to  a  remarkable 
degree.  I  have  now  but  two  elders  ;  and  old  Mr.  Beers  [since 
deceased]  is  out  of  town  nine-tenths  of  the  time.  I  catechize 
every  Saturday  from  nine  to  ten.  My  lecture  is  on  Tuesday 
evening,  half-past  seven,  in  the  basement.     Last  Thursday  (which 

VOL.  II. — 1* 


10       WHILE    PASTOR    OF    DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW    YORK. 

is  our  prayer-meeting)  we  had  the  Rev.  John  Macnaughton 
of  Paisley.  You  may  remember  the  long  debate  in  the  Free 
Assembly  of  '43,  which  resulted  in  refusing  to  translate  him  to 
N.  Leith,  on  account  of  the  resistance  of  his  flock.  He  has  been 
on  a  special  mission  to  Canada,  and  sailed  on  the  16th  in  the 
Hibernia.  He  has  preached  much  oftener  than  once  a  day,  in 
America  ;  on  several  Sabbaths  four  times.  Young,  ruddy,  hand- 
some, uncommonly  plain  in  dress,  and  a  most  eloquent  preacher. 
He  never  uses  a  note,  and  says  "  reading  sermons  is  almost  ex- 
ploded in  the  Free  Church."  None  of  the  Scotchmen  come 
near  him  for  unction,  elegance  of  diction,  and  Summerfieklian 
soaring  of  imagination.  In  the  Native  American  procession, 
among  abundance  of  Bibles  and  Bible-banners,  I  read,  with  my 
own  eyes,  the  following,  on  a  large  canvas,  and  most  prominent 
place  :  "  By  the  eternal,  we  must  and  shall " — I  presume  the  last 
word  was  "  rule."  I  regard  the  outcry  against  the  Tract  So- 
ciety's edition  of  Merle  d'Aubigne  as  factious  and  wicked.  For 
all  the  ends,  the  mutilated  book  is  not  one  stiver  worse  than 
the  other.  The  New  School  men  are  intent  on  having  a  sec- 
tarian Board  of  Publication.  They  are  angry  with  the  Tract 
Society  for  being  so  old-fashioned  in  doctrine.  In  two  years,  the 
Society  would  have  had  100,000  copies  all  over  the  land.  Now 
they  are  paralyzed,  not  only  in  regard  to  this,  but  all  their 
operations.  All  this,  while  I  think  the  alterations  should  have 
been  first  submitted  to  Merle.  I  fully  agree  with  you  about 
Polk  ;  he  never  fought  a  duel ;  that  is  something  :  Ezek.  xxii. 
6.  A  visit  from  you  will  be  truly  acceptable.  If  at  any  time 
you  find  us  full,  your  kin  will  receive  you  ;  here  are  the  names 
and  residences,  in  full,  viz.  :  [Here  a  list  of  "  Halls  :'  from  the 
Directory.] 

My  prospects  of  a  full  house  are  certainly  not  less  than  I 
expected.  All  our  down-stairs  pews  are  sold,  but  there  are  scots 
offered  to  let.     Gallery-pews  are  not  sought.     I  have  not  visited 

,  lest   I   should   seem  to  be  canvassing  ;  the  name  has  not 

been  given  to  me,  as  among  our  hearers,  and  my  time  is  unequal 
to  the  search  for  such  as  are.  Several  cases  of  awakening  are 
known  to  me.  It  is  generally  believed  that  no  church  in  New 
York  has  so  many  young  men.  They  have  a  monthly  associa- 
tion, which  I  have  attended.  Kidder  has  put  out  a  valuable 
translation  from  the  Portuguese,  on  Celibacy  :  see  this  week's 
Observer.  I  have  met  him  twice.  Me  juclice,  the  Methodists 
are  doing  more  than  all  of  us,  in  evangelizing  this  Sodom.  The 
monthly  visits  of  the  City  Tract  Society's  distributors,  is  the 
most  wonderful  and  blessed  agency  ;  the  half  had  not  been  told  me. 
Burns  has  determined  to  settle  at  Toronto.     A  visiter  told  ma 


1844—1849.  11 

this  of which  follows  :  He  was  presented  to  the  Governor  of 

New  Brunswick.  After  he  had  blathered  away,  as  he  is  wont, 
for  about  an  hour,  the  Governor  rose  and  said :  "  As  I  find  no 
opportunity  to  say  any  thing,  I  will  take  my  leave."'  The 
Scotch  Publication  scheme  is  grand  ;  they  will  have  no  lofts 
filled  with  unsold  books.  It  is  this  :  No  books  are  in  market, 
nor  any  printed,  but  for  subscribers.  All  the  money  goes  to 
cheapen  the  books.  Each  subscriber,  who  at  first  received  two 
bound  vols,  per  annum  for  4s.  sterling,  now  receives  four  bound 
vols,  for  the  same.  Subscribers  now,  40,000.  This  ensures 
their  being  read,  and  they  are  cheaper  than  our  "  cheap  litera- 
ture." In  all  our  operations  here,  I  am  afraid  much  of  the  water 
runs  beside  the  mill-wheel ;  e.  g.  the  millions  of  "  winged  mes- 
sengers "  which  fly  into  waste-paper-deposit.  But  let's  not 
croak  :  for  croaking  is  already  hindering  half  we  attempt.  I 
wish  Willis  was  not  so  incorrigibly  and  laboriously  frivolous. 
His  "  Mirror,"  now  daily,  gives  the  best  daguerreotype  of  this 

frivolous  city.     is  to    be  the  editor  of  the  New  School 

paper,  "  and  to  party  give  up,  what  was  meant  for  mankind." 
My  people  will  not  stand  up  in  prayer.  Some  pastors  have 
used  pains  to  introduce  what  Dr.  Cox  calls  a  "  sedentary  reclina- 
ture."  I  hope  they  will  not  introduce  berths,  for  repose  in 
devotion. 

New  York,  December  2,  1844. 
Your  thoughts  about  the  Sabbath  Convention  show  how  well 
you  have  succeeded  in  picking  up  my  views,  probably  from  my 
old  parishioners.  Beware  how  you  use  "  my  thunder."  Our 
ponderous  fire-bell  is  telling  of  fire.  Though  we  hear  the  tocsin 
at  least  daily,  I  have  never  seen  an  engine,  nor  met  with  that 
sort  of  hubbub  which  agitates  all  Philadelphia  at  once,  on  such 
occasions.  The  reason  perhaps  is,  that  the  law  forbids  engines 
to  go  out  of  their  own  district,  unless  a  special  call  be  made  for 
more  help.  I  have  a  choking  new  cold ;  yet  I  preached  twice 
yesterday,  and  was  at  a  funeral  to-day  :  Dr.  Milnor,  Dr.  Snod- 
grass  and  I.  Fourteen  white  scarfs,  of  fine  twined  linen.  Burial 
in  vault  in  Trinity -yard,  where  Milnor  officiated,  after  my  ser- 
vice at  the  house.  The  old  Doctor  is  right  hale  for  72.  [He 
died  April  8,  1845.]  He  tells  me  he  practised  law,  actively, 
twenty  years.  Morse,  after  long  silence,  is  editorializing  about 
Merle's  history.  The  life  of  McCheyne  humbles  me.  What  zeal 
and  faith  !  what  a  proof  that  Old  Calvinism  is  not  insusceptible 
of  being  used  as  an  arousing  instrument !  Macnaughton  seems 
to  -be  of  the  same  school.  The  book  is  open  to  an  objection, 
conveyed  in  an  anecdote  told  me  by  a  nice  Scotswoman,  the 


12       WHILE    PASTOR    OF    DTJANE    ST.    CHURCH,    NEW   YORK. 

other  day.  Dr.  Chalmers  said  of  Burns  jr.,  McCheyne,  McDon- 
ald, &c. :  "  These  young  brethren  are  doing  a  good  work  ;  but  I 
wish  they  would  have  done  with  their  nursery  endearments." 
Noah  is  repeating  his  lecture  this  evening.  Potts  has  been  chal- 
lenged by  Richmond,  to  discuss  prelacy  in  an  oral  way.  This, 
you  remember,  was  Potts'  proposal  to  Wainwright.  "  And," 
Richmond  adds,  "  as  you  are  well  prepared,  let  us  begin  to-mor- 
row." The  November  number  of  the  "  North  British  Review  " 
is  good.  Leading  article  by  Chalmers.  One  on  Davy,  by  Car- 
lyle ;  one  on  America,  by  Cunningham  ;  admirable.  One  on 
somebody's  telescope,  by  Brewster.  The  best  is  on  Backhouse 
(quaker)'s  missionary  visit  to  Africa ;  developing  the  principle 
of  a  book  called  "  Good — Better — Best."  Among  all  my  cate- 
chumens, I  find  but  two  who  know  the  whole  Shorter  Catechism. 
I  find  it  my  pleasantest  hour  in  the  week.  Much  talk  in  Prince- 
ton of  the  amazing  genius  of  a  young  poet.  He  belongs 
to  the  set  which  may  be  said  to  constitute  the  "  New  America." 
They  go  for  metaphysie,  Coleridge,  almost  for  Spinoza.  They 
laugh  at  Locke,  Reid,  Stewart,  &c.  They  undervalue  New- 
ton and  Bacon.  They  applaud  Plato.  They  care  less,  than 
they  once  did,  for  prayer-meetings,  missions,  &c.  Keep 
your  eye  on  this.  How  much  we  need  to  stick  by  the 
plain  declarations  of  the  written  word  !  Reading  McCheyne 
makes  me  feel  how  defective  we  ministers  are,  in  helping  one 
another  in  the  main  point.  It  is  a  great  thing  to  have  one  to 
go  to  in  a  soul-trouble.  Bustle,  bustle.  It  was  temperance — 
it  is  now  the  Sabbath.  I  am  trying  to  fall  in  with  a  good  little 
Moravian,  named  Bigler,  who  is  said  to  preach  the  old  gospel 
with  much  unction.  Some  of  the  Methodists  preach  delight- 
fully ;  and  when  they  all  sing  together,  it  leaves  the  orchestral 
style  far  behind.  I  am  anxiously  concerned  about  new  elders, 
having  only  Messrs.  Auchincloss  and  Beers.  I  have  never  had 
any  one  to  pay  a  visit  of  introduction  with  me ;  still  I  am  get- 
ting on.  I  lecture  on  Hebrews,  and  wish  I  could  do  nothing  but 
expound.  I  read  one  sermon  a  week )  with  a  growing  persua- 
sion, that  written  sermons  have  undoubted  points  of  superiority  ; 
but  that  these  are  all  worldly.  I  more  and  more  believe  (my 
practice  belies  it)  that  (1)  constant  Bible-study,  using  Scripture 
to  explain  itself,  and  (2)  culture  of  the  heart,  by  prayer,  &c, 
are  the  great  preparation  for  the  pulpit.  O  for  a  generation  of 
the  old  sort  of  preachers  !  Matt.  Henry,  Newton,  Cecil,  &c. 
We  are  dying  of  Moderatism.  Listen  to  the  talk  of  our 
divinity-students ;  it  is  of  Coleridge,  Emerson,  &c.  In  New 
York,  the  result  of  the  former  exciting  revivals  is  seen,  even 
In  good  men,  in  the  making  all  religion  consist  in   evangelical 


1844—1849.  13 

effort.  Some  are  very  busy  saving  souis,  with  all  the  dialect 
and  levity  and  coarseness  of  Maj.  Downing.  I  feel  my  own 
defects.  1  desire  to  be  a  parish-minister,  wholly,  and  with  all 
my  soul. 

New  York,  December  9,  1844. 
I  think  we  are  at  cross-purposes  about  the  "  old  sort  of 
preachers."  I  meant  such  Presbyterian  pastors  and  preachers 
as  were  known  to  our  fathers.  I  would  not  demand  that  any  of 
us  should  adopt  those  peculiarities  which  belonged  to  the  age 
and  fashion  of  the  Puritans  ;  their  "  pun-divinity,"  as  Charles 
Lamb  called  it.  Nor  do  I  deny  that  they  sometimes  introduced 
inconvenient  niceties  of  distinction.  Yet  even  in  respect  to 
these,  I  believe  it  may  be  taken  as  universally  true,  that  every 
distinction  arises  from'  some  new  error  to  be  opposed.  The 
Apostles'  creed  sufficed,  till  Arianism  arose.  Sabellius  made 
other  distinctions  necessary,  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 
Some  of  the  distinctions  of  the  Reformed  Theology,  and  even 
of  our  Confession,  have  become  obsolete,  but  new  ones  have 
taken  their  place,  and  the  number  does  not  seem  to  be  lessened. 
But  the  technical  formulas  of  these  nonconformists  and  Scotch 
Presbyterians  are  not  the  things  I  wTould  imitate.  One  good  char- 
acteristic, however,  of  this  whole  class,  1  do  wish  we  had  in 
greater  measure  ;  they  not  only  held  Scripture  truth,  but  they 
associated  it  with  Scripture  language.  Their  writings  teem  with 
Bible  phrase  and  Bible  figure  ;  a  necessary  result,  in  any  age,  of 
affectionate  devotion  to  the  book.  For  this  I  love  them  ;  and, 
in  my  best  moods,  in  this  I  feel  myself  sliding  into  imitation  of 
them.  1  do  not,  I  own  it,  think  even  the  Puritan  writers,  as  a 
body,  chargeable  with  overlaying  the  truth,  or  complicating  its 
simplicity.  True,  they  pursue  doctrines  into  minute  ramifica- 
tions ;  the  necessary  consequence  of  their  dwelling  so  profoundly 
on  them.  The  general  statement  of  a  doctrine  is,  1  know,  true ; 
it  is,  also,  more  intelligible,  and  more  fit  for  a  beginner  ;  but  the 
fault  of  modern  divinity  is  that  it  too  seldom  gets  beyond  these 
generalities.  Jay  represents  such  a  truth  as  this,  "  Christ  died  to 
save  us,"  in  a  thousand  ways,  and  each  of  them  coloured  with  some 
Scriptural  phrase,  figure,  or  example.  Some  of  us,  if  we  taught 
the  same,  would  scrupulously  avoid  every  such  vehicle,  and 
would  translate  the  Bible-diction  into  that  of  philosophic  elegance. 
The  former  I  think  most  luminous,  most  interesting  to  common 
minds,  and  most  safe.  It  is  a  great  merit  of  this  way,  that  it  is 
prized  by  our  Stuarts,  Pollocks,  and  Woodruffs,  [humble  parish- 
ioners.] It  is  the  way  which  made  them  just  what  they  are. 
If  all  our  youth  Were  bred  in  this  way,  all  our  old  folks  would 


14: 

relish  it,  as  the  Scotch  peasantry  actually  do.  The  reverse 
method,  though  simpler,  and  less  liable  to  the  charge  of  cant, 
has  never  produced  as  desirable  fruit.  And  Ave  must  not  take 
as  our  model  the  way  which  pleases  such  as  are,  by  the  suppo- 
sition, uninstructed.  We  must  interpose  some  long  words  in 
the  child's  lesson,  or  he  will  never  know  any  but  the  short  ones. 
And  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  one  of  the  chief  faults  of  the  New 
School  or  revival  era,  that  its  plan  of  teaching  had  respect  too 
exclusively  to  the  initiation  of  new  converts.  One  thing  I  more 
and  more  feel,  the  excellency  of  figures  and  illustrations  and  ex- 
amples drawn  from  the  text  of  the  Word.  To  aim  at  either 
simplicity  or  elegance,  by  avoiding  these,  leads  either  to  vague- 
ness or  dryness.     Hence  I.  never  could  get  along  with  this  rule 

of  Dr. :  ;'  if  you  have  a  figurative  text,  explain  the  figure, 

and  then,  dismiss  it"  It  is  the  secret  of  the  good  Doctor's  tame- 
ness.  By  this  rale,  all  sermons  on  Faith  will  be  the  same  ser- 
mon. I  will  send  you  shortly  two  numbers  of  "  Punch." 
Though  the  old  Adam  in  me  relishes  his  passes,  yet  I  agree  in 
what  a  very  poor  editor  lately  said  of  him,  that  it  is  bad,  week 
after  week,  to  undermine  the  veneration  of  a  people.  We  are 
too  fond  of  laughing  at  every  thing.  On  the  4th  I  was  at  a 
soiree,  at  — — .  He  is  a  McElroyalist ;  and  is  eldest  of  eight 
sons  of  a  late  clergyman  of  Glasgow.  One  of  the  ablest  lay- 
talkers  on  theological  matters.  I  met  there  Hugh  Maxwell, 
Esq.  Our  host  had  that  same  day  entertained  Dr.  McLean, 
husband  of  Miss  Landon,  L.  E.  L. ;  and  Governor  of  Cape-Coast- 
Castle  ;  said  castle  covers  several  acres.  Said  governor  is  auto- 
crat ;  and  has  condemned  as  many  as  eleven  to  death  ;  he  also 
buries  and  baptizes.  A  parishioner  of  mine  spent  some  time- 
in  Madeira.  He  knows  good  Dr.  Kalley.  I  have  before  me 
two  of  his  letters  ;  date  1840.  Facts  from  them  :  He  was  bent 
on  China,  to  join  Dr.  Parker,  as  an  M.  D.  Wife's  health  pre- 
vented, and  took  him  to  Madeira,  October  1838.  In  1839  he 
went  home  and  was  ordained ;  independently,  though  a  Scotch 
Calvinist.  The  London  Missionary  Society  would  not,  however, 
take  Madeira  as  a  station.  The  Continental  (now  the  European) 
Society  also  refused.  He  began  as  M.  D.,  gave  medicine  gratis, 
prescribed.  "  During  the  last  twenty-five  days,  I  have  come  into 
contact  with  112  individuals  as  patients;  and  during  the  last 
eight  days,  forty-five  besides  patients  have  had  opportunity  to  hear 
more  or  less  of  the  word  of  God."  "  When  the  room  is  filled, 
I  take  the  Bible  and  read  a  few  verses,"  &c,  &.C.  He  mentions 
in  detail  different  classes  during  each  week.  "  One  of  the  most 
regular  attendants  is  a  schoolmistress,  who  has  130  scholars." 
,(  One  old  woman  has  a  family  of  six,  but  till  lately  has  had 


1844—1849.  15 

nothing  of  the  Scripture  of  God  in  her  house.  I  gave  her  a 
Testament.  Next  clay  she  returned,  inquiring  about  the  reward 
people  receive,  who  love  to  pray  that  they  may  be  seen  of  men, 
and  various  other  questions  about  prayer.  She  said  she  had 
spent  many  hours  in  saying  rezas,  but  never  felt  as  if  speaking 
to  God  ;  and  asked  very  earnestly  what  it  is  to  pray.  Another 
day  she  complained  that,  though  she  felt  a  toca  di  Dios  (touch 
of  God)  in  her  heart,  while  she  prayed,  it  went  away  when  she 
got  home  to  her  family  and  fazenda  ;  and  wished  to  know  if 
that  were  sin."  He  mentions  numerous  cases  of  persons  dying 
in  lively  faith. 

Tuesday  10. — This  morning  I  married  two  of  my  Sunday 
School  teachers  ;  this  evening  another  couple.  The  savour  of 
the  old  old-schoolism  is  not  good  here.  Many  have  never 
seen  old-schoolism  allied  to  any  zeal,  and  have  all  their  early 
associations  connected  with  new  measures.  Such  a  character 
as.  McCheyne  would  be  to  them  as  out  of  nature  as  a  Centaur, 
a  Sphynx,  or  a  Griffin.  The  new  school  of  Scotland,  pre- 
dominant in  the  Free  Church,  gives  some  occasion  to  Chal- 
mers's censure  of  their  "  nursery-endearments  of  style."  They 
have  also  much  to  learn  about  the  evils  of  unseasonable  meetings, 
outcries,  &c.  But  they  are  in  earnest,  and  they  exalt  Christ. 
1  am  convinced  you  are  right  about  the  place  ministers  seek  to 
occupy  in  society.  One  loses  nothing,  either,  by  being  behind 
the  fashion.  Paul,  or  Luther,  or  Swartz,  would  perhaps  have 
been  poor  Mentors  about  a  visiting  card,  or  a  sack-coat.  Their 
tea-service  was  perhaps  humbler  than  a  Methodist's.  If  we  had 
more  men,  we  ought  to  have  more  and  smaller  churches,  and 
smaller  stipends.  I  have  seriously  proposed  to  our  clergy,  as 
we  have  no  night-meetings  for  the  young  and  strangers,  that  the 
Presbyterians  of  New  York  buy  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  and 
have  first-rate  preaching  Sunday  evenings  all  the  year  round.  It 
holds  3,000,  and  has  always  2,000,  whoever  'preaches.  The  site 
is  incomparable. 

New  York,  December  18,  1844. 
I  expect  to  be  here  all  the  holidays.  The  custom  is  for  the 
congregation,  one  and  all,  to  call  on  the  pastor  on  New  Year's 
Day,  to  eat  a  morsel,  &c. :  I  must  of  course  be  in  place  ;  and  I 
shall  be  glad  to  have  you  to  do  some  of  the  pump-handling  tor 
me.  You  will  be  particularly  welcome.  If  the  worst  comes  to 
the  worst,  and  company  from  Princeton  should  be  here,  I  know 
my  deacon  and  deaconess  will  give  you  a  chamber  in  ditto 
[Chambers]  Street,  and  I  can  answer  for  their  pie :  probatum  est. 


16       WHILE    PASTOR    OF    DUANE    ST.    CHURCH,    NEW  YORK. 

A  sermon  in  your  pocket  will  celebrate  Tuesday  evening,  if  they 
have  a  meeting.  I  regret  to  say  that  my  attic-room  has  but 
a  dormouse-window,  but  otherwise  it  is  as  good  as  any  we 
have.  Any  how,  come  on.  The  "Tombs"  I  now  see,  as 
I  write;  admission  free,  and  company  sociable.  My  mother 
went  this  morning.  I  write  merely  to  tell  you  to  come, 
wherefore  adieu,  and  love  to  all,  and  all  friends,  with  "  Merrie 
Christmasse." 


New  York,  January  10,  1845. 

Van  Rensselaer  is  working  here,  [for  endowment  of  Princeton 
Seminary.]  He  will  have  to  work  hard  to  get  the  840.000  he 
has  assessed  on  our  island.  Dr.  Phillips's  church  has  given  him 
$13,000.  AY  hen  the  new  railway  to  Boston,  via  New  Haven,  is 
done,  it  will  be  a  great  thing.  They  say  already  that  its  termi- 
nus will  be  where  the  Brick  Church  stands.  To-day  I  attended 
the  funeral  of  the  only  surviving  child  of  a  new-comer.  I  was 
trying  to  light  a  lamp  at  an  expiring  fire,  when  it  breathed  its  last. 
This  evening  I  preached  a  preparatory  lecture,  from  Cant.  iv. 
16.  Seven  on  profession,  twelve  on  certificate.  The  apostles 
have  sold  the  copyright  of  the  trial,  [of  B.  T.  Onderdonk,] 
which  is  sub  prelo.  Berrian  has  a  manual,  "  Enter  into  thy 
Closet,"  from  the  prayer-book,  and  "  ancient  litanies  :"  some  beau- 
tiful prayers  in  it.  I  always  admired  the  Latin  collects  of  the 
Catholics.  The  lapse  of  ages  has  given  some  of  these  old  prayers 
a  polish,  and  rotundity,  and  denseness,  such  as  pebbles  get  in  a 
river-bed.  The  rhythm  of  the  almost  metrical  Latin  is  ex- 
quisite, and  untranslatable.  Most  of  them,  however,  are  idola- 
trous. Dr.  Hawes  has  published  a  very  simple,  touching 
sermon,  on  the  death  of  his  missionary  daughter,  Mrs.  Van 
Lennep.  Williamsburg  has  8,000  inhabitants ;  and  Paul  Steven- 
son, late  of  Staunton,  is  gathering  a  first  Presbyterian  church 
there.  I  am  appalled  at  the  extent  to  which  our  city  churches 
have  become  machines  for  raising  money.  Every  month  a 
stated  collection,  and  almost  weekly  calls  between-whiles.  Now, 
aside  from  any  selfish  feelings,  is  this  right  ?  Is  it  the  ideal 
of  a  true  gospel  state  1  Is  not  most  of  these  sums  given  by 
worldlings  %  Is  not  the  pecuniary  association  kept  rankling, 
to  the  hurt  of  piety  1  These  are  questions  more  easily  asked 
than  answered.  Ecelesiastico-politieo-economy  wants  an  Adam 
Smith.  More  equalization  is  certainly  one  thing  we  ought  to 
aim  at. 

it  is  rumoured  that  the  Episcopalians  are  meditating  a  revolt 
agaii  st  the  Episcopal  degradation  of  Onderdonk  ;  but  que  faire? 


1844—1849.  IT 

Do  you  know  that  Sue's  "  Wandering  Jew "  is  aimed  at  the 
Jesuits  ?  It  is  an  awful  book,  and  its  principle?  are  clearly  anti- 
christian.  Hordes  of  scavengers  do  not  remove  the  ordure  and 
smell  of  our  streets.  We  have  none  of  the  great  sewers  of  Phila- 
delphia. 

1  see  a  new  book  on  the  Ruling-Elder,  by  King,  of  Scotland. 
He  seems  to  adopt  the  view  of  a  bench  of  Presbyters,  some  of 
whom  preach.  Thorn  well  is  out  with  a  volume  against  the 
Apocrypha ;  it  looks  very  learned,  and  is  no  doubt  able.  He 
has  certainly  touched  the  right  string.  The  Jews  are  evi- 
dently very  uneasy.  Witness  Leeser's  "  Occident,"  and  others 
summoning  them  to  defensive  efforts ;  Noah's  Lecture ;  the 
reforms  in  Germany ;  the  prevailing  and  admitted  rationalism; 
the  forsaking  by  many  of  their  belief  for  ages  in  a  personal 
Messiah. 

I  want  to  preach  a  sermon  on  this  subject,  viz.,  Men  of  Busi- 
ness live  iri  a  perpetual  hurry,  scarcely  taking  time  to  refresh 
nature.  This  keeps  out  thoughts  of  God.  This  spell  must  be 
broken.  For  such  men,  stated  inviolable  periods  of  devotion  are 
therefore  necessary.  Apply  to  closet-prayer,  family-worship, 
and  especially  the  Sabbath.     I  feel  the  evil  as  I  never  did  before. 

Broadway  is  a  spectacle  these  sunny  mornings.     I  sat  by , 

[a  fashionable  author,]  in  an  omnibus,  to-day  ;  black,  shaggy 
sack,  plaid  pants,  gaiter-boots,  blue  and  red  neckcloth,  crook- 
dangling  curls  like  a  Miss,  face  of  a  vinous  character.  I  have 
always  felt  serious  concern  at  the  evident  repugnance  of  a  friend 
of  ours  to  the  Tract  Society.  It  is  unfortunate,  for  the  princi- 
ple of  compromise  in  the  two  charities  is  identical.  And 
the  only  privilege  of  the  S.  S.  Union  in  the  event  of  disaster, 
will  be  that  of  "  being  devoured  last."  I  am  loth  to  say  it ;  but 
to  this  I  apprehend  it  will  come.  Even  the  New  School,  who 
spread  wide  their  no-sect  flag  in  '37,  are  now  moving  every 
thing  to  be  as  sectarian  as  possible — newspaper,  Board  of 
Publication,  complaint  about  suppression  of  Calvinism,  &c.  A 
great  protraction  of  meetings  and  revival  reported  at  Sag  Har- 
bor, L.I. ,  (Old  School.) 


New  York,  January  30,  1845. 
I  have  just  returned  from  my  weekly  prayer-meeting. 
Prayer-meetings  are  like  Jeremiah's  figs.  Where  gifts  are  rare, 
and  graces  are  small,  the  edification,  and  certainly  the  comfort, 
are  accordingly.  One  of  our  men  is  ill,  I  fear  dying.  It  is 
a  case  in  which  severe  remedies  afford  the  only  hope ;  but 
he  has  two  Homceopathists.     Contrary  to  every  principle  avow- 


IS       WHILE    PASTOR    OF    DUANE    ST.    CHURCH,    NEW   YORK, 

ed,  and  all  their  denunciation  of  ';  Allopathic"  means,  they  are 
now,  when  he  is  moribund,  giving  strong  medicines.  The  more  I 
see  of  them,  the  more  am  I  confirmed  in  my  belief,  that  their 
pretensions  are  those  of  systematized  charlatanry.  Bush  is  going 
over  fast  to  the  New  Jerusalem,  [Swedenborgian.]  In  the  Tri- 
bune, he  challenges  all  the  world  to  prove  the  resurrection.  He 
has  a  book  coming  out  on  the  ';  Soul."  He  practises  Mesmerism. 
He  told  me  of  a  lady  who  can  read  any  one's  character  by  feel- 
ing a  paper  on  which  he  has  written  :  and  read  me  a  copy  of  his 
own  character  thus  deduced.  His  talk  is  mild,  self-complacent, 
learned,  and  fascinating.  He  has  a  man  translating  the  German 
account  of  the  famous  Clairvoyante  of  Prevorst.  You  can  im- 
agine nothing  of  the  sort  too  big  for  his  swallow.  The  coalition 
between  Mesmer  and  Swedenborg  is  becoming  patent :  both 
affect  to  see  things  beyond  the  vulgar  ken.  You  have  read  the 
account  of  young  Dr.  Bodenier's  extirpation  of  a  glandular 
parotid  tumour,  from  a  woman,  during  magnetic  sleep,  in  pres- 
ence of  Mott,  Rodgers,  Doane,  Delafield,  &c.  Come,  on  and  be 
mesmerized.  I  am  strangely  obtuse,  for  I  can't  wake  up  enough 
to  see  these  things  in  the  favourable  light.  That  they  can  put 
people  asleep,  I  believe :  but  so  can  I.  McCartee  is  called  to 
the  Canal  Street  church.  You  see  that  Texas  is  all  but  annexed, 
and  the  "  area  of  freedom"  widened  :  N.  B.  area  is  the  Latin  for 
"  threshing-floor."  1  am  heretic  enough  to  believe,  in  very 
earnest,  that  this  very  enormity  will  be  overruled  to  the  good  of 
the  negro.  It  will  drain  Maryland,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Ten- 
nessee of  their  slaves.  It  will  push  the  slave-mass  towards  the 
tropics.  There  they  may  physically  thrive ;  there  they  are 
always  happiest.  There  they  will  outgrow  their  white  holders. 
There  they  will  be  in  the  region  which  is  exempt  from  the  real  hin- 
derance  to  their  freedom,  the  prejudice  of  colour  and  caste.  In 
Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Colombia,  black  is  almost  as  good 
as  white.  Plalf  the  Mexican  officers  of  the  two  steamers,  whom 
I  saw,  were  one-half  or  two-thirds  Africans.  Amalgamation,  say 
what  they  please,  can  go  on,  does  go  on,  and  will  go  on.  The 
longer  we  put  off  the  national  break,  the  greater  will  be  the  Free 
America.  All  this,  I  think,  leaves  the  emancipation  question  just 
where  it  was.  But  leave  this  out  of  view,  and  what  becomes  of 
our  negroes,  slave  or  free  ?  Those  called  by  mockery  free  peo- 
ple, are  a  race  of  Helots  or  Yahoos,  in  our  estimation.  We  do 
not  give  them  our  dinners,  or  our  daughters  ;  we  debar  them 
from  pulpits,  pews,  and  omnibuses  ;  we  deny  them  actual  citizen- 
ship. We  smell  their  rancid  odours,  and  hustle  them  off  our 
streets  more  vehemently  now  that  they  are  free,  than  when  they 
were  slaves.      Educate  them,   and   this  prejudice  makes  them 


1844—1849.  19 

miserable.     Look  at ,  a  sensible,  travelled,  pious  woman 

yet  hanging  between  the  two  races. 


New  York,  February  10,  1845. 
Your  letter  of  8th  to-day.  When  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives assents  to  the  new  and  reasonable  postage,  [it  was  then 
ten  cents  a  sheet,]  we  can  write  more  fully.  I  lament  with  you 
our  friend's  troubles,  and  feel  sure  you  have  traced  them  to  their 
true  source :  only  physical  derangement  is  usually  the  cause  of 
the  depression.  I  also  agree  with  you  as  to  what  would  be  best. 
A  southern  or  a  foreign  trip  would  probably  cure.  Such  cares 
cannot  be  thrown  off  at  home :  every  domestic  association  for- 
bids it.  Travelling  is  beyond  all  things  the  best  remedy. 
Nolens  volens,  the  patient  becomes  filled  with  new  objects.  I 
wish  you  would  tell  me  when  and  how  I  could  render  any  aid,  in 
a  case  where  I  am  so  truly  interested.  Good  old  Mr.  Fenton  ! 
[a  pious  bookseller  in  Trenton,]  I  doubt  not  he  rests  in  peace. 
We  have  a  letter  telling  us  of  Mrs.  Le  Grand's  death.  I  suppose 
I  had  no  better  friend  on  earth.  ]\jjrs.  Le  Grand  has  been  an  ex- 
traordinary woman.  Her  views  of  her  own  religious  state  were 
always  dark  :  on  every  other  point,  no  one  could  be  less  morbid, 
or  more  clear  of  sight.  Her  conscience  and  intrepidity  exceeded 
all  I  ever  read  in  books.  I  do  not  believe  the  human  being  lived 
to  whom  she  durst  not  speak  her  mind.  Her  beneficence,  for 
sixty  years,  has  been,  so  far  as  I  know,  unexampled.  Like  most 
planters  she  had  little  ready  money  ;  but  she  has  been  a  peren- 
nial fountain  of  good  works.  She  has  washed  the  saints'  feet. 
Her  notions  of  plainness  were  extreme.  Her  personal  attire  was 
little  above  that  of  her  servants,  in  expense.  She  loved  all,  of 
every  sect,  who  loved  religion  ;  and  such  as  did  not,  she  exhorted 
and  warned,  in  a  way  which  shames  me  when  I  write.  She  was 
distressingly  exercised  about  slavery.  But  what  could  she  do  ? 
Sin;  often  asked  me,  but  I  was  dumb.  She  had  as  many  as 
possible  taught  to  read,  and  this  up  to  the  present  time.  A  large 
number  of  her  slaves  are  real  Christians,  not  to  speak  of  perhaps 
a  hundred  who  have  gone  to  heaven.  I  fully  believe  that  more 
of  them  have  secured  eternal  life,  than  would  have  been  the  case 
in  any  freedom  conceivable.  And  surely,  if  eternity  is  more 
than  tim*e,  this  is  a  consideration  to  be  pondered.  But  she  saw 
no  escape ;  individual  opinion  was  inert.  She  greatly  opposed 
the  acts  of  '87,  in  the  church,  and  was  therefore  called  New 
School,  but  adhered  to  the  church.  Several  fires  last  night ; 
and  they  are  serious  things,  now  that  the  streets  are  so  filled 
with  snow.      It  is  scarcely  safe  to    cross   Broadway.      Every 


20       WHILE    PASTOR    OF    DUANE    ST.    CHURCH,    NEW    YORK. 


thing  on  runners ;  six  pair  of  horses  in  some  cases ,  and  such 
a  din  of  bells,  and  bellowing  of  drivers,  and  mad  rush  of  cut- 
ters and  horses,  as  confounds  one.  The  Moravians  had  their 
last  aya-rrq  and  service,  yesterday,  in  their  meek  little  chapel  in 
Fulton  street,  before  migrating  up-town.  Arnold's  Life  is  a 
bonne-bouche,  Latitudinary,  but  O,  how  fresh,  original,  vigor- 
ous, increasingly  Christian,  Catholic,  anti-puseyite,  scholarlike  !  ' 
Our  travelled  merchants  say  our  new  Post  Office  is  the  best  in 
the  world.  You  find  yourself  in  a  well- warmed  colonnade,  and 
see  into  the  interior  hall  and  proceedings.  I  do  not  know  the 
number  of  private  boxes,  but  the  number  I  saw  was  somewhere 
about  3,000.  The  exterior  is  squat  and  Dutch.  One  of  our 
clergymen,  a  paralytic,  goes  about  the  room,  but  is  said 
to  be  a  speechless  infant,  though  comfortable.  I  can  never 
forget  seeing  another  minister  in  the  same  case :  "  And  Swift 
expires,  a  driveller  and  a  show."  Not  only  "I  would  not 
live  alway,"  but  I  would  humbly  pray  not  to  live  thus.  Yet 
let  us  say,  fiat  Voluntas  Tua.  I  see  a  desert  place  within ;  but 
I  think  eternity  is  oftener  in  my  mind  than  it  was.  For  pleasant 
views,  one  must  look  at  some  thing  more  organized  than  this 
world. 


New  York,  February  17,  1845. 
Speaking  of  Plutarch,  I  think  him  the  best  story-teller  out 
of  Scripture.  His  universal  popularity  shows  this.  Our  Eng- 
lish translations  are  vile  and  paraphrastic.  G.  Long,  Prof.  &c, 
of  London,  has  just  issued,  as  one  of  "  Knight's  Weekly  Vol- 
umes "  a  shilling  volume  of  Roman  Lives  from  Plutarch.  The 
version  is  literal,  strong,  vivacious  ;  and  the  book  delightful. 
It  is  good  for  a  boy.  Two-thirds  of  all  we  believe  about  the 
Roman  Commonwealth  is  out  of  Plutarch,  including  all  our 
famous  anecdotes.  Forgive  what  is  egotistic  in  the  following 
incident,  for  the  sake  of  the  little  romance  about  it,  a  quality 
not  rife  in  New  York.  This  morning  I  was  at  the  Sunday  School 
Depository  in  Nassau  Street,  when  a  little  old  woman,  cleanly, 
but  poor,  came  in,  and  in  German-English  asked  for  half  a 
dollar's  worth  of  my  Infant  Library.  I  found  they  knew  her, 
and  was  surprised  to  learn  that  she  was  in  the  habit  of  giving 
them  away.  I  talked  with  her  in  such  German  as  I  could  pro- 
duce, and  found  her  a  warm-hearted,  overflowing  Christian — a 
Lutheran  —  worshipping   in   Columbia   street.     But   the   thing 

1  Stanley's  Life  of  Dr.  Arnold,  reviewed  by  him  in  Repertory,  April, 
1845. 


1844—1849.  21 

which  struck  me  was,  that  she  pointed  out  to  me  her  aged  blind 
husband,  at  the  door,  holding  a  harp,  on  which  he  plays  for  his 
livelihood,  while  she  leads  him  about.  They  play  chiefly  in 
families.  The  husband,  before  his  blindness,  was  a  man  of  some 
education.  My  young  people  have  agreed  to  support  an  Evan- 
gelist in  France,  $250.  The  snow  is  rapidly  going  from  our 
broadways.  Omnibuses  on  wheels  to-day,  for  the  first.  We  have 
no  further  news  from  Charlotte,  [Mrs.  Le  Grand's  death.]  The 
more  I  reflect  on  it,  the  more  I  feel  the  solemnity  of  our  good 
friend's  departure.  My  father  lived  under  her  roof  several 
years  ;  so  did  I,  thirty  years  after.  My  first  interview  with 
my  wife  was  there.  There  also  was  my  first  ministry.  A  longer 
course  of  good  doing  (einroiia,  Heb.  xiii.)  I  never  knew.  The 
executive  part  of  Christianity  seemed  almost  perfect  in  her. 
Frugal  and  self-denying,  laborious,  constant,  independent,  fear- 
less, tender,  and  sympathizing.  Yet  I  have  to  add  this  remark- 
able fact :  during  all  her  life,  she  knew  nothing  of  comfortable 
frames.  She  was  always  panic-struck,  in  view  of  the  standard 
she  had  set  up ;  and  so  she  judged  others.  Her  mind  was 
always  under  the  stress  of  obligation.  Yet  a  more  operative 
religion  could  scarcely  be  pictured.  She  was  always  the  same — 
always  taking  the  religious  view  of  things — sober,  vigilant, 
looking  to  the  judgment.  No  man  seemed  to  have  left  such  an 
impress  on  her  as  her  old  pastor,  John  Blair  Smith  ;  and  he 
was  a  John  the  Baptist ;  opposite,  in  all  but  eloquence,  to  his 
brother  S.  Stanhope  Smith.  This  grave,  somewhat  hard  and 
unforbearing  type  of  religion,  appears  in  all  the  fruits  of  the 
great  Kevival,  which  founded  our  church  in  that  part  of  Vir- 
ginia. Plainness  in  dress,  expenditure,  and  manner,  was  in- 
dispensable to  the  Christian  character.1 


New  York,  February  27,  1845. 
My  boys  are  both  in  bed  with  the  measles.  The  younger 
has  a  very  bad  cough.  In  these  circumstances  I  am  a  nursing 
father,  and  have  risen  from  a  bed  of  small  slumbers.  This 
always  depresses  my  animal  powers.  Some  things  in  my 
labours  are  encouraging.  Three  are  propounded  for  com- 
munion, on  profession  of  faith.  A  few  are  under  concern 
of  mind.  Seven  female  Sunday  School  teachers,  who  meet 
for  prayers,  seem  well  exercised.  One  of  them,  besides  regu- 
lar Sunday  School    duty,  has    all    her  class,  two  hours,  every 

1  Among  other  legacies  Mrs.  Le  Grand  bequeathed  $2,000  to  the  Union 
Theological  Seminary  of  Virginia,  and  $1,000  to  Mr.  Alexander. 


22      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 


Saturday,  for  instruction.  For  five  years  she  has  taught  a 
class  of  six  poor  girls,  from  9 — 12,  five  days  in  the  week,  at 
her  own  house.  On  my  proposing  that  our  young  men  and 
young  women  should  sustain  an  Evangelist  in  France,  she  raised 
$164  in  a  week. 

I  have  lectured  to  Heb.  iv.  11.     The  next  passage  is  a  crux 

inter  prelum.     I  spent   a   pleasant  evening  with  Bro.  ,  the 

Moravian.  About  37 ;  healthy,  ruddy,  vivacious,  with  that 
happy  "no  manner,"  which  is  common  to  Moravians  and  noblesse, 
and  that  absence  of  sanctimony  which  is  uncommon  among 
Puritan  Christians  ;  more  marked  by  quickness  and  hilarity,  than 
tenderness  or  pensive  gravity.  He  was  a  missionary  in  Antigua. 
One  of  our  pastors  tells  me  that  he  does  not  pretend  to  visit  any 
but  emergent  cases.  I  see  more  and  more  how  naturally  and  ne- 
cessarily a  man  comes  to  this.  I  have  been  engaged,  late  and 
early,  every  day,  and  have  not  yet  effected  a  thorough  visitation, 
though  I  have,  for  this,  sacrificed  almost  all  writing  of  new  sermons. 
One  of  our  ministers  avows  the  opinion,  that,  in  such  a  society 
as  ours,  the  pulpit  is  the  great  engine.  Accordingly,  he  spends 
every  day  from  8 — 3  in  his  study,  not  answering  knocks  before  1. 
Most  of  this  time  he  is  sermonizing.  He  writes  one  fresh 
sermon  every  week,  and  says  he  has  not  foiled  to  have  it  done 
by  noon,  on  Saturday,  once  in  ten  years.  He  has  a  series  of 
sermons,  on  the  system  of  doctrines,  which  he  has  delivered 
three  times.  He  is  always  catering  for  a  sermon  ;  all  his  con- 
versation is  on  the  topic  he  is  about,  and  it  is  therefore  stimulat- 
ing and  instructive.  He  has  had  an  unparalleled  hold  on  his 
people,  and  influence  over  them.  They  visit  him  a  good  deal  in 
his  study.  He  is  the  airiest,  youngest  man,  of  his  years,  1  know 
anywhere.  Another  pastor  always  goes  out  (when  well)  on  Mon- 
day, Tuesday,  and  Wednesday.  On  these  days  he  has  no  fire  in 
his  study.  The  remaining  days  he  sees  no  one ;  gives  himself 
to  study  ;  but  never  writes  any.  Did  I  tell  you  that  I  was  co- 
pulpited  with  good  Mr.  [the  late  Dr.  John]  Johnston,  who 
preached  the  installation   sermon  %     It   wras   read,  every  word, 

40  minutes,  and  filled  just  ||  of  a  sheet  like  this !     S is  a 

grand  fellow,  good  sense,  gravity,  suavity,  independence,  honesty, 
kindness,  every  thing  but  animation.  Consternation  in  our 
church,  by  reason  of  a  base-vile,  last  Sabbath.  O  that  we  could 
chant  the  psalms,  in  a  selection,  as  they  are  !  Jacobus  [Brook- 
lyn] does  it,  at  times.  C.  S.  Stewart  is  very  active.  As  many 
as  100  converts  among  sailors  reported  this  winter.  Good  text, 
1  John  iv.  5. 


1844—1849.  23 

New  York,  March  10,  1845. 
How  do  you  feel  this  morning,  after  the  unrest  of  the  Sab- 
bath  1  I  own  to  a  little  megrim,  for  yesterday  was  our  Com- 
munion. Three  on  confession,  of  whom  one,  a  painter,  and  the 
other  a  lithographer ;  both  born  in  England,  as  was  the  third 
also.  The  book-cheapening  business  is  poor  here.  I  miss  two 
of  my  old  pleasures,  (1)  shops  like  Redman's,  [a  second-hand 
book  shop  in  Philadelphia,]  and  (2)  rows  of  old  standard  books. 
The  auctions  have  revived  the  first,  and  the  two  weekly  steamers 
the  other.  Ask  for  such  a  book  as  Witsius,  and  the  answer  is  : 
"  No,  but  we  will  take  your  order,  and  have  it  in  a  month." 
Kernott  (Wiley's  factotum,  a  Pater  Noster  man)  says  :  "  We 
try  to  have  all  fresh  works,  but  to  keep  none."  After  twenty 
years,  I  say  decidedly,  "  No  comment,  no  lexicon,  like  a  Greek 
concordance ;  "  i.  e.  if  you  ponder  the  contexts.  Take  such  a 
word  as  fxiravoia,  or  lAvo-rrjpiov  ;  and  how  the  conventional  mean- 
ings fly  away  !  How  odd  that  we  learn  to  write  English  from 
Scotchmen ;  viz.,  Kaimes,  Campbell,  and  Blair.  After  teaching 
them  ten  years,  I  am  just  learning  how  they  have  betrayed  me. 
Fear  of  provincialisms  drives  them  (as  us  Americans)  into 
prudery ;  just  as  parvenus  dare  not  dress  plain.  Think  of 
Blair's  nonsense  about  the  evil  of  ending  a  sentence  with  a 
particle  !  E  contra,  read  Shakspeare's  "  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to," 
or  the  sentence  cited  by  Lord  J.  Russell,  "  Shall  there  be  a  God 
to  swear  by,  and  none  to  pray  to  ?  "  Pascal  had  the  courage  to 
break  through  the  French  rules  of  his  day.  He  says,  (golden 
words  !)  "  Masquer  la  nature,  et  la  deguiser  :  plus  de  '  roi,' 
de  '  pape,'  d'eveques,  mais  augusle  monarque,  etc.  II  y  a  des 
lieux  ou  il  faut  appeler  Paris,  Paris ;  et  d'autres  oii  il  le  faut 
appeler  capitale  de  royaume."  And  better  still,  about  having 
the  same  words  over  again  :  "  Quand,  dans  un  discours  se  trou- 
vent  des  mots  repetes,  et  qu'essayant  de  les  corriger,  on  les 
trouve  si  proprcs  qu'on  gaterait  le  discours,  il  les  faut  laisser" 
Macaulay  has  found  this  out.  Johnson  and  Gibbon  ruined  us 
about  this.  After  all  the  thousand  disputes  about  2  Pet.  i.  20, 
I  think  all  difficulty  removed,  by  translating  iSi'as  literally  :  "  no 
Scripture-prophecy  is  of  its  own  interpretation  ;  "  i.  e.  it  does 
not  explain  itself.  And  see  how  exactly  this  suits  the  context : 
"  for  prophecy  came  not  by  mail's  will  (as  if  the  prophet  so 
originated  it,  as  to  give  us  means  of  exposition  in  his  words)  but 
by  GocVs  will — by  the  Holy  Ghost."  Even  the  Vulgate  has 
"  propria  interpretatione."  Apropos  of  which,  the  collation  of 
the  Vulgate  is  useful,  to  show  us  traditional  errors  in  our  inter- 
pretation. I  find  no  common  error  more  growing  among  our 
young  people,  than  that  men  are  not  responsible  for  what  they 


24      WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DUANE  ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

believe.  This  is  the  dogma  of  Brougham,  Mackintosh,  and 
Bailey.  We  should  preach  against  it:  Prov.  xiv.  12.  If  Lalor 
lives,  give  him  my  love,  and  please  to  read  John  xvii.,  or  a  part, 
to  him,  as  my  best  message.  Also,  in  regard  to  his  being  cut 
off  from  expected  earthly  service,  dwell  on  the  word  "  serve,"  in 
Rev.  xxii.  3.1  A  unitarian  pair  have  been  offended,  and  walk 
no  more  with  us.  Qu.  Up  to  what  age  should  we  baptize  chil- 
dren of  parents  coming  into  the  church  %  The  usage  of  this 
church  answers,  To  seven  years.  Potts  and  I  exchanged  on  the 
2d.  His  church  to  be  done  inside  in  May.  It  is  a  beautiful 
interior.  Capt.  Auchincloss  sails  on  the  12th  for  Tarragona. 
Our  clerical  meeting  goes  on;  a  Question  and  skeleton  each 
time.  Thus  far,  Spring,  Snodgrass,  Potts,  Lowrie,  Krebs,  Jaco- 
bus, and  Stevenson. 

New  York,  March  19,  1845. 
I  have  been  at  a  wedding ;  but  do  not  ascribe  any  subsequent 
brilliancy  to  the  potations,  for  the  lemonade  was  very  thin. 
They  waited  for  me  to  give  the  signal ;  so  we  sat  a  good  hour  ; 
I  thinking  every  creaking  of  the  door  would  bring  in  the  pallid 
pair.     At  length  one  of  the  children  of  the  bridechamber  set  me 

right,  and  I  summoned  the  parties.     As  you  anathematize 's 

wrappings,  while  you  wear  gum  shoes  yourself,  so  I  detest  his 
a-the-ism,  while  I  repudiate  coffee  most  virtuously.  I  hope  you 
will  button  up  till  you  get  quit  of  your  cold,  for  the  March  is 
searching.  The  rise  of  Pennsylvania-fives  has  killed  Sidney 
Smith.  Buxton  is  no  more.  Wellington  has  lost  his  brother 
Mornington.  Smyth's  book  against  Confirmation  is  nearly  out ; 
with  an  Appendix,  almost  as  long  as  the  book,  defending  the 
public  aisle-profession,  and  anxious-stand,  of  new-communicants. 
I  have  thought,  for  a  good  while,  that  any  Christians  might  law- 
fully celebrate  the  Communion ;  though,  as  a  municipal  regula- 
tion, a  restriction  like  ours  seems  needful,  to  repress  bold  spirits 
and  promote  discipline.  I  thought  you  would  like  Arnold. 
The  account  of  his  death  is  graphic.  I  long  to  read  his  histories. 
He  has  shown  how  great  a  study  history  may  be  made.  If  he 
had  lived  a  little  longer,  I  think  he  would  have  got  better.  His 
portrait  is  noble.  My  lectures  on  Hebrews  give  me  more  and 
more  comfort ;  and  1  am  pleased  to  observe  an  increased  attend- 
ance of  men.  Looking  back — for  I  have  now  passed  the  XL — I 
lament  many  things  in  my  preaching ;  and  among  these  that  I 
have  not  from  the  beginning  aimed  at  the  greatest  subjects.     Two 

1  Jeremiah  D.  Lalor,  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.    He  had  died  in  Tren- 
ton two  days  before  this  message  was  written. 


1844— 1  849.  25 

things  keep  us  from  this  :  1,  a  diffidence  about  treating  them, 
because  they  are  great ;  2,  a  dislike  to  topics  which  seem  so 
familiar.  By  the  great  topics,  I  mean,  not  the  outworks  of 
Christianity,  but  the  citadel ;  the  Fall,  the  Atonement,  Faith, 
Judgment.  The  same  remark  applies  to  the  famous  parts  of 
Scripture,  the  Crucifixion,  the  Good  Samaritan,  the  Ten  Vir- 
gins, &c.  We  are  in  danger,  from  neglect  of  this,  of  passing 
our  short  lives  in  frittering  away  at  the  appendages  of  the 
Gospel.  I  am  much  delighted  with  old  John  Brown's  Explana- 
tion of  the  Catechism.  My  catechetical  class  delights  me  more 
and  more.  I  wish  I  could  hope  as  much  from  my  sermons. 
When  I  compare  professor  with  professor,  what  a  difference 
between  those  who  were  taught  early,  and  those  who  were  not ! 
I  am  much  touched  at  reading  in  Socrates's  Ecc.  History,  the  old 
story,  remembered  from  my  childhood,  of  Origen's  father,  who 
used  to  uncover  the  bosom  of  his  sleeping  boy,  and  kissing  it, 
say,  "  It  is  a  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Insert  in  your 
Almanac,  (for  May  and  onwards,)  about  this  time  expect  a  display 
of  gown — and — bands.  The  Church  of  the  Pilgrims,  at  Brook- 
lyn, is  to  have  (on  dit)  a  series  of  painted  windows,  representing 
the  "  gests  "  of  the  paint-hating  pilgrims.  Day  by  day  do  I 
quakerize  about  these  things,  priesthood,  paraphernalia,  pomps. 
But  riches  begets  ceremony,  as  surely  as  clung  begets  weeds,  and 
blue  flowers  among  the  wheat.  Would  the  apostles  know  their 
own  children  ?  Would  that  by  some  turn  of  the  wheel  we  could 
see  a  Puritanism  without  sanctimony,  without  stickling,  without 
fierceness,  and  without  bigotry  !  I  sometimes  think,  with  Arnold, 
that  Christ  will  throw  all  our  exciting  church-forms  into  the 
crucible,  to  produce  a  new  form  out  of  the  molten  mass.  Before 
I  got  your  rescript,  I  had  baptized  the  girl  (cet.  13^  against  the 
immemorial  usage  of  St.  Duane;  especially  moved  to  it,  as  the 
child  had  been  withheld  from  her  right  by  the  pressing  of  a 
false  scruple,  a  scruple  inconsistent,  I  think,  with  our  hypothesis 
of  household  baptism.  But  O  how  we  neglect  that  ordinance  ! 
treating  children,  in  the  church,  just  as  if  they  were  out  of  it. 
Ought  we  not  daily  to  say  (in  its  spirit)  to  our  children,  "  You 
are  Christian  children,  you  are  Christ's,  you  ought  to  think  and 
feel  and  act  as  such  ! "  And,  on  this  plan,  carried  out,  might  wre 
not  expect  more  early  fruit  of  grace,  than  by  keeping  them 
always  looking  forward  to  a  point  of  time  at  which  they  shall 
have  new  hearts  and  join  the  church  ?  I  am  distressed  with  long- 
harboured  misgivings  on  this  point.  Read  our  Directory,  chap, 
ix.  §  1,  what  a  dead  letter  !  I  fear  thousands  perish,  indirectly, 
from  within  the  communion,  from  our  and  their  overrating  the 
church-judgment  of  their  piety  ;  and  from  confounding  full  com- 
VOL.  II. — 2 


26       WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DUANE   ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

munion  with  experience  of  renewing  grace.  All  the  epistles 
seem  written  to  the  church ;  yet  how  full  of  searching  tests,  as 
to  personal  piety.  When  a  preacher  addresses  (1)  saints  and 
(2)  sinners,  all  of  the  former  is  commonly  taken  by  professors, 
as  such.  There  seems  really  to  be  a  great  revival  of  the  old 
seed,  in  Holland.  Ferris  told  me  some  pleasant  things  about 
this.  I  had  a  present  to-day  of  a  share  in  the  Society  Library, 
where,  a  few  steps  off,  I  can  see  all  the  periodicals,  home  and 
foreign,  and  a  tolerable  collection  of  books.  Take  care  of  your 
cold,  and  believe  me  yours,  James  Duane. 

New  York,  April  2,  1845. 
I  have  had  a  turn  of  vertigo,  which  would  not  have  deserved 
mention,  if  it  had  not  seized  me  in  the  pulpit.  I  was  myself 
ao;ain  for  the  afternoon,  and  am  much  as  usual ;  though  I  think  I 
have  run  rather  too  long  without  considering  the  need  of  a  breath- 
ing-spell. Your  argument  against  systematizing  I  do  not  admit ; 
I  mean  that  from  the  truth  that  all  the  Bible  runs  up  into  two 
great  principles  :  for  it  is  the  glory  of  all  systems  to  admit 
this  ;  and  it  is  as  true  of  astronomy,  and  other  sciences  ;  and  it 
proves  too  much,  for  it  would  not  only  destroy  systems,  but 
sermons  and  the  Bible  itself.  I  have  at  last  been  reading 
"  Froude's  Remains."  He  is  the  true  leader  of  the  Newmanites ; 
but  one  thing  explains  all,  he  had  no  glimpse  of  true  religion. 
His  whole  diary  contains  no  allusion  to  Christ !  Newman,  the 
Editor,  admits  this  ;  and  expains  it  in  some  transcendental  way. 
Bush  has  preached  for  Bellows  ;  his  name  will  consort  with  the 
other  fuel — Greenwood,  Sparks,  Bur  nap,  Furness,  &c,  [all  Uni- 
tarian preachers.]  He  leans  most,  however,  to  the  New  Jerusa- 
lem. Cheever  begins  to'  coruscate  in  the  Evangelist ;  he  will 
not  join  against  the  Tract  Society,  with  Cox,  Patton,  McLean, 
Eddy  &;  Co.  I  am  about  to  get  Carter  to  print  McCheyne's 
scheme  for  reading  through  the  Old  Testament  once,  and  the 
New  Testament  twice  in  the  year.  It  includes  family  worship 
as  well  as  private  reading,  and  the  table  will  do  to  hang  up,  or 
paste  in  a  book  ;  though  as  he  issued  it,  it  is  a  pamphlet,  with 
remarks.  Wayland  has,  you  know,  had  a  controversy  on 
slavery,  with  Dr.  Fuller  of  S.  C.  It  is  out  in  a  brochure,  and  is 
very  readable.  We  have  had  many  rebuffs,  in  seeking  new 
members  of  session.  It  will  probably  stand  thus  :  Elders — 
Mr.  Walker,  Mr.  Jennings,  and  Dr.  McLean  ;  Deacons — Mr.  T. 
I  .  Smith,  Mr.  Burchard,  and  Mr.  Greenough.  Having  gone  over 
all  the  accessible  members  of  my  charge,  in  visiting,  I  have  a 
residuum  of  30 — 40,  concerning  whom  I  can  scarcely  get  any 
information.     Every  week  brings  in  some  new  family,  or  indi- 


1844—1849.  27 

vidual  to  increase  the  task.  At  my  lecture,  the  number  of  men 
greatly  preponderates ;  young  men  chiefly.  My  catechizing 
class  holds  at  about  50.  Our  collections  are  encouraging,  but 
not  a  tithe  of  what  is  due.     Since  I  came,  we  have  received  about 

$900  for  foreign  missions.     is  our  chief-giver ;    he  is  a 

broker,  and  knows  how  to  let  money  go  out  gracefully.  I  have 
not  met  live  undeniable  Quakers  among  the  world  of  people  in  my 
walks  ;  one  would  think  Philadelphia  visiters  would  furnish  more 
than  this.  I  am  au  desespoir  about  psalmody.  The  best  I  ever 
heard  was  in  a  German  church,  hard  by,  where  every  man, 
woman,  and  child  joined  con  fuoco.  I  am  in  favour  of  chanting 
prose-psalmody,  without  repeats  ;  they  do  it  at  Jacobus's.  Also, 
I  am  more  in  the  notion  of  a  plain,  unartificial,  somewhat  slow, 
chant-like  music.  Even  the  best  choirs  I  hear,  affect  me  thus : 
my  mind  is  too  much  attracted  to  the  individual,  or  insulated 
performance.  Seriously,  I  hope  for  nothing  in  our  day.  What 
they  call  fine  music  here,  is  orchestral.  The  Methodists  sing 
all,  but  then  I  am  put  out  with  the  jiggish  melodies.  I  wish 
we  had  the  Apostles'  Creed  in  our  Liturgy,  as  we  have  it 
(though  nobody  seems  to  know  it)  in  our  Confession,  &c.  Dr. 
Wilson  once  lectured  on  it ;  and,  if  he  lives,  another  Doctor 
probably  will.  I  also  wish  the  Lord's  Prayer  reinstated.  I  am 
also  for  a  vestry,  but  not  for  vestments ;  I  am  also  for  the  old 
table  in  the  communion.  What  a  blessing  it  would  be  if  we 
could  have  more  preachers,  smaller  churches,  and,  of  course, 
more  of  them  !  With  grief  and  anxiety  I  see  that,  if  I  do  any 
study  whatever,  m}^  utmost  parochial  visiting  amounts  to  little. 
Our  ministers  must  be  more  active  in  concerted  plans  for  increas- 
ing the  efficiency  of  church-measures,  by  new  methods  within 
each  parish.  The  crying  evil  is,  strength  in  the  laity  is  not 
brought  out ;  we  are  an  army  in  which  all  the  battle  is  done  by 
the  commissioned  officers.  We  are  tolerably  well,  and  send 
salutatories.     Greet  the  friends  by  name. 

New  Yokk,  April  17,  1845. 
I  do  not  know  that  I  have  ever  been  in  a  busier  week.  Be- 
sides more  patients  than  common,  and  usual  parish  cares,  we 
have  had  the  presbytery  these  three  days ;  have  talked  the  or- 
dinary twaddle  on  points  of  order,  and  have  licensed  nine  proba- 
tioners. Last  evening,  1  took  tea  with  Mr.  Griffin,  and  met  Mr. 
Bremmer,  (1)  late  Mayor  of  Boston,  and  Mrs.  Sigourney,  who 
is  sojourning  with  the  Griffins.  She  is  free  from  any  the  least 
pretension,  and  shines  in  my  eye  far  more  in  private  than  in  her 
books.  I  have  never  talked  with  a  more  sensible  or  a  more 
unassuming  woman.     Benj.  Richards  is  here  with  two  daughters 


28       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

of  Gov.  McDowell  of  Virginia.  Item  Dr.  Sprague,  item  Kirk, 
item  Mahon,  item  two  Hammills,  item  Miss  Reid  of  Va.,  (chez 
nous,)  item  Mr.  Lacy,  (chez  nous,)  item  Miss  Rice,  (chez  nous.) 
Cheever  has  yet  to  show,  whether  a  fine  essayist  is  necessarily  a 
good  editor.  Paragraphing  is  an  art  by  itself:  his  rhetorical  cir- 
cuits are,  I  judge,  not  the  thing  :  non  tempus  eget,  &c,  &c.     

reappears,  plenished  with  new  layers  of  adipose  matter.  Old 
Mr.  Johnston  avers  that,  in  Scotland,  it  is  universally  the  case 
that  a  minister  who  demits  his  pastoral  charge  ipso  facto  loses 
his  "  status "  in  the  Presbytery.  The  new  Congregational 
Church  of  "  the  Pilgrims  "  in  Brooklyn,  is  a  noble,  massive 
affair,  with  wealthy,  aspiring  people :  it  will  be  a  great  chance 
for  somebody.  The  oftener  I  go  to  Brooklyn,  the  more  I  admire 
the  site.  The  view  from  the  "  Heights  "  is,  I  am  sure,  more 
than  Neapolitan,  and  the  air  is  freshness  itself.  It  is  quiet  and 
cool,  like  the  country,  and  nearer  to  New  York  business  than 
Bond  Street,  to  say  nothing  of  University  Place.  Therefore, 
name  your  price,  abjure  presbytery,  take  the  palmer's  gown  and 
scallop  shell  of  a  pilgrim,  show  your  descent  from  Jack  Robin- 
son, affect  cod-fish  and  baked  beans,  keep  Saturday  evening,  and 
prepare  for  having  read  to  you,  through  spectacles,  an  eloquent 
"  right-hand-of-fellowship."  Bacon  preached  on  Tuesday,  in  the 
Tabernacle,  at  Thomson's  installation.  I  have  been  several  times 
to  see  [David]  Abeel,  who  is  in  the  precincts  of  heaven,  in  re- 
gard to  his  feelings.  His  lungs  are  almost  gone.  Our  com- 
missioners [to  General  Assembly]   are  Goldsmith  and  Krebs, 

Piatt  and  Baldwin.     is  just  fitting  out  his  eldest  boy  for 

a  mercantile  post  in  China.  He  is  a  faithful  minister,  and  a 
most  worthy  companion;  unaffected,  unpretending,  well-informed, 
and  judicious.  I  made  some  "  improvement "  of  Dr.  Milnor's 
death,  and  of  the  loss  of  the  Swallow.  Kidder  is  nearly  out 
with  his  two  volumes  on  Brazil.  My  honoured  father  is  78 
this  day.  Should  I  say  this,  without  adding  that  I  know  how- 
ungrateful  my  habitual  state  of  mind  is,  for  such  a  favour  as  the 
preserved  life  of  my  parents,  until  now  1  I  have  adopted  the 
plan  of  writing  a  monthly  letter  to  my  associated  Young  Men. 
Should  I  see  next  year,  I  propose  to  print  a  little  monthly  sheet, 
to  be  put  in  the  pews,  containing  such  statements  as  may  bear 

on  our  missions,  church    condition,   collections,  &c.     ,  the 

poet,  has  a  volume  in  the  press  ;  I  have  not  seen  any  of  it.     It 

is    underwritten   by , ,   &c,    &c.       Whether    he    will 

alight  on  Zion  or  Parnassus,  may  depend  on  the  market  he  finds. 
Bush  is  in  the  straw,  with  an  answer  to  Skinner,  and  a  work  on 
the  Soul.  He  has  now  got  Bellows  to  blow  him  up.  There  is 
no  great  preacher  here  among    the  Episcopalians.      The  last 


1844—1849.  29 

"  Punch  "  pictures  Pusey  and  the  Pope,  in  a  most  loving  hug. 
The  "  Pictorial  Times  "  gives  serious  likenesses  of  Pusey,  Ward, 
&c.  The  Infidels  are  becoming  bold,  and  have  summoned  an 
Infidel  Convention,  under  that  name.  They  seem  to  think  the 
new  Geology  upsets  Moses.  Tayler  Lewis  is  coming  out  with 
"  Plato  contra  Atheos,"  with  dissertations.     I  suppose  he  is  as 

much  steeped  in  the  Greeks,  as  any  man  living.     So  poor 

has  had  to  go.     Why  did  he  not  stick  to  his  Episcopal  see  at 

1      Will   not have   a   sort   of   "  proximus-Ucalegon- 

ardet  "  feeling  about  it  %  What — what  is  the  matter  %  some- 
thing is  surely  wrong  with  us.  Is  it  that  we  are  all  too  stiff, 
unreal,  formal,  routine-ish,  in  our  ministry  1  Is  it  that  we  copy 
others  1  that  we  do  not  copy  primitive  ways  %  that  we  do  not 
act  out  our  Bible-persuasions  ?  that  we  are  cowardly  about  the 
world  ?  that  we  seek  the  subordinate  church  and  congregational 
ends,  instead  of  the  principal  ones  %  Whatever  it  be,  our 
churches  are  in  a  heavy,  slow  state ;  wheels  deep  in  ruts  and 
mud.  Our  preaching,  1  feel  it,  is  too  little  like  earnest  talking ; 
we  arc  too  unlike,  in  and  out  of  the  "  sacred  desk."  Old  Dr. 
Wilson,  with  "  a  gill  of  lightning  into  him,"  would  be  the  thing 
for  the  pulpit,  and  Commodore  Eastburn  [the  Mariners'  Min- 
ister] out  of  it. 

New  York,  April  28,  1845. 

Monday  is  an  ill  day  for  letter-writing.  I  have  no  chance 
to  say  any  thing.  I  praught  for  Read  [Pearl  Street  Church]  yes- 
terday ;  a  good  quiet  congregation.  Thompson  has  immense 
audiences  in  the  Tabernacle ;  he  is  said  to  be  a  good  preacher, 
but  of  New  Haven  divinity. 

There  is  some  small-pox  in  town;  ten  cases  mortal  last  week. 

The  Bowery-burning  [theatre]  was  superb ;    we  had  a  fine 
view  of  the  pillar  of  fire, 
domus-  ) 

The  Anni-  >  versaries  are  on  the  approach.  I  will  freely 
caput- ) 
say,  their  original  interest,  for  me,  is  gone.  They  feel  this  ;  and 
sermons  are  reviving  again.  But  even  sermons,  like  Samsons, 
lose  their  strength.  Religious  showmanism  is  the  order  of  the 
day  ;  a  church,  an  organ,  a  poll  of  hair,  a  neat  stock,  a  ditto 
hand,  a  gown  ;  these  are  thy  gods,  0  Israel ! 

I  am  in  some  thought  of  gathering  a  few  of  the  remnant  of 
Quakerism,  to  form  a  new  society.  The  succession  may  be  se- 
cured through  Gurney,  quite  as  well  as  Abp.  Parker's,  at  the 
Nag's  head. 

lectures  on  Babylon  on  Friday  ;  a  good  selection ;  he 


30      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTTANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

will  speak  all  the  tongues,  with  a  little  original  confusion  of  his 
own  babble.     Visiters   knock  and  ring  "  frae  morn  till  e'en." 
Addison  says  i  should  practise  self-denial — at  the  door. 
Yours  almost  in  the  cab. 

White  Street,  May  3,  1545. 

My  epistolary  hours  must  be  snatches.     I  am  glad  you  have 

with  you.     1  hope  she  will  open  her  eye  wide  to  all  the 

gracious  goodness  that  is  the  very  life  and  soul  of  the  new  dis- 
pensation. You  say  right  about  praying  for  earthly  good. 
That  is  a  great  verse,  Matthew  vi.  32.  Reading  a  book  of 
prayers,  (a  kind  of  book,  by-the-bye,  which  I  find  I  much  need, 
at  certain  moods,)  by  one  Hardman,  and  admiring  the  same 
very  much,  I  was  struck  with  this  in  his  Preface  :  "  Should  any 
persons  think  them  too  spiritual,  or  experimental,  they  are  re- 
quested, first,  to  consider,  that  temporal  blessings  can  never  be 
asked  for,  but  conditionally,  and  secondarily  to  spiritual,"  &c. 
The  article  on  Pascal  in  the  April  Repertory  is  Addison's. 

I  am  more  and  more  persuaded,  that  a  man  who  walks  "  in 
the  Spirit,"  must  often  seem  to  himself  and  others  to  walk  alone. 
I  mean  he  must  follow  leadings  towards  paths  of  feeling  and 
conduct,  remote  from  the  precedent  and  fashion  even  of  good 
people.  Don't  we  find  things,  in  Christ's  teachings,  which,  if  all 
our  books,  and  human  patterns,  and  diaries  were  forgotten, 
would  lead  us  further  and  in  other  directions  than  we  have  gone  1 
and  is  not  this  accompanied  with  an  inward  feeling,  that  what  is 
thus  indicated  is  true,  and  right,  and  sanctifying  ]  In  regard  to 
the  care  of  souls,  I  am  constrained,  after  trial,  to  give  over  wear- 
ing other  men's  clothes,  however  much  better  than  my  own.  I 
have  found  pain  and  barrenness  in  every  attempt  to  do  things 
by  the  approved  methods  for  getting  up  "an  interest,"  &c. 
Truths,  found  in  Scripture,  and  affecting  my  own  mind,  freshly, 
strongly,  and  as  it  were  newly,  I  mean  coming  to  me,  after  fre- 
quent perusals,  as  living  words  of  God,  verifying  themselves  in 
my  experience,  are  those  which,  when  simply  spoken  or  preached, 
seem  to  reach  other  people.  Suppose  the  result  is  not  the 
awakening  of  A  B,  or  of  anybody  on  the  spot ;  suppose  no  re- 
vival ensues  :  my  growing  judgment  is,  that  the  utterance  of 
such  truths  will  accomplish  God's  end  on  his  elect :  "  for  they 
know  His  voice."  Surely,  in  our  craving  for  effect,  we  lose  the 
value  of  such  remarkable  passages  as  John  x.  27  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  2, 
3  ;  2  Thess.  ii.  10.  Simplicity,  in  following  Christ  as  a  teacher, 
is  worthy  of  our  consideration. 

I  am  led  to  think  I  have  erred,  in  the  direction  of  ultra-prot- 
estantism, in  regard  to  fasting  ;  when  I  look  out  the  connexions 


1844—1849.  31 

of  the  word  and  thing  in  the  New  Testament.  A  favourite  no- 
tion of  mine  is  that  a  church  is  a  school.  As  you  may  not  have 
Owen,  let  me  extract  a  passage  on  Hebrews  v.  11-15,  which 
pleased  me  the  more  from  coming  from  a  source  whence  I  did 
not  expect  it :  "  Our  hearers  do  not  look  upon  it  as  their  duty 
to  learn  to  be  Teachers.  They  think  it  enough  for  them,  if  at 
best  they  can  hear  with  some  profit  to  themselves.  But  this 
was  not  the  state  of  things  in  primitive  times.  Every  church 
was  then  a  Seminary,  wherein  provision  and  preparation  was 
made,  not  only  for  the  continuation  of  the  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel in  itself,  but  for  the  calling,  gathering,  and  teaching  of  other 
churches  also.  When  therefore  a  church  was  first  planted  by 
the  ministry  of  the  apostles,  it  was  for  a  time  continued  under 
their  own  immediate  care  and  inspection,  and  then  usually  com- 
mitted by  them  unto  the  ministry  of  some  evangelists."  Then 
overseers.  "  Upon  their  decease,  others  were  to  be  called  and 
chosen  from  among  themselves  to  the  same  work  by  the  church." 
"  And  men  in  those  days  did  not  only  learn  in  the  church,  that 
they  might  be  able  afterwards  to  teach  in  the  same,  but  also 
that  they  might  be  instrumental  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  in 
other  places.  For  out  of  these  churches  went  those  who  were 
made  use  of  in  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  ordinarily" — 
"  wherefore  hearers  in  the  church  were  not  only  taught  those 
things  which  might  be  sufficient  unto  their  own  edification,  but 
every  thing  also  that  was  necessary  to  the  edification  of  others  ; 
an  ability  for  whose  instruction  was  their  duty  to  aim  it." 
(Owen  on  Heb.  c.  v.,  verse  12.)  All  our  missionary  gifts  will 
fall  short,  unless  people  come  to  give  their  own  selves  first  unto 
the  Lord  ;  in  some  such  sense.  Monday  5. — Holy  Week  [Anni- 
versaries] has  begun.  WThite  cravats  swarm  ;  chiefly  from  New 
England,  of  which  this  is  the  capital.  The  Biblical  Repository 
for  May  contains  a  racy  McClelland-like  article  on  South,  by 
Withington.  Henry's  Calvin,  which  I  gutted  for  the  Repertory 
years  ago,  is  made  much  of  in  a  similar  article  in  the  Repository 
as  bran  new.  Ditto  of  Zuingle's  works,  p.  402,  which  I  long 
since  reviewed.  So  little  known  is  labour,  out  of  the  Land  of 
Promise.  Give  me  some  hints  towards  a  prayer-book  for  the 
Navy  and  Marine.1 

New  York,  May  23,  1845. 
After  rain  and  thunder  in  the  night,  we  have  very  good 
weather.     My  parents  have  been  a  week  with  us.     To  see  my 

1  He  prepared  for  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication  "A  Manual  of 
Devotion  for  Soldiers  and  Sailors,"  comprising  Prayers,  compend  of  Bible 
Truth,  Shorter  Catechism,  and  Hymns. 


32      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTTAKE    ST.    CHURCH,  NEW  YORK. 

father  so  brisk  and  happy,  at  73,  is  matter  of  thankful  acknowl- 
edgment. But  what  is  this  to  old  Mrs.  Lindsay,  whom  I  vis- 
ited to-day,  cet.  97  !  She  is  a  native,  and  has  lived  near  a  cen- 
tury in  Liberty  Street,  (next  to  the  one  you  enter  by,  from  the 
ferry,)  which  was  a  rural  suburban  hill  in  her  youth.  She  re- 
members the  rector  and  curate  of  the  "  English  church,"  in  which 
she  was  bred.  She  sits  in  her  chair,  a  venerable  and  still  fine- 
looking  woman,  almost  in  full  use  of  her  mind,  and  full  of 
Christian  knowledge  and  piety.  She  gave  me  two  fine  folios  of 
Erskine's  works,  for  the  Seminary ;  and  bade  me  observe  that 
the  shortest  sermon  in  the  book  was  the  means  of  awakening 
Dr.  John  Mason,  the  father  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Mason  :  this  she  had 
from  the  lips  of  the  former.  She  lives  with  Mrs.  Lowndes, 
(who  is  the  wife  of  her  nephew,)  and  one  of  the  Crowells  of 
Pine  Street ;  umquhile  numbered  among  the  green-bench  cate- 
chumens, ou  voits  savez,  [the  aisle  of  Pine  Street  church,  Phila- 
delphia.] Dr.  McElroy  visits  this  ancient  woman  once  a  week. 
I  felt  a  peculiar  reverence  in  her  presence.  My  election  as 
Tract-committee-man  [American  Tract  Society]  wTas  unexpected. 
I  know  not  how  to  act.  I  am  overladen.  It  is  giving  away 
time  I  owe  to  our  ow*n  schemes.  Yet  it  is  something  to  have  a 
voice  in  selecting  religious  books  for  so  many  thousands,  and 
standing  in  the  gap  against  error.  A  Neapolitan  gun-ship  is 
here.  Bp.  Hughes  made  most  of  the  crew  give  up  Bibles  which 
had  been  given  them.  They  are  fine  fellows,  swarthy,  but 
blooming,  clean  and  trim,  and  with  a  jovial  but  temperate  look. 
Wm.  E.  Schenck  has  begun  at  Hammond  Street.  The  small- 
pox prevails  fearfully  in  some  parts  of  the  city.  Making  every 
allowance  for  exaggeration,  it  is  formidable.  The  list  of  the 
General  Assembly  furnishes  only  a  few  whom  one  could  think 
of  for  speech  or  action,  and  these  all  young.  Of  Seminarists,  I 
note  these :  Reeve,  Frame,  Krebs,  Goldsmith,  Imbrie,  Davidson, 
Perkins,  Curran,  Olmstead,  Corss,  Jones,  Hope,  Harrison, 
Williamson,  McMaster,  Smith,  Weed,  Rice,  Wood,  Alexander, 
Crowe,  Montfort,  Goodrich,  Cowan,  Dickson,  Bard,  Cunningham, 
Edgar,  Bowman,  Pratt,  Morrow,  Weatherby,  Twitch  ell :  no 
doubt  others  not  recognized  by  me.  In  expectation  of  taking 
the  chair  in  '46,  prepare  yourself  with  a  good  Indian  speech,  and 
wampum,  for  Je-chah-tu-guck-click-hoh,  (Walk-in-prairie-grass,) 
Chief  of  the  Flat-noses,  who  may  greet  you  as  "  father."  As 
the  Assembly  gave  "  six  barrels  of  provisions  "  to  "  No-heart-of- 
fear,"  it  is  likely  we  shall  have  a  numerous  council  in  the  Xth 
church-wigw^am,  [Philadelphia.]  "  Church  of  Trenton  City, 
seventeen  barrels  of  jerked  meat." 

Our  summer-birds  are  on  the  wing.     Last  Tuesday,  my  father 


1844—1849.  33 

lectured.  Among  the  hearers  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Arnott,  with 
wife,  sent  to  Canada  for  three  months  by  the  Free  Church. 
They  had  not  yet  slept  in  America ;  and  seemed  melted  by  a 
service,  so  exactly  (as  they  said)  like  their  own.  Lord's  poems 
are  out.  Kidder's  book  also,  [Brazil ;]  good  style,  beautiful  illus 
tation,  and  grand  reading.  I  mean  to  give  an  article  (D.  v.)  in 
Repertorio,  [July  1845.]  I  hope  the  abolitionists  are  ready  to 
support  all  the  superannuated  negroes,  called  slaves,  who  are 
living  snugly  in  warm  comfort  over  Jersey.  How  little  relief 
has  followed  all  their  thousands  yet  expended !  Herschell 
is  a  good  speaker,  and  though  slow  yet  pathetic,  full  of  unc- 
tion, and  abundant  in  apt  Scripture  citation  such  as  none  but 
a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews  ever  employs.  He  had  several  thou- 
sands at  the  Tabernacle  of  Witness,  or  House  of  David,  (Hale.) 
Dr.  Adams  found  twenty-three  young  Americans  at  Rome,  in 
preparation  for  the  tonsure.  Our  streets  are  cloacine,  mephitic, 
stercoraceous,  Augsean,  fimous,  and  infamous. 


New  York,  June  11,  1845. 
When  I  examine  myself,  for  being  somewhat  slack  in  my 
letter-writing,  I  seem  to  find  my  excuse  in  the  thermometer. 
Sunday,  Monday,  and  part  of  yesterday  were  equatorial.  Mr. 
Hotchkin,  one  of  my  people,  late  from  Java,  says  he  did  not 
suffer  as  much  there  ;  but  this  he  attributes  in  part  to  their 
houses  and  their  habits.  I  have  been  an  hour  on  the  battery 
this  evening ;  by  sunset  and  moonlight.  A  thousand  people, 
but  mostly  canaille.  Fashion  does  not  acknowledge  this  lordly 
park.  Wherever  I  saw  a  knot  of  gentlefolk  I  heard  French,  or 
more  often  Spanish.  The  74  near  by,  the  ships  in  the  distance, 
the  scores  of  small  craft  under  gentle  sail,  the  hundreds  of  small 
boats,  the  blue  shores,  the  water,  the  delicious  breeze,  the  lights 
among  the  shipping,  the  fine  trees,  the  half-seen  groups — end  the 
period,  according  to  the  rule  in  that  case  made  and  provided. 
Dr.  Potts's  church  is  to  be  dedicated  to-morrow.  I  would 
rather  preach  Christ,  by  such  a  history  as  Merle  d'Aubigne's, 
than  by  many  sermons  ;  yet  men  judge  differently,  from  going 
by  names  instead  of  things.  Herschell  is  a  fine  preacher ;  I 
mean  he  is  a  good  one :  full  of  uncommon  Scriptures,  of  unction, 
of  force,  and  of  Christ.  He  feels  our  climate  very  much.  Monod 
and  Merle  have  both  been  at  Edinburgh.  Dr.  Phillips  has  a 
noble  session-house,  separate,  back  from  street,  but  fronting  full 
on  the  cross  street.  I  have  always  considered  June  our  health 
iest  month  :  it  is  so  here  now.  Yet  I  cannot  describe  what  I  see 
in  my  walks  in  certain  streets  :  dunghills,  nakedness,  dead  dogs 

VOL.  II. — 2* 


34:      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

and  cats,  offal,  garbage,  leprous  folk,  lazars,  magdalens.  The 
stench,  in  some  quarters,  is  mephitic.  The  single  element  of 
water  (nota  bene,  not  Croton)  flows,  and  floods,  and  smells  in 
a  manner  unmentionable.  Cloacina  herself  must  preside  in  and 
about  the  park  and  its  purlieus.  Nobody  ever  cares  about  this 
or  any  thing  similar,  for  it  is  characteristic  of  a  New  Yorker  to 
feel  like  a  stranger  within  his  gates  :  no  esprit  de  corps,  no  re- 
sponsibility. I  think  Unitarianism  flourishes  here  ;  also  its  ally 
Swedenborgianism.  The  vast  body  of  young  New  Englanders 
who  are  here,  affect  the  easy  young-lady  philosophy  of  these 
teachers.  I  think  there  is  a  great  deal  in  Hazlitt's  Table  Talk 
which  would  please  you  ;  scoffer  as  he  sometimes  is.  The  pews 
in  the  beautiful  Jersey  City  Church  are  almost  all  taken.  Their 
steeple  is  commanding,  and  is  said  to  be  the  first  object,  on  en- 
tering the  Narrows.  I  have  some  hopes  of  erasing  my  pulpit 
scenery,  [painted  in  perspective.]  Sometimes  I  dream  of  resum- 
ing my  old  plan  of  a  Comment  on  the  New  Testament,  simple 
notes.  Surely  it  is  wanted.  I  can't  feel  easy  under  this  deliver- 
ance [in  General  Assembly]  anent  Popish  baptism,  [as  invalid.] 
Perhaps  it  is  right :  but  to  me  it  savours  of  Succession,  Braminical 
orders,  Puseyism,  &c.  Our  "  erring  sister  "  is  naughty  enough, 
but  I  choke  a  little  about  "Antichrist,"  the  "Son  of  Perdition,1'  &c. 
Alas  !  I  feel  my  own  indecision,  and  know  my  own  mistiness,  on 
points  which  other  men  see  as  plain  as  Polus's  sky-dragon  :  qu. 
didst  ever  read  "  Polus,"  in  Erasmus's  Colloquise  1  Every  day  I 
have  to  go  to  the  pure  New  Testament,  especially  Matthew, 
Mark,  Luke,  and  John ;  as  one  goes  to  the  hydrant,  after  coffee, 
tea,  lemonade,  beer,  wine,  brandy,  and  physic ;  in  all  which, 
natheless,  are  some  true  aqueous  particles  :  /3A€7roju.ev  yap  aprt  Si 
laroTrrpov,  i  v    a  I  v  iy  fx  a  r  i.  I  am  yours  and  yours's. 

New  York,  July  14,  1845. 

The  hot  weather  makes  the  page  so  dripping,  that  epistolation 
is  more  onerous  than  common.     Besides,  we  sat  ten  solid  days 
in  Presbytery  ;  on  one  of  these  fourteen  hours  ;  on  another 
was  in  the  room  from  3  till  10  P.  M.,  after  a  morning  session. 

I  am  tired  of  my  correspondence  with  the  "  Northern  War- 
der," *  and  now  propose  to  you  to  take  it ;  which,  by  agreement,  I 
have  a  right  to  do.  Terms,  a  column  (about)  a  month,  by  the 
steamer,  or  oftener  on  emergency.  I  will  send  you  my  files,  so 
that  you  can  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  your  illustrious  predeces- 
sor.    I  confidently  expect  your  acceptance  by  next  advices. 

1  A  religious  newspaper  published  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  for  which  Dr. 
Alexander  wrote  as  its  American  correspondent,  a  monthly  letter. 


1844—1849.  35 

Say  nothing  about  the  thermometer.  I  sat  up  much  of  Sun- 
day night  in  Georgia  summer  costume.  Generally  towards  even- 
ing there  is  a  breeze,  especially  grateful  down  town,  but  it  has 
foiled  us.  It  was  our  communion,  and  our  church  is  very 
warm,  and  pulpit  at  the  south  end. 

My  mind  is  led  a  good  deal  more  than  formerly  to  consider 
the  topic  of  gnat-filtering  and  camel-bolting.  With  all  our  talk 
about  our  "  Pilgrim-fathers,"  some  of  the  said  fathers'  pills  are  a 
little  too  grim  for  me.  It  seems  to  have  been  an  indigestion  of, 
the  age  in  England,  and  bred  Quakerism  as  well  as  Puritanism. 
It  rejected  mince  pies  and  the  word  "  Sunday"  as  violently  as 
crosses  and  bishops.  Have  you  lighted  on  some  "  Sketches  of 
Newburyport,"  &c.  1  In  1752  one  Bartlett  was  "  dealt  with"  for 
refusing  communion  with  the  pastor,  because  the  latter  wore  a 
"  wigg."  In  Judge  SewalPs  diary,  these  entries  :  "  1685,  Sept. 
13th.  Three  admitted  to  the  church.  Two  wore  periwigs." 
"  1697.  Mr.  Noyes  of  Salem  wrote  a  treatise  on  periwigs,  &c." 
"  1708.  Aug.  20.  Mr.  Cheever  died.  The  welfare  of  the  prov- 
ince was  much  upon  his  heart.  He  abominated  periwigs.'" 
John  Eliot,  the  Indian  apostle,  attributed  King  Philip's  war 
to  a  judgment  on  periwigs.  My  father  remembers  the  birth  of 
a  calf  in  Rockbridge,  with  an  extraordinary  tuft  or  top-knot :  it 
was  voted  by  the  good  people  to  be  a  monition  of  heaven  against 
a  prevailing  mode  of  dressing  women's  hair.  A  Ruling  Elder, 
being  at  Saratoga,  set  his  face  very  sourly  against  the  playing  of 
nine-pins  for  exercise :  the  camel  which  he  swallowed  was  some- 
thing more  robust. 

Clirehugh,  hairdresser,  is  a  character.  I  never  saw  a  man 
with  a  more  decided  gentlemanly  air,  quiet,  dignified,  easy, 
deferential.  He  is  a  collector  of  coins,  has  a  volume  made  of  all 
the  Tartans  of  the  different  Highland  clans  and  families,  has  all 
the  Scotch  music  ever  issued,  gives  lectures  on  Burns,  with  songs, 
and  has  a  world  of  old  engravings.  He  cuts  one's  hair  with  the 
gravity  of  an  inquisitor,  and  talks  literature  and  vertu. 

The  modern  schools  are  all  humbugs.  Teach  a  boy  Latin 
and  Greek ;  the  rest  will  come  of  course.  But  fritter  up  his 
time  on  a  dozen  branches,  and  he  misses  the  lingoes  :  and  if  he 
misses  a  fair  grounding  in  them  from  10  to  13,  he  never  gets  it. 
In  hundreds  of  pupils  whom  I  have  examined  and  taught,  I 
never  knew  an  exception. 

Newark,  August  30,  1845. 
For  a  time  I  did  not  know  of  your  return,  and  then  I  was 
jaunting  about  in  regions  where  for  the  most  part  writing  facili- 
ties are  not  easy  to  get.     My  journeys  afford  no  journals.     The 


36       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTTANE    ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

whole  thing  was  somewhat  dull,  especially  as  the  burning  drought, 
up  the  North  River,  has  been  universal.  They  are  longer  about 
our  church  [painting,  &c]  than  I  had  thought,  and  I  propose  to 
charter  the  cellar  [basement]  after  to-morrow.  We  have  made  a 
clean  riddance  of  the  fresco  painting,  which  had  become  a 
Nehushtan,  [2  Kings,  xviii.  4,]  with  some  of  the  mothers  in  our 
corner  of  the  vineyard.  I  traversed  the  Great  Britain,  a  wonder- 
ful piece  of  hardware.  The  British  steamers  are  intensely  filthy 
compared  with  ours  ;  and  I  learn  that  the  observation  is  true  of 
all  their  shipping.  She  has  twenty-four  fire-places,  and  burns  100 
tons  of  coal  per  diem.  When  the  last  touch  is  put  on,  she  will 
have  cost  $600,000.  I  am  informed  by  one  who  pretends  to 
know,  that  Cogswell  is  going  on  laboriously,  making  out  the 
catalogue  of  the  great  Library,  which  Astor  is  to  found ;  after 
which  he  is  to  go  to  Europe  and  realize  the  plan.  We  hope  to 
re-open  our  house  about  the  12th  prox.  This  is  a  beautiful  town, 
and,  near  as  it  is  to  New  York,  is  remarkable  for  quiet  and 
honesty.  I  am  at  the  house  of  three  maiden  ladies,  at  a  corner, 
in  a  thinly-built  part  of  the  town ;  yet  they  have  never  had  any 
fastening  to  their  windows,  or  their  side-door.  I  have  not  rallied 
as  much  as  I  need  to  do,  to  encounter  another  campaign.  My 
New  York  experiment  is  by  no  means  tried  :  but-  as  I  never  did 
any  thing  with  more  wish  to  do  right,  so  I  now  endeavour  to  cast 
myself  on  the  Master,  for  the  result.  Yesterday  I  came  from 
Staten  Island.  Every  time  I  visit  that  delightful  isle,  I  perceive 
it  to  be  unequalled  as  a  summer  retreat ;  such  variety  of  coast 
and  prospects,  such  numerous  drives  on  roads  almost  uniformly 
shaded  with  rows  of  trees,  such  graceful  ups  and  downs,  and 
green  recesses,  and  such  a  feeling  of  remoteness  from  the  world, 
though  you  are  but  an  hour  from  the  city,  that  I  should  like  of 
all  things  to  have  a  house  there,  and  go  to  town  every  day  in 
summer.  This  is  done  by  several  scores  of  New  York  merchants, 
&c.  I  saw  the  coffer-dam,  at  Caldwell's,  which  they  are  making 
around  Capt.  Kidd's  vessel ;  $60,000  have  been  expended  already. 
I  saw  the  ruins  of  Anthony's  Nose;  they  have  blown  the 
nose  so  hardly,  that  no  rhinoplastic  means  can  ever  restore  it. 

Newark,  September  1,  1845. 
I  fear  my  letter  of  this  morning  was  "  as  vinegar  upon  nitre ;" 
for,  five  minutes  after  mailing  it,  I  heard  the  news  of  your  sister's 
death,  and  tried  to  get  it  out  of  the  office,  but  in  vain.  Had  I 
learnt  the  melancholy  tidings  earlier,  I  should  certainly  have  has- 
tened to  the  funeral :  as  it  is,  1  have  searched  the  papers  in  vain 
for  the  date.  O  what  a  change  in  your  mother's  household,  and 
what  a  shade  over  her  hearth  !     Your  brothers  have  really  lost  a 


1844—1849.  37 

guardian  angel,  at  least  from  this  world.  Anna's  qualities  come 
very  freshly  before  me.  She  was  certainly  a  marked  character. 
I  do  think  I  never  knew  any  person  of  more  honesty,  truth,  self 
denial,  charity,  or  liberality.  Her  standard  was  high,  and  she 
judged  fellow-Christians  severely  ;  but  she  judged  justly  in  this, 
and  condemned  herself  in  full  measure.  I  forbear  to  say  what 
you  have  lost,  or  to  indulge  in  ordinary  condolence.  God  grant 
that  this  renewed  call  on  your  family  may  be  blessed  to  those 
who  remain,  especially  to  your  mother. 

These  gathering  shades  on  our  path,  as  we  go  onward,  tell  us 
that  "  the  night  cometh."  I  look  back  to  the  days  of  Sixth  street, 
[his  earlier  visits  to  Philadelphia,]  and  my  eyes  fill  with  unaccus- 
tomed tears.  What  manner  of  persons  ought  we  to  be,  &c.  ? 
How  many  of  our  cares  and  anxieties  are  very  vain,  when  seen 
in  the  light  of  coming  things  !  Under  a  gracious  influence,  our 
character  is  no  doubt  formed  by  successive  dispensations  of  this 
kind..  It  is  a  new  immersion,  and  we  come  out  with  a  graver 
tinge.  I  feel  unusually  serious  under  this  sudden  news  ;  and  as 
yet  know  no  particulars. 

New  York,  September  25,  1845. 
I  should  feel  better  and  stronger,  if  I  had  taken  some  bona- 
fide  distant  jaunts,  which  the  state  of  my  family  did  not  allow. 
The  Boston  people  have  the  good  sense  to  put  their  ministers' 
vacation  into  the  call  as  a  matter  of  claim.  In  many  of  our  con- 
gregations there  is  enough  of  the  croaking  sort  to  grudge  even 
that  recreation  to  a  minister,  which  a  humane  drayman  would 
give  to  his  horse.  I  have  a  presentation  copy  of  [Rev.  Mr.] 
Lewis's  [of  Scotland]  Impressions  of  the  American  churches. 
He  censures  right  and  left.  Our  preaching,  in  particular,  he 
describes  as  characterized  by  want  of  animation  and  earnestness. 
He  is  very  severe  on  slavery  and  democracy.  In  fine,  very  little 
pleases  him.  There  is,  throughout,  a  very  offensive  air  of  self- 
sufficiency  and  patronage.     Dr.  thinks  there  never  was 

among  our  churches  so  general  an  indifference;  that  ministers 
give  undue  value  to  learning,  and  less  than  is  due  to  piety  ;  that 
such  men  as  Payson  and  Nettleton  were  of  a  generation,  of 
whom  we  have  not  one  left.  Lewis  speaks  of  the  total  desuetude 
into  which  pastoral  visiting  has  fallen.  Cheap  literature  blasts 
religious  reading.  I  seldom  see  a  young  professor  with  a  spir- 
itual book.  Church  extension  goes  on  coldly.  We  are  not  quite 
as  far  behindhand,  as  to  new  churches,  as  Philadelphia,  but  we 
add  them  by  threes  and  fours,  when  we  should  by  twenties  and 
thirties.  Vacant  ministers  swarm  in  our  cities,  beseeching  one 
for  places,  instead  of  rushing  into  the  wild  West  and  South,  as 


38       WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DTJANE    ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

was  done  by  the  McKennies,  Henrys,  Blairs,  Todds,  Grahams, 
and  Davieses,  who  founded  our  church.  I  feel  the  justice  of 
Lewis's  remarks  on  this  topic,  when  contrasting  our  lethargy 
with  the  actual  state  of  the  Scotch  churches.  I  don't  wonder  at 
the  sympathy  he  felt  with  the  Methodists. 


New  York,  October  3,  1845. 

Heavy  rains.  I  have  seen  specimens  of  words  and  sentences, 
printed  by  the  new  magnetic  telegraph  ;  it  works  by  keys,  like 
a  piano.  Music  is  well  off  here  ;  Ole  Bull,  Templeton,  and  de 
Meyer.  One  of  our  missionaries  in  India  is  succeeding  well  in 
teaching  Hindoo  boys  to  read  the  Hebrew.  Its  connexion  with 
Arabic  renders  it  both  easy  and  desirable.  Rankin,  our  most 
valuable  missionary  there,  will  have  to  come  back  ;  he  is  almost 
dead.  Austin  Dickinson  thinks  he  has  such  arrangements  with 
news-editors,  as  to  ensure  the  publication  of  any  religious  para- 
graph, in  40,000  copies  of  secular  prints.  This  is  worth  consid- 
ering. He  is  very  avid  of  scraps.  Send  me  for  him  a  bit  of  a 
sermon,  and  you  may  do  good.  I  am  just  from  Monthly  Con 
cert.  1  think  our  average  of  collection  at  it  slowly  rises.  Bush 
goes  the  whole  Swedenborgian  figure.  Some  of  his  revelations 
are  not  so  very  fascinating ;  as  of  people's  being  conscious  in 
their  coffins,  thinking  themselves  .on  earth,  while  they  are  in 
heaven. 

One  of  the  great  Christian  problems  of  the  age  seems  to  me 
to  be  how  to  carry  the  gospel  to  the  thousands,  in  cities,  who 
will  not  enter  any  church.  Pews  are  high.  Or  they  are  not 
dressed  well  enough.  An  effort  is  making  to  establish  minor  re- 
ligious meetings,  for  such  purposes,  here  and  there,  all  over  the 
city.  It  is  a  fine  scheme,  though  not  a  new  one,  being  that  of 
the  old  Evangelical  Society  of  our  boyhood.1  But  its  simplicity 
and  homeliness  gives  it  a  Bible-look.  When  shall  we  come 
down  from  our  stilts,  and  be  in  earnest  with  a  perishing  world  ? 
Decorum  and  conservatism  do  not  rank  as  the  most  needed 
virtues  just  now.  Lewis  justly  charges  our  church  with  want  of 
aggressive  power  in  the  cities.  We  have  lost  much  by  stiffness. 
A  covenanter  minister  said  to  me,  last  week,  and  I  had  thought 
it  myself,  "  If  your  church  had  only  allowed  the  *  Old  Psalms ' 
and  a  few  such  things,  to  old-country  people,  on  their  coming 
here,  our  church  would  by  this  time  have  had  no  existence  here." 
I  did  not  hear  Wines's  Lectures,  but  he  was  very  well  patronized. 

1  Described  in  Life  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  chap.  xii.  Dr.  J.  W. 
Alexander  gave  some  thoughts  on  "  Poverty  and  Crime  in  Cities,"  in  the 
Repertory,  October,  1845. 


1844—1849.  39 

Dr.  Spring  has  a  very  good  plan  for  a  preachers'  library 
here.  It  could  be  easily  accomplished.  There  is  frequently  a 
call  to  consult  volumes,  which  are  not  to  be  found  at  all.  A 
building  is  all  that  stands  much  in  the  way.  Look  out  for  a 
"  Christian-Alliance  man,"  with  the  cry  of  the  daughters  of  the 
horse-leech.  Could  not  some  Christian  Newton  arise  with  ad- 
vantage, and  simplify  our  methods,  indicate  some  gravitation,  or 
what  not  1  We  have  a  wonderful  diversity  of  methods,  whereby 
to  reach  the  same  ends.  Thus,  take  the  one  object  of  European 
popery;  I  have  been  solicited  to  open  our  doors  to  (1)  this 
Christian  Alliance;  (2)  to  Herman  Norton,  well  known  in 
Trenton,  but  now  more  familiar  with  Trent,  agent  for  the  Prot- 
estant Association  ;  (3)  The  Foreign  Evangelical  Society  ;  while 
I  prefer  (4)  The  Presbyterian  Board  which  we  are  endeavouring 
to  aid,  in  this  very  field,  by  sustaining  an  Evangelist  in  France. 

New  York,  October  7,  1845. 
The  late  Free  Church  Assembly  at  Inverness  fills  two  of  the 

large  Scotch  papers  pretty  full.     slips  by  the  whole  in  two 

or  three  sentences,  without  a  word  of  extract,  and  yet  I  have 
seldom  read  any  proceedings  more  full  of  interest  and  edifica- 
tion. It  is  "  life  in  earnest."  This  extra  meeting  was  all  in  a 
glow.  Day  after  day,  in  the  absence  of  all  ordinary  business, 
they  warmed  one  another  up,  in  regard  to  their  "  schemes." 
That  church  seems  to  me  all  in  one  great  revival.  Where  could 
one  hundred  and  twenty  ministers  be  found  among  us  to  engage 
each  for  a  month's  Missionary  itinerancy?  Their  "pavilion"  had 
four  thousand  worshippers,  thrice  a  day.  Inman  says  Chalmers 
was  very  charming,  while  sitting  for  his  portrait,  [for  a  gentleman 
in  New  York.]  He  used  to  go  to  breakfast,  and  family  worship. 
He  says  Macaulay  spoke  of  the  American  clipping  of  words  in 
pronunciation  :  to  which  I  rejoined,  every  Englishman  says  "  111 
think  ye  for  thct  hit."  Inman  is  a  great  artist,  and  a  fine  talker. 
Have  you  seen  Bailey's  "  Festus,"  a  poem  1  A  bold,  irregular, 
but  gigantic  genius.  Some  things  equal  any  thing  I  ever  read. 
But  the  extravagance  is  wonderful,  and  the  great  aim  is  to  en- 
force Restorationism.  Bush  is  to  establish  Swedenborg's  divine 
mission  next  Sunday.  Dr.  dimming,  an  educated  Scotchman, 
says,  that  having  re-visited  Scotland  after  the  disruption,  he 
could  scarce  believe  the  change ;  a  spirit  breathed  into  every 
thing ;  even  drowsy  country  ministers  roused  up  and  elevated 
by  zeal  for  a  great  cause.  Dr.  Potts's  church  is  certainly  very 
beautiful.  As  a  work  of  art  it  is  exquisite.  They  have  very 
nobly  resolved  to  leave  no  debt  on  the  congregation.  The  cost 
is  at  least  $80,000.     One  pew-sale  has  come  off.     I  understand 


40       WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

half  the  down-stairs  pews  were  sold.  The  highest  price  was 
$1,008.  1  am  told  the  purchases  equal  $35,000.  On  the  1st 
day  of  the  7th  month,  Tisri,  or  New  Year's  day,  I  attended  syna- 
gogue, and  saw  men  in  their  shrouds,  (an  old  usage,)  heard  the 
ram's  horns  blown,  &c.  Saturday  is  the  day  of  Atonement.  I 
also  saw  the  Levites  pour  water  from  a  silver  pitcher  on  the 
hands  of  the  Cohens ;  and  the  latter  ascend,  shoeless,  and  bless 
the  people,  according  to  the  trine  benediction  in  Deuteronomy. 
There  are  now  nine  synagogues  in  this  city.  Neander  is  work- 
ing away  among  the  Jews.  I  saw  Abeel  yesterday  ;  alive,  but 
scarcely  more  ;  full  of  faith  and  love ;  going  to  Savannah. 

New  York,  October  20,  1845. 

Dr.  [Kearney]  Eodgers,  about  ten  days  ago,  performed  an 
operation,  for  aneurism,  which  is  considered  unique  :  the  tying 
of  the  left  subclavian  artery.  Sir  Astley  Cooper  attempted  it 
once,  and  failed.  The  man  is  thus  far  doing  well.  Mott,  Ste- 
vens, Cheeseman,  and  three  hundred  spectators,  were  present. 

Thus  far  I  had  written  on  Friday,  the  19th  ;  now,  on  20th,  I 
add  that  Baynard  R.  Hall  is  here,  and  is  to  preach  for  me  to- 
morrow. A  new  book  on  Tobacco,  dedicated  by  S.  H.  Cox, 
D.D.,  to  the  "Right  Honorable"  (sic)  John  Quincy  Adams. 
The  New  School  Synod  are  at  work  to-day,  hammer-and-tongs, 
settling  the  mutilations  of  the  Tract  Society.  Wines  is  here  on 
the  Hebrew  Commonwealth.  D.  X.  Junkin,  in  press,  on  the 
Oath.  Bush  has  great  audiences  and  is  making  converts. 
Bellows  [Unitarian]  has  got  into  his  new  house.  It  has  two 
conspicuous  crosses  in  alto  relievo,  in  front :  lucus  a  non,  &c. 
J.  F.  Clark,  formerly  of  Flemington,  has  got  into  hot  water 
(strange  to  say)  at  Cold  Spring,  by  circulating  some  Douay 
Bibles  among  Romanists,  who  would  receive  no  others.  The 
Hydrarchos  Sillimani  is  said  to  be  artificial.  The  Mastodon  is 
in  full  feather.  Templeton  and  de  Meyer  are  convulsing  the 
musical  world.  I  wish  some  new  Whitefield  or  even  Summer- 
field  could  rise,  to  carry  the  crowd  a  little  that  way.  I  believe 
more  than  I  did  in  the  need  of  some  radical,  revolutionary,  ag- 
gressive action,  in  our  Christianity.  Our  present  method  does 
well  enough  to  keep  what  we  have  got.  I  am  about  to  make  a 
small  Hymn  Book,  to  contain  none  but  unaltered  Hymns,  about 
two  hundred  and  fifty. 

Bickersteth  on  the  Prophecies,  though  a  1000-narian  book,  is 
in  a  lovely  Christian  spirit,  and  is  very  delightful.  All  the  del- 
egates from  the  Established  Church  of  Scotland  have  been  here  ; 
some  of  them  more  than  once.  I  do  not  know  of  their  preaching 
anywhere. 


1844—1849.  41 

New  York,  November  17,  1845. 
Yesterday  I  compassed  three  services,  a  thing  I  have  not 
done  for  some  years.  For  two  successive  Sabbaths  I  have  had 
in  church,  Peter  R.  Livingston,  brother  of  Mrs.  Armstrong,  [of 
Trenton,]  also  Maturin  Livingston  ;  and,  on  the  9th,  the  former 
partook  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  our  church,  a  very  pleasing 
sight  to  me.  One  of  the  most  agreeable  hours  I  spend  in  the 
week,  contrary  to  all  my  expectations,  is  on  Monday  morning 
at  the  Foreign  Missionary  Executive  Board.  Dr.  [J.  J.]  Jane- 
way,  who  comes  more  than  thirty  miles,  is  our  most  punctual 
member.  We  have  adopted  as  a  missionary  to  Africa,  Ellis, 
the  learned  blacksmith,  of  Alabama.  Two  synods  have  bought 
him  and  his  for  $2,500.  His  attainments  (without  a  teacher)  in 
Latin  and  Greek  are  certified  to  us  as  extraordinary.  A  late 
German  has  the  following  scheme,  which  is  certainly  ingenious. 
Christian  doctrine  has  four  grand  epochs:  1.  Theology,  proper ; 
7repi  tov  &cov.  The  Trinity,  &c,  settled  in  the  early  age ;  doctrine 
not  moved  since ;  this  was  done  by  the  Greeks.  2.  Anthro- 
pology :  Doctrine  of  fall  and  grace ;  the  Pelagian  controversy : 
this  was  done  by  the  Latins.  3.  Soterology :  Doctrine  of  the 
way  of  salvation ;  Justification  controversy  :  this  by  the  Ger- 
mans. 4.  Ecclesiology  :  Doctrine  of  the  Church.  In  this  era  we 
now  are.  There  is,  to  me,  a  beautiful  vraisemblance  in  this.  No. 
4  is  undoubtedly  true  of  our  times.  Some  notions  have  lately 
struck  me  more  than  ever  before  ;  such  as  these  :  In  proportion 
as  cheap  publication  goes  on,  books  become  more  and  more  like 
conversation  ;  and  the  attributes  and  laws  of  the  latter  belong  to 
the  former :  this  admits  of  being  carried  out  to  wonderful  par- 
ticulars. Again,  the  more  we  are  flooded  with  bad  books,  the 
more  should  we  read  the  Bible — I  mean  the  simple  text ;  even  of 
ministers,  few  do  what  they  ought  of  this.  Lest  you  should  be 
overburdened,  I  spare  you  the  remaining  aphorisms  ;  which  shall 
appear  in  my  "  Novissimum  Organon,  vol.  iii.  §  ccccxcviii.  De 
libris  suiyprimendis."  I  heard  de  Meyer,  [pianist ;]  it  was  with  as- 
tonishment and  almost  fright,  but  I  was  not  touched.  I  have  gone 
through  seven  chapters  of  Hebrews,  [in  weekly  lectures.1]  What 
a  wonderful  abandon  in  the  style  of  Hamilton's  "  Life  in  Earnest ! " 

New  York,  December  2,  1845. 
I  lament  over  your  provincialism,  in  using  the  word  "freshet" 
[for  fresh]  as  you  do,  in  letter  of  October  17.    Perhaps  you  have 
not  met  with  "  The  New  Methodist  Pocket  Hymn  Book  :  "  the 
following  is  from  it : 

1  The  series  of  lectures  on  the  Hebrews  extended  from  October  29,  1844, 
to  February  23,  1847. 


4:2      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTTANE   ST.   CHURCH,    NEW  YORK. 

"  When  I  was  blind,  I  could  not  see, 
The  Calvinists  deceived  me  ; 
They,  by  the  Scripture,  strive  to  show, 
That  sinners  nothing  had  to  do : 
At  length  I  heard  another  preach, 
Who  ways  of  righteousness  did  teach : 
He  warned  me  of  the  Calvinist, 
And  how  God's  word  they  would  resist." 

P.  113. 

I  have  this  clay  had  a  most  painful  interview  with  a  man  of 
some  note  in  the  world  of  art.  I  talked  earnestly  with  him 
about  his  soul.  (He  is,  I  fear,  on  his  death-bed.)  He  received 
it  well,  considered  as  kindness ;  but  considered  as  gospel,  I  think 
he  did  not  receive  it  at  all.  After  my  most  serious  endeavours, 
he  very  calmly  changed  the  whole  subject,  and  talked  about  his 
last  picture,  and  a  bas-relief  for  the  tomb  of  a  friend. 

I  believe  all  the  pews  not  sold,  in  the  lower  part  of  Dr. 
Potts's  church,  are  rented.  Old  Dr.  Milled oler  preached  at  the 
Installation :  he  made  a  prayer  which  I  shall  certainly  long  re- 
member; it  was  exalted,  scriptural,  childlike,  tender,  and  moving. 
The  man  who  can  so  pray,  (and  even  so  preach,  as  he  did,)  is  a 
man  I  should  like  to  know  better ;  and  I  mean  to  seek  his  ac- 
quaintance, at  the  first  opportunity. 

New  York,  Dccemher  9,  1845. 

Your  hints  about  mission-efforts  around  our  city-  (you  may 
add  town-)  churches  are  good  :  so  much  so,  that  I  have  been 
harping  on  that  same  string  ever  since  I  came  here,  and  have 
preached  one  sermon  very  directly  to  that  point.  Our  city  is 
not  altogether  behind,  in  the  matter,  even  now ;  we  have  twenty 
city  missionaries,  and  more  than  a  hundred  weekly  meetings  of 
the  sort  you  mean.  But  this  does  not  reach  my  notion,  and  I 
am  not  going  to  rest  until,  as  a  congregation,  we  have  a  preach- 
ing-place and  missionary  in  regular  operation.  This,  with  God's 
blessing,  I  hope  to  set  agoing,  before  the  season  is  over.  We 
already  support  two  missionaries  in  the  West,  and  one  in 
France ;  and  I  have  this  moment  had  a  note,  saying  that  our 
young  women  have  assumed  the  whole  charge  of  the  last,  leaving 
the  young  men  (formerly  associated)  to  give  their  money 
another  direction.  I  am  recommending  the  coloured  people  to 
their  care. 

I  do  not  see  any  great  exaggeration  in  regard  to  Dod.1  It 
is  my  deliberate  opinion  that  I  never  saw  his  superior  in  extent 
of  knowledge,  in  exactness  in  certain  branches,  in  capacity  to 
teach,  in  power  of  colloquial  argument,  in  generous  enthusiasm. 

1  Professor  Albert  B.  Dod  died  at  Princeton,  Nov.  20,  1345. 


1844—1849.  43 

Just  at  this  time,  I  am  doubtless  disposed  to  look  at  the  bright 
side  of  his  character,  and  to  consider  his  death  a  very  significant 
blow  to  the  college.  There  is  something  very  pleasing  to  me, 
in  the  almost  universal  expression  of  sorrow  among  all  classes 
in  New  Jersey,  and  especially  among  his  pupils.  His  dying 
exercises  strike  me  as  truly  gracious. 

I  forgot  to  talk  to  you  about 's  preposterous  elocution. 

When  warmed,  he  thoroughly  forgets  it ;  but  he  read  a  passage 
m  a  way  which  may  be  thus  represented:  "Pifciise  ye  the 
LoiZd ;  pifeise  ye  the  name  of  the  LoiM  ;  pi?aise  him,  O  ye 
Servants  of  the  Loi£d."  The  effect  was  great,  and  the  click  of 
the  articulating  wheel-work  almost  drove  me  out  of  the  pulpit. 

I  spent  two  charming  hours  to-day  at  the  Protestant  Half- 
Orphan  Asylum,  where  I  speechified ;  175  children.  Wetmore, 
who  conducts  the  City  mission,  &c,  is  an  extraordinary  man. 
He  is  ten  hours  every  day  at  ironmongery,  yet  labours  beyond 
every  body  else  in  religious  matters,  and  is  withal  as  gentleman- 
like a  man  as  you  will  find  in  a  summer's  day.  What  a  mean, 
nasty,  anti-analogical  word  "  reliable  "  is.  Fanny  Kemble  laughs 
at  "  Bakery  ;  "  what  would  she  say  of  "  Bindery,"  and  "  Paint- 
cry,"  which  I  see  passim.  In  due  time,  a  church  may  be  called 
a  t;  preachery." 

1  am  now  in  the  8th  chapter  of  Hebrews.  I  have  never  had 
an  exercise  more  acceptable.  To  myself,  I  trust,  it  has  been 
useful,  as  leading  me  to  dwell  much  on  the  very  marrow  and 
riches  of  gospel  grace.  One  thing,  to  my  mind,  above  all  others, 
grows  in  centrality  (ut  ita  dicam)  among  converting  doctrines  ; 
the  infinite,  sovereign,  freeness  of  grace,  through  the  death  of 
Christ.  Within  a  few  days  I  have  been  directed  to  several  per- 
sons, wrho,  I  think,  are  savingly  exercised. 

New  York,  December  23,  1845. 

I  have  never  yet  felt  the  argument  to  be  demonstrative  which 
would  keep  a  poor  bedridden  creature  from  ever  partaking  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  I  preached  on  War,  at  great  length,  a  fortnight 
agone.  Elders  and  Trustees  were  for  printing  it ;  but  I  was 
wiser  than  all  that.  South,  in  his  sermons,  constantly  uses 
"  shew  "  for  the  perfect  tense  of  "  show,"  (blow,  blew,  grow, 
grew,  &c. ;)  but  Sorin  and  Ball's  edition  (Phila.)  constantly 
makes  it  "  show,"  supposing  it  a  various  spelling  of  "  show."  I 
never  have  read  as  keen  a  writer  as  South ;  nor  one  me  judice 
of  better  style. 

Jones  has  made  a  valuable  and  most  entertaining  book.1     I 

1  Dr.  Joseph  H.  Jones's  "  Influence  of  Physical  Causes  on  Keligious  Expe- 
rience," enlarged  in  1860  in  his  volume  entitled  "Man  Moral  and  Physical." 


44:      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.   CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 

trust  you  will  apply  the  principles  anent  reporting,  exemplified 
in  the  "  slips  "  of  your  lecture,  to  the  newspaper  report  of  my 
sermon  on  Dod.  The  Observer  makes  me  say  at  least  ten 
things  which  I  did  not  say,  and  leaves  out  every  one  of  the 
qualifications  on  which  I  laid  much  stress,  and  my  earnest  at- 
tempt to  withdraw  notice  from  D.'s  metaphysics  to  the  simplici- 
ties of  his  dying  hour. 

makes  a  prayer  which  one  feels  and  remembers :  I  think 

this  is  a  point  which  1  observe  more  than  formerly.  The  Offer- 
tory [Christmas]  is  promising ;  one  turkey,  two  barrels  apples, 
one  do.  flour,  half  do.  sugar,  one  wrapper.  I  have  preached,  this 
evening,  on  Eph.  vi.  19,  20  ;  look  at  it.  I  used  to  see  a  number 
of  things  from  Germany,  at  Princeton,  which  I  miss  now.  It 
reminds  me  of  what  Lamb  says,  about  missing  the  stationery  of 
the  India  House  :  "When  Adam  laid  out  his  first  penny  upon  non- 
pareils in  Mesopotamia,  I  think  it  went  hard  with  him,  reflecting 
on  his  old  goodly  orchard,  where  he  had  so  many  for  nothing." 
I  hope  to  have  my  father  and  mother  here,  on  New  Year's,  when 
we  desire  our  boy  to  be  baptized.  The  absence  of  Quakers  in 
New  York  is  wonderful.  I  have  never  seen  one  in  full  rig,  and 
do  not  meet  any  kind  of  perceivable  ones  more  than  once  in  a 
month.  But  we  have  an  Armenian  store,  with  "  Notions  "  from 
Stamboul.  Our  confectioners  and  toymen  are  in  high  feather. 
Wild  turkeys  and  venison  abound.  Gentlemen  wear  "  shawls," 
London-wise,  also  a  very  thick-soled,  sensible  English  shoe. 
Our  Executive  Committee  have,  for  months,  been  anxiously 
endeavouring,  by  correspondence  with  our  missionaries,  and  with 
other  societies,  to  mature  a  plan  for  the  education  of  mission- 
aries' children.  It  is  a  painful  and  delicate  subject.  On  Monday 
we  were  t\\;o  hours  upon  it. 

Sunday  School  Meetings  are  common  here  on  Christmas. 
My  sexton,  who  is  here  just  now,  says  he  has  a  brother  named 
Ole,  and  that  Christmas  in  Danish  is  Yule.  The  words  of  my 
good  father  become  more  and  more  precious  to  me,  like  the 
books  of  the  Tarquinian  Sibyl ;  I  therefore  copy  what  follows 
from  his  last  letter : 

"  As  to  the  effects  of  the  truth  preached,  never  doubt  that 
every  faithful  sermon  will  produce  its  effect ;  it  will  not  return 
void.  Give  it  efficacy  by  prayer.  If  you  have  any  persons  in 
the  church  who  are  mighty  in  prayer,  engage  them  to  pray  for 
the  success  of  the  gospel.  Pay  son  instituted  little  circles,  called 
'  Aaron-and-Hur-societies,'  the  sole  object  of  which  was  to  pray 
every  Sunday  morning  for  the  success  of  the  word  preached." 


1844—1849.  45 

New  York,  January  16,  1846. 

Knowing  your  dislike  to  thin  paper,  I  have  now  provided 
some,  which  I  know  will  suit  you  to  a  nicety.  I  have  been  sit- 
ting for  ray  "  effigies,"  as  Cromwell  calls  it ;  a  mean  business. 
Prof.  Henry  thinks  the  Lite  discovery  of  the  late  Michael  Fara- 
day, of  the  relation  of  electro-magnetism  to  light,  the  greatest 
made  in  our  day.  He  has  also  examined  the  talking-machine,  [an 
automaton,]  and  pronounces  it  valid  and  wonderful. 

For  some  time  I  have  not  had  access  to  Inman's  chamber. 
To-day  I  was  sent  for  with  a  message  that  he  was  dying.  He 
had  just  (vix  et  ne  vix  quidem)  finished  a  portrait  of  Harper. 
Certainly  he  is  great  in  that  line.  Perhaps  you  have  seen  his 
$1,000  "full  length  of  Bishop  White.  His  Chalmers,  Words- 
worth, and  Macaulay,  are  great.  There  are,  I  think,  no  services 
in  which  we  need  a  prescribed  schedule,  more  than  those  which 
come  often,  as  for  example,  sacramental  preparations  :  they  are 
apt  to  be  the  same  thing  over  and  over.  For  many  months  I 
have  been  going  over  our  Lord's  own  preparatory  words  and 
acts,  in  the  Gospels.  Last  Sabbath  four  on  examination,  and 
fifteen  on  certificate.  Three  hundred  dollars  anonymously  for 
Theological  Seminary.  In  preaching  on  Home  Missions,  on 
"  Sabbath  first,"  I  shall  touch  a  little  on  War  again  ;  text, 
"  Righteousness  exalteth,"  &c.  Mr.  [E.  F.]  Cooley  might  have 
gone  back  much  further  with  his  [edition  of  the  New  England] 
primer  :  I  wait  for  a  chance  to  send  you  an  exact  reprint  of  that 
of  1777  ;  some  of  the  lectiones  are  fine;  e.  g. : 

C.  "  Christ  crucify'd  For  sinners  dy'd." 

D.  "  The  Deluge  drown'd  The  Earth  around." 

E.  "  Elijah  hid  By  Ravens  fed." 

F.  "  The  Judgment  made  Felix  afraid." 

L.    "  Lot  fled  to  Zoar,  Saw  fiery  Shower,  On  Sodom  pour." 

T.    "  Young  Timothy  Learnt  sin  to  fly." 

Dr.  Potts  has  one  hundred  at  his  catechizing,  and  sixty  ladies 
at  his  Dorcas  Society.  I  am  glad  S.  has  shown  the  pole-bags 
to  be  means  of  grace,  for  they  have  hitherto  lacked  due  reverence 
of  me.1  What  a  euphonious  title,  that  of  his  Oglethorpe  Univer- 
sity Address :  "  Denominational  Education,"  I  have  a  young 
merchant,  in  ample  business,  who  studies  the  Greek  Testament, 
with  lexicon  and  commentaries.  The  abolitionists  seem  to  have 
adopted  a  motto  from  Julius  Cfesar  :  "  Help,  Cassius,  [Clay,]  or 

1  sink  ! "     The =  [a  religious  paper]  is  obviously  improving. 

Do  I  err  in  detecting  your  hand  in  the  item  on  "  Preparing 

1  In  the  times  of  "Pine  St.  Church,"  the  usual  Sunday  "collections" 
were  taken  with  velvet  bags  at  the  end  of  long  handles. 


46       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 

Potatoes  for  Stock?"  Who  contributes  the  piece,  in  the  same 
on  "  Save  your  Salt  Barrels  "  ?  I  have  sought  for  an  anagogical 
or  mystical  meaning  in  this  last.  How  touching  the  allusion  to 
"  glanders,  grease,  mange,  blindness,  coughs,  and  broken  wind  "  ! 
What  is  your  judgment  of  crib-biting  1  The  very  violent 
attempts  at  visible  Unity,  as  in  the  Liverpool  Convention, 
savour  of  an  unworthy  suspicion  that  there  is  no  Gospel  Union 
but  in  protocols,  and  platform  accolades.  The  unity  (ni  fallor) 
which  the  Bible  enjoins,  is  no  such  thing,  and  is  consistent  with 
great  diversity.  Push  a  ritualist,  and  how  little  he  can  show  for 
real  unity.  A  Dominican  and  a  Jesuit  are  far  more  asunder 
than  Kidder  [Methodist]  and  I,  in  dress,  in  creed,  and  in  service. 
Who  authorizes  them  to  say  that  unity  resides  in  swearing  by 
one  and  the  same  pope  1 

New  York,  January  26,  1846. 
The  evils  of  indiscriminate  reading,  even  of  religious  books, 
has  so  weighed  with  me,  that  on  Sunday  I  devoted  both  sermons 
to  "  Christian  Reading."  Inter  alia,  I  gave  a  list  of  books,  under 
these  heads:  1.  Explanatory  of  the  Bible;  2.  Awakening  and 
Inviting  ;  3.  Experimental  Religion  ;  4.  Theology  ;  5.  History  ; 
6.  Biography;  7.  Poetry;  8.  Miscellaneous,  including  Periodical. 
Our  collection  for  Domestic  Missions = $520 ;  add  $100  by  an 
individual,  and  $300  by  Young  Men^=:$920.  I  was  vaccinated 
last  spring,  and  had  a  perfect  pustule  ;  so  my  Doctor  says.  My 
father's  book  on  Colonization  is  out.  I  have  preached  three 
times  on  three  Sabbaths  this  winter ;  but  I  find  it  too  much. 
Don't  foil  to  read  the  articles  from  the  "  Times,"  on  the  Polk- 
Message,  in  the  "  Warder."  I  feel  ashamed  of  our  American 
bluster.  But  how  plain  is  it,  that  the  British  dread  a  war  far 
more  than  wTe  !  They  knowr  better  what  it  means.  I  have  a  let- 
ter from  Abeel,  in  Savannah ;  low  in  body,  but  triumphant  in 
mind  ;  as  he  has  been  ever  since  I  knew  him.  The  sleighing  has 
been  a  perfect  intoxication,  till  the  thaw  came.  Such  a  display 
of  costly  vehicles,  furs,  &c,  is  seen  nowhere  south  of  this  :  some 
had  fourteen  and  even  twenty  horses.  It  would  have  been  worth 
a  visit  to  see  the  omnibus-sleighs,  carrying  forty,  fifty,  and  sixty, 
and  bedizened  with  all  manner  of  pictures,  &e.  We  have  two 
hundred  and  fifty  omnibuses  constantly  running  in  New  York. 

Talk  of  railway  in  Hudson  street.     continues  prolific ;  but 

how  unreadable !  a  swill-tub  of  citations.  Though  given  to 
quotation  myself,  I  think  it  below  the  highest  method.  There  is 
more  in  a  man  who  spins  all  out  e  lyropriis  visceribus.  This  has 
often  struck  me  in  my  good  father, — no  scraps,  no  pretty 
•'  phrases,"  no  poetry,  no  Latin  sentences.     The  other  way  is  a 


1844—1849.  47 

si»n  of  weakness  :  habeas  confitentem  reum.  Yet  still  more  am  I 
convinced  that  a  man  must  be  himself,  and  that  he  gains  by  fol- 
lowing his  bent.  I  have  read  Carlyle's  Cromwell,  and  believe  he 
was  a  converted  man. 

New  York,  February  19,  1846. 

If  my  little  sister  Mary  Ann  had  lived,  she  would  have  been 
thirty-five  years  old  yesterday.  This  makes  me  think  of  the 
flight  of  time,  and  of  the  mercy  of  God,  in  that  long  interval,  to 
my  father's  house.  Mr.  Lowrie  authorizes  me  to  say,  that, 
though  the  knowledge  of  Wilson's1  wants  did  not  all  come 
through  himself,  they  have  long  since  been  supplied,  as  far  as 
could  be  done  here.  His  troubles,  mutatis  mutandis,  are  those 
of  all  missionaries,  and  such  as  occupy  our  Monday  mornings,  all 
the  year.  You  might  properly  say  to  Wilson,  that  in  every  case 
he  should  make  known  his  wants  directly  to  the  Board :  the 
reasons  are  obvious.  I  am  glad  of  your  contempt  of  weariness, 
[on  Mondays ;]  I  cannot  brag  of  the  like,  but  still  belong  to  the 
paradoxical  class  who  find  the  day  of  greatest  lassitude  immedi- 
ately after  the  day  of  greatest  labour.  The  Tabernacle  [Broad- 
way] is  filled  every  Sunday  night,  no  matter  who  preaches.  My 
church-mission-project  is  in  abeyance,  until  I  see  how  the  Presby- 
tery's plan  (for  the  same  end)  turns  out.  I  have  no  idea,  how- 
ever, of  doing  our  work  through  the  Presbytery  :  it  is  a  slow 
work.  After  all  the  outcry  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  for  a 
"  separate  organization,"  whereby  to  give  their  benefactions  to 
domestic  missions, — just  look  at  their  amount  of  contributions  ! 

One  of  the  unreasonable  demands  on  a  pastor  is,  that  he 
should  like  and  dislike  the  people  whom  A,  B,  and  C  dislike. 
I  try  hard  to  let  no  prejudices  or  bickerings  affect  me.  But  oh! 
what  a  disposition,  in  ourselves  and  others,  to  be  censorious  ;  to 
see  faults  before  excellencies  in  our  neighbours  ;  to  applaud  our- 
selves tacitly,  by  criticizing  others  openly,  as  to  the  points  where 
we  feel  less  vulnerable  !  I  know  no  Scripture  precept  harder 
than  that,  "  Let  each  esteem  other  better,"  &c.  Sometimes  I  am 
painfully  affected  with  the  consciousness  that  this  or  that  duty, 
which  I  have  performed,  would  certainly  have  been  neglected  or 
deferred,  if  no  human  being  were  to  have  known  it.  I  wish  I  felt 
more  the  force  of  the  phrase,  "  the  praise  which  cometh  from 
God."  Protracted  Meetings  seem  to  me  absolutely  indifferent ; 
to  be  used,  if  there  be  cause,  but  not  as  a  crack-measure  to  get 
up  excitement.     Where  there  is  a  hearing  ear,  it  seems  reasona- 

1  Thomas  Wilson,  a  coloured  man,  who  went  to  Africa  under  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions,  and  died  at  his  post,  September  8,  1846. 


48       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTTANE    ST.   CHUECH,   NEW  YORK. 

ble  to  multiply  instructions.     Perhaps  Edwards  (on  Revivals) 
goes  a  little  too  far  ;  but  his  general  views  strike  me  as  just. 

I  reluctantly  break  my  rule  againsst  lecturing,  in  order  to 
mendicate  in  that  way  for  the  Princeton  church.  For  three 
weeks  I  have  had  cold  and  sore  throat.  I  have  lost,  however, 
only  one  exercise  by  it,  which  was  in  the  week.  Kidder  and  I 
have  been  exchanging  calls  for  fourteen  months,  but  have  never 
met  in  a  house.  The  St.  Valentine's  day  is  so  serious  a  thing 
here,  that  the  city  post  is  interrupted  for  three  or  four  days  ; 
they  put  on  extra  carriers,  and  have  a  special  chest  in  the  Post 
Office.  There  are  Valentines  offered  at  $200  a-piece  ;  being  in- 
genious pictured  integuments  of  gold  watches,  pins,  brooches,  &c. 

New  York,  March  16,  1846. 

It  was  only  at  a  late  hour  this  evening,  on  my  brother 
Henry's  return  from  Princeton,  that  I  heard  of  your  recent 
anxiety.  And  now  I  do  sincerely  hope  that  all  cause  of  serious 
apprehension  is  removed,  and  that  you  will  feel  at  ease  to  write 
me  soon  that  you  are  giving  thanks  for  great  deliverance.  I 
say  this  with  the  more  feeling,  as  for  a  few  days  we  have  been  in 
much  fear,  by  reason  of  the  sudden  and  severe  illness  of  our 
second  child.  He  has  had  a  fever ;  and,  though  still  confined  to  his 
bed,  is  greatly  mended.    Let  the  God  of  our  salvation  be  exalted. 

How  much,  in  time  of  sickening  fears,  we  are  made  to  feel 
our  need  of  a  direct  and  immediate  Divine  influence ;  and  how 
gracious  is  the  hand  which  so  often  gives  it  to  us  !  Our  reason- 
ings, even  on  the  basis  of  the  word,  do  not  reach  the  case  in  such 
a  time. 

The  healings,  and  manifold  compassionate  acts  of  our  Lord, 
while  on  earth,  as  given  in  the  simple  narrative  of  the  gospels, 
have  been  an  unspeakable  comfort  to  me,  in  days  of  despondency. 
"  When  my  foot  slipped,  thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  held  me  up." 

New  York,  March  24,  1846. 
The  Gospel  is  not  attractive  enough  for  people  now-a-days. 
Ministers  must  bait  their  trap  with  something  else.  The  old- 
fashioned  topics  are  seldom  heard.  This  diminishes  one's  wonder 
at  the  small  progress  made  in  spirituals.  The  following  is 
taken,  just  as  it  stands,  from  the  Journal  of  Commerce.1      A 

1  Here  followed  a  few  advertisements  of  sermons  on  "  the  Hob*  Week 
at  Rome,"  "  Washington  the  Friend  of  Peace,"  "  The  Influence  of  Calvin," 
"  Signs  of  Stability  and  Decay  in  the  Government  of  our  Country,"  &c. ; 
but  the  custom  has  become  so  familiar  since  the  date  above,  and  the  incon- 
gruous subjects  so  multiplied,  that  the  notices  pasted  in  the  letter  would  not 
now  seem  curiou3. 


1844—1849.  49 

sermon  which  I  preached  on  the  15th,  seems  to  have  been 
graciously  owned  to  the  awakening  of  two  persons.  It  is  a 
sermon  above  all  I  have,  remarkable  for  two  faults  :  first,  it  is 
common-place ;  secondly,  it  is  flowery.  Mr.  Begg,  of  Edinburgh, 
is  to  preach  for  us  next  Sunday  evening.  He  is  a  very  warm, 
interesting  preacher.  Like  all  the  Scotch,  he  interweaves  Scrip- 
ture passages,  out  of  the  common  line,  in  a  way  to  surprise  and 
charm.  My  Presbyterian  folio,  for  the  Blind,  is  published  by 
the  Board.  It  contains,  1,  Prayers;  2,  Hymns;  3,  The  Cate- 
chism ;  4,  A  Compend  of  Doctrine,  by  my  father.  I  have  not, 
since  McCheyne's,  had  such  a  treat  as  in  "  Housman's  Life," 
just  published  by  Carter.  I  am  just  about  to  have  my  fa- 
vourite tract  "  Poor  Joseph,"  printed  in  large  type,  with 
covers,  for  the  aged  and  for  poor  readers.  We  collected  1600 
in  February  for  Education,  and  about  the  same  in  March,  for 
the  Bible  Society.  Dr.  S.  has  come  over  to  our  views, 
against  public  aisle-covenant,  at  communions,  after  practising 
thirty  years  the  other  way.  Addison's  first  volume  [Isaiah]  is  all 
"  in  hands,"  and  daily  expected.  A  stranger  lately  gave  me 
$250  for  colportage.  Walsh's  letters,  in  the  National  Intel- 
ligencer, are  equal  to  his  best  days.  Don't  fail  to  read  every 
extract  in  •  the  u  Warder,"  from  the  Examiner.  I  never  saw 
such  a  sustained  wit,  as  in  the  leaders  of  that  paper.  Savage 
Landor  is  said  to  write  many  of  them.  A  Chinaman,  with  tails, 
&c,  parades  our  streets.  First  fruits  of  our  mission  at  Amoy, 
are  reported.  Abeel  is  expected  here  every  day.  In  our  chief 
churches  here,  the  praise  of  God  is  now  performed  by  committee, 
and  sometimes  by  a  very  small  one.  In  some  tunes,  I  am  sure, 
not  more  than  six  constitute  the  acting-worshippers.  Why  not 
one?  Instrumental  Worn hi& would  be  a  good  title  for  an  Essay. 
Begg  says  it  was  overwhelming,  at  Inverness,  to  hear  15,000 
voices,  all  joining,  sub  dio,  in  the  old  psalms.     O  to  hear  it ! 

4 

New  York,  April  8,  1846. 
The  lowest  down-town  church  is  the  North  Dutch,  then  Vande 
water  St.,  (Free  Episcopal,)  then  Dr.  Spring's,  then  ours.  I 
manage  somehow  to  have  a  third  service  almost  every  Sunday, 
My  article  in  the  Repertory  ["Metaphysical  Theology  of  the 
Schoolmen"]  has  some  brilliant  typographic  variations,  as 
"  hired  for  hindered."  It  is  worth  coming  to  New  York  to  see 
the  power-presses  in  the  Bible  House.  One  of  the  most  learned 
Jews  is  become  a  Christian ;  to  my  knowledge.  He  does  not 
wish  it  bruited  till  he  has  prepared  a  treatise,  in  German  and 
English.  He  tried  Unitarianism,  to  avoid  the  grand  "  offence"  ; 
but  it  would  not  do ;  he  has  come  out  a  thorough  trinitarian. 
VOL.  ii. — 3 


50      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

More  of  this  anon.  Swedenborgianism  grows.  Dr.  Potts  is 
the  star  of  our  pulpit-sky.  Cheever  is  gathering  a  Congrega- 
tional congregation  at  Union  Square.  The  interior  of  Trinity 
Church  is  grand.  The  pulpit  is  crawled  up  to,  around  one  of 
the  pillars,  as  it  were  in  a  corner.  A  pupil  of  mine  heard 
Bellows  the  other  night,  and  said  the  substance  was :  "  Be  good ; 
and  if  you  can't  be  good,  be  as  good  as  you  can."  I  this  day 
corrected  the  title-page  of  Addison's  book.  Mr.  Read  has  a 
revival.  I  cannot  dismiss  the  conviction,  that  the  thing  to  be 
aimed  at  is  a  warmth  which  may  be  continued ;  numbers  always 
inquiring ;  additions  each  communion  ;  so  necessitating  no  breach 
of  routine  in  preaching.  On  Sunday  mornings  I  always  preach 
straight  on  in  the  catechism,  except  when  my  monthly  collections 
come.  I  have  had  much  hope  from  the  effect  of  my  last  four,  on 
"Adoption,"  "Assurance,"  "Peace,"  and  "Joy."  The  new 
missionary  map  of  the  world,  (Colton's,)  14  feet  by  8,  is  worth 
having.  Y.'s  piece  takes  no  account  of  the  distinction  between 
Assurance  of  faith  and  of  hope;  and  hence  he  charges  confusion  on 
our  theologians  which  does  not  exist.  This  is  the  eighteenth  letter 
or  note  (some  of  them  long)  I  have  had  to  write,  within  twenty- 
four  hours.  If  I  may  judge  in  such  a  case,  my  best  effusions  [in 
the  Sunday  School  Journal]  have  been  as  "  An  Old  Contributor." 
My  weekly  catechizing  continues  to  be  delightful  to  me.  Several 
of  the  young  people  are  very  seriously  inquiring.  We  have 
averaged  sixty  from  the  beginning.  There  is  immense  need  of 
an  Explanation  of  the  Catechism,  not  to  exceed  100  pages,  and 
with  these  qualities:  1.  Simplicity.  2.  The  breaking  of  the 
matter  into  short  —  very  short  questions  and  answers.  3. 
Avoiding  unnecessary  accumulation  of  texts.  4.  Absence  of 
school-divinity.  A  member  of  my  church  gave  $1,400  to  repair 
a  country  church,  and  has  given  $200  a  year,  several  years,  to  the 
minister's  salary.  Another  member  does  as  much  for  the  Thom- 
sonville  church.  Would  it  not  be  a  good  rule,  in  visiting,  to  con- 
trive to  repeat  a  few  verses  of  the  Bible  at  every  place  ?  How 
much  precious  matter  it  would  give  the  pastor,  for  his  medita- 
tions. Again,  might  not  a  man,  properly,  make  a  point,  in  every 
prayer  he  offers  in  houses,  to  have  a  sentence  or  two  specially 
bearing  on  his  own  pastoral  and  individual  wants  %  By  these  two 
methods,  what  we  lose  from  private  culture  might  in  a  good 
degree  be  made  up.  I  have  resorted  to  the  old  plan,  of  carrying 
select  tracts,  &c.  One  who  has  free  use  of  one's  pen,  may  gain 
much  by  little  notes,  even  to  persons  who  are  shy,  unapproach- 
able, and  unfeeling.  I  have  had  more  calls  to  converse  with 
people  on  religion,  lately,  than  ever  before. 


1844—1849.  51 

New  York,  May  11,  1846. 

Your  letter  reveals  to  me  that  you  are  not  altogether  relieved 
from  your  anxieties.  I  lately  preached  on  Mark  ix.  19  ;  a  sub- 
ject which  I  felt  a  good  deal  myself,  in  reference  to  some  former 
domestic  experiences,  and  which  seemed  to  affect  my  people  more 
than  usual.  Direct  bringing  of  our  cares  to  Christ,  is  a  duty 
or  privilege  less  practised  than  is  thought.  If  we  ventured  more 
on  Him,  (unless  the  very  term  savours  of  unbelief,)  wre  should 
doubtless  have  more  to  praise  for.  See  Psalm  xxxiv.  4 — G. 
Is  not  our  Christianity  derived  too  much  from  report,  from  a  sort 
of  average,  from  common  experience  of  those  about  us,  and  not 
from  the  simple  Word  ?  You  will  find  some  sweet,  useful  things 
in  the  "  Mount  of  Olives,"  a  pendant  to  "  Life  in  Earnest." 

Yesterday  was  our  Communion ;  seventeen  on  certificate, 
and  eight  on  examination.  A  Free  Church  minister,  Mr.  Steven- 
son, was  with  us,  but  did  not  partake.  Another,  Dr.  Willis, 
of  Glasgow,  has  been  here.  They  adhere  boldly  to  their  plan 
of  sending  over  settled  pastors  of  some  note,  on  missions  of 
three  months,  to  Canada.  This  strikes  me  as  a  noble  plan,  fitted 
to  do  great  good,  at  least  to  the  deputies  themselves. 

How  can  I  pray  for  a  blessing  on  our  fight  with  Mexico  ! 
Poor  creatures,  they  have  done  as  little  against  us  as  wre  could 
have  expected.  As  a  Christian  nation,  we  should  have  sent 
them  the  Gospel ;  but  now,  unless  God  interpose  wonderfully, 
we  shall  rob  and  invade  them.  Who  knows  but  that  we  may 
find  ourselves  engaged  with  a  stronger  than  they  ? 

I  am  more  and  more  of  opinion,  that  the  great  Missionary 
work  of  America  should  be  among  the  two  races  which  we  have 
most  injured,  viz.,  the  black  and  the  red.  I  have  misgivings 
whenever  we  send  men  to  Northern  India,  (British  ground,) 
and  neglect  the  perfectly  open  field  among  our  Indians.  The 
government  yields  every  facility  for  the  prosecution  of  this 
work.  To-day  I  heard  a  letter  read,  in  which  the  Superintendent 
of  Indian  Affairs  offers  to  accompany  our  Secretary,  in  a  tour 
among  all  the  Western  Tribes.  We  all  feel  that  this  work 
presses  on  us  more  than  heretofore.     The  intercourse  of  a  year 

with ,  has  led  me  to  set  him  down  as  one  of  the  best  men 

living ;  for  honesty,  generosity,  self-denial,  greatness  of  love,  good 
sense,  and  zeal  for  God.  He  seems  to  me  to  have  the  heart  of  a 
father,  towards  every  one  of  the  missionaries ;  and  when  he  en- 
gages in  the  harassing  labour  of  purchasing  for  China,  Africa,  or 
the  Indians,  does  it  as  for  dear  children.  Old-fashioned  pastors  are 
about  as  common  as  knee-breeches.  Literary  clergymen  abound. 
Europe  is  like  to  have  a  full  representation  this  summer.  The 
question  will  soon  be,  "  Who  has  not  been  in  Europe  ?  "     I  con- 


62      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJANE    ST.   CHURCH,  NEW   YORK. 

fess  I  should  like  to  spend  three  months  in  the  Free  Church,  to 
try  and  find  out  the  secret  of  their  ardour.  Beyond  this,  the 
longing  for  Europe,  "which  haunted  me  for  years,  is  all  gone. 

New  York,  3fay  28,  1846. 
I  am  occasionally  struck  with  the  force  of  a  phrase  in  the 
Greek,  which  is  lost  in  our  own  version  :  ex.  gr.  Romans  xvi.  25, 
ataiyrjfievoi.1  That  chapter  is  a  great  trap  for  orthoepists. 
Urbane  ought  to  be  Urban,  as  it  is  in  the  old  English  version, 
being  a  man's  name.  Andronicus,  Aristobulus,  and  Epenetus, 
are  seldom  hit  right.  Next  Sunday  I  hope  to  preach  a  Sunday 
School  sermon.  The  cause  needs  lifting  among  us.  My  little 
report  on  Parochial  schools  has  made  a  breeze  in  our  Assembly, 
which  I  was  unprepared  for.2  The  resolutions  appear  to  me 
milk-and-water  enough  for  anybody.  Yet  I  feel  no  zeal  for 
them,  beyond  this,  that  I  should  like  the  skirt  of  the  Assembly 
to  be  cast  over  those  who  are  attempting  church-schools.  I  see 
no  proof  that  Onesimus  ever  ran  away,  in  the  technical  sense,  at 
all.  I  can  go  a  peg  higher  than  you  about  slavery,  and  fail  to 
see  the  scripturalness  of  much  that  is  postulated  now-a-days, 
respecting  the  popular  idol,  liberty.  As  existing,  slavery  is 
fraught  with  moral  evil ;  the  want  of  marriage,  and  of  the 
Bible,  and  the  separation  of  families,  &c,  &c,  are  crying  sins ; 
but  I  am  totally  unable  to  see  the  relation  to  be  necessarily 
unjust.  The  moral  questions  are  so  various  from  the  circum- 
stances, that  each  must  be  decided  apart,  e.  g.,  "  Is  A  justifiable 
in  holding  B  to  service  1  "  Our  church,  I  am  clear,  ought  to 
protest  against  the  laws  about  reading,  &c.  As  clear  am  I,  that 
our  States  should  regard  slavery  as  a  transition-state,  to  be 
terminated  as  soon  as  possible,  and  that  they  should  enact  laws 
about  the  post-nati.  That  the  most  miserable  portion,  physically 
and  morally,  of  the  black  race  in  the  United  States,  is  the 
portion  which  is  free,  1  am  as  well  assured  as  I  can  be  of  any 
similar  proposition.  That  immediate  emancipation  would  be  a 
crime,  I  have  no  doubt ;  and  therefore  believe  there  are  cases  in 
which  there  is  neither  injustice  nor  inhumanity  in  holding.  I 
have  had  but  eleven  weddings  in  New  York,  and  only  half-a- 
dozen  in  my  own  charge.  Dr.  Cox  once  met  my  good  Puritan 
brother,  Greenleaf,  and  as  his  wont  is,  saluted  him  in  Latin,  to 
which  G.  replied,  "  Let  him  that  speaketh  in  an  unknown  tongue 

1  In  our  version  u  kept  secret ;  "  in  Wiclif 's,  "  holden  still." 

2  The  General  Assembly  of  1844  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  establishing  Presbyterian  Parochial  Schools.  Of  this  commit- 
tee Dr.  Alexander,  though  not  in  the  Assembly,  was  chairman.  The  report 
was  not  ready  until  the  Assembly  of  1846,  when  it  was,  after  some  debate, 
ad  opted  and  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Minutes  of  that  year. 


1844—1849.  53 

pray  that  he  may  interpret."  Cox  is  fond  of  tinkering  about 
the  top  of  his  house  and  sheds.  Greenleaf,  seeing  him  thus  aloft, 
gave  him  this  text  to  expound  :  "  What  aileth  thee  now,  that 
thou  art  wholly  gone  up  to  the  house-tops  ?  " 

New  York,  June  15,  1846. 
My  father  spent  last  week  with  us.  Gen.  Scott,  of  soup- 
memory,  is  now  called  Marshal  Tureen.  We  have  set  up 
Cornish  in  a  coloured  congregation — Potts  and  I  becoming 
responsible  for  the  rent  of  the  room.  My  congregation  is  per- 
ceptibly thinning.  Our  lieut. -governor,  Gardiner,  of  Rochester, 
worships  with  us  when  he  is  in  town.  He  is  a  pious  man,  and 
a  zealous  Sunday  School  teacher.  If  this  treaty  with  England 
really  goes  into  effect,  we  shall  have  occasion  for  heartfelt  thanks. 
As  to  Mexico,  I  fear  their  defiles  and  sierras  will  give  them  oppor- 
tunity to  protract  the  war,  much  beyond  present  expectations. 
Five  members  of  one  family  in  our  church  are  in  Paris,  or  on 
the  way.  The  Central  Church  committee  [seeking  a  pastor] 
called  here  on  Wednesday,  on  their  way  to  Troy,  as  fond  and 
avid  as  ever  the  Greeks  were  after  Helen.  Seekers  of  vacancies 
are  as  abundant  as  crows  in  a  cornfield.  I  believe  I  am  solicitor 
for  a  dozen  at  this  moment.  All  make  for  the  cities.  Young 
probationers  all  hover  about  home.  Quere :  whether,  in  the 
present  destitution  of  the  West,  every  candidate  for  orders 
should  not  be  compelled  to  do  two  years  of  missionary  service  ? 
It  would  be  a  good  test.  I  wish  I  had  means  to  draw  up  a 
schedule  of  the  licentiates  of  the  last  five  years,  and  where  they 
are.  Among  persons  who  desire  vacancies  are  four  or  five 
settled  ministers.  Van  Rensselaer  is  full  of  a  new  magazine. 
["Presbyterian  Magazine,"  began  in  1851.]  I  think  I  should 
like  to  write  bits  for  such  a  thing,  sometimes ;  so  would  you. 
Though  I  did  not  doubt  that  Taylor  would  be  nominated  for 
President,  I  did  not  surmise  that  Trenton  and  Tucker  would  have 
the  honour  of  taking  the  initiative.  I  saw  a  gold-headed  cane, 
to-day,  made  of  wood  from  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  in 
America,  the  old  McKemie  church  of  Accomac,  Va.  It  was  in 
the  hands  of  Mr.  Locke,  a  minister  of  Northampton,  Va.  It  is 
marked  "  1600."  Trinity  Church  is  open  at  9£  and  4  for  prayers, 
daily.  This  I  like,  Pusey  or  no  Pusey.  Yet  it  never  comes  to 
aught  in  practice.  Have  you  read  the  "  Fox  and  the  Geese  "  1  It 
lacks  all  probability,  and  is  in  my  opinion  a  sheer  invention,  to 
be  added  to  the  fictitious  literature  of  the  day,  concerning  which 
see  "  American  Messenger,"  passim.  It  encourages  expectations 
which  can  never  be  realized,  of  seeing  elephants  keeping  shop, 
and  using  their  trunks  for  dry-goods.     It  is  erroneous  in  point 


54      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.  CHUKCH,   NEW  YOEK. 

of  natural  history.  The  goose  (anas  anser,  Linn.)  is  not 
endowed  with  the  faculty  of  speech,  like  some  of  the  genus 
Psittacus ;  and  to  represent  it  as  thatching  its  house,  is  absurd. 
But  the  ridiculous  falsity  of  the  book  may  be  considered  as  au 
comble,  when  the  common  fox  (vulpes  callida,  Linn.)  is  repre- 
sented as  carrying  a  torch.  This  in  a  religious  age,  and  in  the 
nineteenth  century  !  l 

New  York,  June  29,  1846. 
Dr.  Rice  came  in  this  evening  from  his  mission  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts General  Association  at  Pepperell.  He  says  the  Con- 
gregationalists  are  blowing  up  the  sectarian  flame  very  hard,  and 
labouring  to  propagate  their  "  distinctive  "  principles.  Congre- 
gational Puseyism  is  funny  enough.  I  wish  you  would  read 
Schaff^s  famous  book  ;  ["  Historical  Development"  ?]  Cry  out 
as  we  may,  he  tells  us  some  plain  truths,  and  reveals  things 
which  none  but  a  transatlantic  eye  could  discern.  It  is  a  most 
exciting  and  suggestive  volume,  with  a  figment  for  the  hypo- 
thesis, but  great  genius,  learning,  and  truth  in  many  of  the 
details.  I  have  always  felt  the  force  of  what  he  says  about  the 
Puritans  having  cut  to  the  quick,  in  regard  to  externals ;  about 
the  charity  we  should  have  for  Papists  ;  and  about  the  evils  of 
innumerable  sects.  But  he  goes  fearfully  far,  about  visible 
unity.  The  dread  of  Millenarianism  has  sealed  the  mouths  of 
too  many  of  us,  I  think,  in  respect  to  the  Second  Coming. 
There  is  a  great  deal  about  it  in  the  New  Testament.  If  others 
teach  a  false  second-advent,  why  should  not  we,  all  the  more 
earnestly,  enforce  the  true  1  I  have  no  recollection  of  having 
ever  heard  any  brother  preach  on  it.  We  have  (Potts  and  I)  at 
length  got  Our  Old  School  coloured  church  a-going.  I  have  thus 
far  failed  entirely  to  get  a  room  for  our  Duane  St.  Mission- 
Church.  But  there  seems  to  be  a  readiness  among  our  people. 
Waterbury  has  accepted  the  call  to  St.  Bowdoin's,  (I  merely 
transpose  the  "  St.")  A  very  large  proportion  of  my  flock  is  now 
in  rustication ;  their  place  is  very  much  filled  by  travellers. 
The  constant  presence  of  such,  governs  my  preparations  more 
than  it  did.     Some  very  encouraging  things  have  occurred,  from 

1  This  ironical  notice  of  the  objections  to  fables  and  fictions  reminds 
one  of  the  lines  of  Cowper,  which  the  letter-writer  quoted  in  a  graver  article 
on  the  same  subject  long  before  this,  (Sunday  School  Journal,  January 
9,  1833.) 

"  I  shall  not  ask  Jean  Jacques  Kousseau 

If  birds  confabulate  or  no ; 

'Tis  clear  that  they  were  always  ablo 

To  hold  discourse — at  least  in  fable  ; 

And  e'en  the  child  who  knows  no  better, 

Than  to  interpret  by  the  letter 

A  story  of  a  cock  and  bull, 

Must  have  a  most  uncommon  skull." 


1844—1849.  55 

time  to  time,  in  regard  to  such  drawings  of  the  bow  at  a  venture. 
I  beheld  the  other  day  about  500  new  army-recruits,  for  Mexico, 
a  most  sorry  collection  of  ragamuffins.  My  proximity  to  the 
arsenal  gives  me  plenty  of  this  playing  at  soldiers.  Another 
Free  Church  minister  was  here  to-day,  from  Canada,  where  he 
has  been  preaching,  almost  daily,  for  several  months  in  Gaelic. 
His  name  is  MacTavish,  from  Inverness-shire  :  a  plain,  honest, 
warm  fellow.  Williamson,  who  preaches  here  in  one  of  the 
French  Protestant  churches,  is  a  native  of  London,  yet  speaks 
broken  English,  having  been  "  raised "  in  France.  He  is  an 
evangelical  Episcopalian. 

Princeton,  July  22,  1 846. 
Addison  is  in  my  place  in  New  York ;  but  for  no  reason  but 
that  of  a  more  perfect  seclusion,  in  order  to  complete  his  work. 
He  has  finished  to  the  end  of  the  57th  chap.,  since  the  first 
volume  was  published.  He  is  almost  overwhelmed  by  it,  and  I 
do  not  wonder  he  escapes  all  engagements  when  he  can.  I  feel 
no  sympathy  with  your  Quaker  propensities.  There  is,  indeed, 
something  good  in  Gurney,  videlicet,  the  very  part  which  is  not 
Quaker,  and  for  which  his  tribe  are  ready  to  abjure  him.  When 
I  consider  their  anilities  about  coats,  days,  and  grammar,  and  the 
fruits  they  have  borne,  1  feel  no  regret  that  they  are  so  near 
dissolution.  Their  way  of  treating 'death  and  eternal  things,  and 
their  opiates  to  all  conscience,  except  that  of  mint,  anise,  and 
cummin,  make  their  influence  a  most  irreligious  one  wherever  I 
have  met  them. 

New  York,  August  25,  1846.1 
I  will  not  inquire  how  you  wrere  affected  by  a  sight  of  the 
"  Falls,"  [Niagara.]  I  remember  the  great  object,  with  a  sort 
of  religious  awe.  None  of  our  Heavenly  Father's  works  seems 
more  expressive  of  his  sublime,  incomprehensible  greatness. 
Yet,  I  dare  say,  so  far  as  pleasure  in  concerned,  you  more  value 
the  moment  in  which  you  met  with  your  children.  There  is  a 
depth  of  joy  in  such  affections,  which  no  external  objects  can 
produce. 

I  am  writing  in  my  solitary  house ;  having  returned  to  the 
city  without  my  family.  We  were  afraid  to  bring  our  infant 
back  too  suddenly  from  the  purer  air  of  the  country.  Of  my 
season  of  holidays  I  spent  ten  days  at  Saratoga,  with  much 
advantage,  and  four  or  five  at  Long  Branch,  with  none  at  all : 
for  I  took  a  cold  and  cough,  under  which  I  am  still  labouring. 
The  place  of  our  daily  duties,  with  all  its  cares,  is,  after  all, 

1  This  letter  was  addressed  to  one  of  the  family  of  the  editor  of  the  cor' 
respondence. 


56       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJANE    ST.   CHURCH,  NEW   YORK. 

the  place  where  we  are  usually  most  happy..  This  I  feel  very 
sensibly  on  my  return  to  New  York.  Though  almost  over- 
whelmed with  the  press  of  matters  which  have  been  waiting  for 
me,  I  am  nevertheless  rejoiced  to  be  at  home. 

Let  us  be  instructed  by  the  many  mercies  which  we  receive, 
to  trust  our  God  and  Saviour  more  implicitly,  and  to  yield  our- 
selves to  his  service  with  more  entire  resignation  of  all  that  we 
have  and  are.  To  write  and  to  say  such  things  is  easy,  but  we 
need  special  grace  to  enable  us  in  any  degree  to  realize  such  a 
character  of  mind  and  life.  A  cheerful  reliance  on  God,  and  a 
firm  hope  in  his  promises,  are  great  part  of  our  duty ;  and  these 
tempers  should  be  encouraged  in  us,  by  every  new  instance  of 
Divine  compassion. 

You  will  understand  me  when  I  say,  that  home  is  not  home- 
without  my  children.  I  am  more  dependent  than  most  men, 
for  personal  comfort,  on  the  presence  of  my  immediate  family- 
circle.  I  pray  for  the  hour  when,  by  God's  favour,  we  may  be 
gathered  once  more. 

New  York,  September  1,  1846. 

The  summer  is,  by  no  means,  over ;  and  I  am  not  sure  that 
I  do  not  feel  the  heat  more  than  in  July  ;  we  have,  however,  a 
very  perceptible  sea-breeze  towards  evening,  and  the  nights  are 
not  at  all  oppressive.  Addison  finished  his  second  volume,  in- 
cluding a  large  introduction.  I  communicated  your  strictures  to 
him.  He  says  his  own  private  wish  always  was  to  make  a  com- 
mentary of  the  popular  sort,  and  that  he  was  overruled  by  his 
friends  and  advisers. 

Those  of  my  people  who  pretend  to  pass  the  summer  in  the 
country,  are  still  abroad.  Yet  our  congregations  have  been 
full ;  in  part  from  other  churches,  in  part  from  the  hotels.  I 
never  saw  the  latter  more  overflowing.  Mr.  Wetmore,  our 
indefatigable  Tract-and-City-mission-man,  not  long  since  said  at 
a  meeting  :  "  New  York  Christians  appear  to  think  that  souls 
cannot  be  converted  in  the  month  of  August."  Gospel-efforts, 
like  Oysters,  are  for  the  months  which  have  an  R  in  them.  1  have 
been  reading  John  Foster's  life,  with  more  pain  than  pleasure.1 
A  great,  original  genius,  but  too  radical,  too  censorious,  too  con- 
temptuous of  his  brethren,  too  prone  to  see  good  only  in- his 
own  ways.     I  greatly  prefer  Hall,  or  even  Jay. 

New  York,  September  28,  1846. 
I  have  been  somewhat  occupied  in  getting  my  family  home, 
which  is  one  reason  why  I  have  not  written.     Our  police  now 
constitute  a  strong  body,  being  visible  at   numerous  stations, 

1  He  had  reviewed  Foster's  Essays  in  the  Repertory,  October,  1844. 


1844—1849.  57 

well  understood,  with  conspicuous  badges.  Two  fire-companies 
have  been  disbanded,  since  I  came  here,  for  fighting  ;  the  only 
instances  of  disorder  in  the  corps.  Our  fires  are  very  silent 
affairs.  Niblo's  garden  and  theatre  were  burnt  down,  without 
any  cry  in  the  streets.  Stewart's  new  store  is  considered,  and 
I  dare  say  justly,  the  greatest  dry-goods  shop  in  the  world. 
The  sales,  on  three  days,  were  $30,000.  A  withered  old  apple- 
woman  used  to  sit  on  the  step  of  his  old  store.  Stewart,  on 
removing,  sent  his  porter  for  the  old  body's  basket,  and  she  now 
graces  his  marble  threshold.  Of  the  returned  members  from 
the  Holy  [Evangelical]  Alliance,  I  have  chatted  with  Forsyth 
and  De  Witt.  Both  were  chiefly  impressed  by  Baptist  Noel. 
De  Witt  says  it  is  worth  a  voyage  to  look  at  him,  and  that  he 
made  the  speech,  par  excellence.  They  also  talk  with  admira- 
tion of  Adolphe  Monod  and  Tholuck.  De  Witt  reports  a  few 
hopeful  things  about  the  churches  of  Holland.  Elliott  Cresson 
sent  the  Autocrat  [Emperor  of  Russia]  a  copy  of  my  father's 
Colonization  Book.  The  oldest  lawyers  in  New  York  (Matthews 
of  Rochester)  and  New  Jersey  (Smith  Scudder)  have  died 
within  a  few  weeks  of  each  other. 

I  am  very  busy  in  looking  up  my  people.  In  this  long- 
street-city  it  is  no  short  job.  This  morning  I  had  an  affecting 
conversation  with  a  lady,  of  Quaker  education,  who  has  long 
been  feeling  her  way  in  the  dark  towards  religion.  Probably  it 
was  the  first  conversation  she  ever  had  on  the  subject.  Such 
instances,  I  fear,  are  very  numerous.  It  was  pleasing  to  preach 
the  news  of  a  free  gospel  to  one  who  had  not  been  hardened  to 
its  phrases.  The  Free  Church  people  of  Scotland  are  amazed 
at  our  Assembly's  decision  on  Romish  baptism.  I  have  just 
been  down  to  chat  with  Mr.  Leckie,  a  Scotch  parishioner  of 
mine.  His  father,  a  secession  minister  of  Peebles,  raised  a  family 
of  ten  sons  and  three  daughters,  on  a  stipend  of  £120,  educated 
five  of  them  at  the  University,  and  died  without  owing  a  penny. 
Bp.  Howley,  now  Archbishop,  on  hearing  the  circumstances,  gave 
the  widow  £10.  I  have  lately  obtained  the  copy  of  Milton 
which  my  mother's  father  had  read  to  him  during  his  blindness. 
You  have  no  idea  what  a  place  New  York  is  for  musquitoes 
(moschettoes.)  But  the  natives  tell  you  it  is  nothing.  It  is 
remarkable  how  generally  these  Scotch  merchants  have  had  a 
liberal  education.  This  is  fine  weather  for  all  sorts  of  people, 
and  I  hope  you  are  all  in  good  health.     Adieu. 

New  York,  October  12,  1846. 
The  passage1  is  in  the  Punica  of  Silius  Italicus,  (vii.  41.)     It 

1  Supposed  to  illustrate  the  yoke  of  Matthew  xi.  29. 
VOL.  II. — 3* 


58       WHILE    FASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.  CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 


occurs  iii  a  speech  of  one  Cilnius  to  the  Pceni,  when  about  to 
deal  with  the  famous  procrastinator  Fabius.  Speaking  of  the 
latter,  he  says : 

"  Nosces  Fabios  certamine  ab  uno. 
Veientum  populi  violata  pace  negabant 
Acceptare  jugum,  ac  vicino  Marte  furebat 
Ad  portas  belluni,  consulque  ciebat  ad  arma." 

There  is  nothing  further  in  the  context,  to  clear  the  matter. 
The  passage  in  Livy  (xxxvi.  37)  relates  to  the  campaign  of 
L.  Cornelius  Scipio  against  Antiochus,  about  B.  C.  190.  The 
words  are  in  a  reply  of  S.  to  the  ambassador  of  A.,  who  had 
offered  S.  "  ami  pondus  ingens."  They  concern  certain  offers 
of  surrendering  cities,  &c.  Scipio  says,  "  Concesso  vero  in 
Asiani  transitu,  et  non  solum  frenis,  sed  etiam  jugo  accepto,  qua? 
disceptatio  ex  a3quo,  quum  imperium  patiendum  sit, relicta  est?" 
The  sense  I  take  to  be :  "  If  you  once  let  us  into  Asia,  and  thus 
submit  not  only  to  restraint,  but  subjugation,  it  is  vain  for  you 
to  talk  of  treating  on  terms  of  equality,  since  the  controversy 
is  for  sovereignty."  Dr.  Wm.  Smith,  in  Diet.  Class.  Antiq., 
says  :  "  By  another  figure,  the  yoke  meant  slavery,  or  the  con- 
dition in  which  men  were  compelled,  against  their  will,  like  oxen 
or  horses,  to  labour  for  others.  Hence  to  express  symbolically 
the  subjugation  of  conquered  nations,  the  Romans  made  their 
captives  pass  under  a  yoke,"  &c,  i.  e.  a  spear  upon  two  other 
spears  placed  upright. 

My  measure  of  experience  teaches  me,  that  it  is  God's  method 
never  to  leave  me  long  in  a  season  of  such  freedom  from  anxiety 
as  shall  make  me  forget  my  dependence.  You  know  something 
of  what  it  is  to  preach  under  such  burdens,  and  to  go  home 
afraid  to  open  the  door.  At  such  times,  one  thought  pre- 
dominates :  my  sin.  Is  not  this  one  chief  end  of  trials  %  I 
sometimes  sink,  but,  I  think,  I  do  not  rebel.  God  is  just,  and  he 
is  good.  We,  who  teach  others,  need  a  peculiar  discipline.  I 
am  thankful  that  my  domestic  trials,  on  the  review,  seem  all 
right.  Yet  I  confess  to  you,  my  anxieties  are  almost  always 
inordinate ;  nor  do  I  grow  any  wiser.  It  is,  no  doubt,  wisely 
ordered,  that  we  suffer  in  those  we  love.  I  did  not  intend  a 
sermon  ;  but  I  have  thought  more  of  your  trials,  amidst  my  own. 
Is  there  not  a  lesson  in  this  also  %  When  we  pray  for  a  more 
useful  ministry,  God  answers  us  by  stripes  which  we  did  not 
expect ;  but  they  fall  from  a  gracious  hand.  I  have  to  preach 
before  Presbytery,  and  to  lecture  on  Tuesday.  The  "  Great 
Britain  "  is  anxiously  looked  for.  People  seem  to  have  mis- 
givings about  these  steamers  ;  but  it  seems  to  me  that  nothing 
saved  the  "  Great  Western,"  under  God;  but  its  engine,  which 


1844—1849.  59 

never  stopped,  or  went  awry.  Some  time  since,  being  in  a 
pulpit  with  Mr.  Johnstone,  of  Jersey  City,  I  observed  him  read 
from  a  paper,  half  this  sheet  in  size.  The  fourth  page  was  but 
a  quarter  covered.  He  declared  to  me  that  he  had  read  every 
word,  and  he  spoke  forty  minutes.  It  was  a  stenography,  which 
he  has  used  forty  years ;  his  father  a  still  longer  time.  This 
would  save  paper,  ink,  pens,  chest,  and  time. 

October  14. — Thus  far  I  had  previously  written.  Our  Pres- 
bytery is  meeting.  I  gladly  abdicate  in  favour  of  W.  E.  Schenck. 
The  "  Great  Britain  "  is  not  reported  yet.  An  eastern  storm  is 
beginning.  Dr.  Beecher  is  on  the  arena ;  giving  the  echoes  of 
the  Alliance.  The  Monterey  affair  gives  me  little  but  pain.  O 
the  lightness  with  which  hundreds  of  men  are  sent  into  eternity  ! 
There  is  a  peculiar  use  of  the  word  Peace,  in  the  Bible,  which 
gives  it  great  emphasis. 

New  York,  November  23,  1846. 
Yours  of  the  2d  lies  unanswered.  The  period  has  been  one 
of  much  pastoral  anxiety.  Inter  alia,  one  of  my  hearers  has 
been  lying  ill,  with  a  rapid  consumption,  at  Brunswick.  I  never 
before  wrote  a  letter  to  a  dying  man.  I  suppose  he  is  dead. 
Mr.  Nathaniel  B.  Boyd,  a  bachelor,  member  of  our  church,  was 
at  our  lecture  on  Tuesday,  and  went  home  well,  and  spoke  with 
interest  of  the  exposition.  In  the  night  he  was  smitten  with 
apoplexy  ;  and  died  on  the  21st.  I  have  had  for  months  a 
case  of  mental  anguish  beyond  all  I  ever  saw  described,  unless 
it  be  Bunyan's  man  in  the  cage,  or  Cowper's  latter  days.  Our 
Philadelphia  friends  fear  our  endeavours  towards  a  City-Mis- 
sion ;  but  we  cannot  live  without  it.  Our  collection  yesterday 
for  Domestic  Missions  (the  general  cause)  was  $512.30.  I  am 
not  convinced  that  any  Episcopal  element  would  help  our  church. 
I  am  least  of  all  convinced  by  the  progress  of  Episcopalians. 
What  have  they  done,  except  in  towns  %  They  had  the  whole 
South  once,  and  where  is  it  now  1  I  am  not  convinced  by  the 
Methodists,  for  the  Baptists  have  increased  as  much  as  they. 
And  their  episcopate  is  but  nominal.  It  is  their  itinerancy  and 
lay-labour,  which  has  pushed  them  on.  Two  of  the  most  learned 
German  Jews  (from  Rotterdam)  are  studying  Addison's  Isaiah. 

New  York,  November  30,  1846. 
I  have  just  returned  from  Dr.  [Wm.  J.]  Armstrong's  funeral, 
and  write  sooner  than  I  meant  to  do,  in  remembrance  of  his  con- 
nexion with  your  church,  and  to  give  you  some  accounts  "  in 
advance  of  the  mail."  Dr.  A.  was  accustomed  to  go  to  Boston,  the 
last  week  of  every  month,  to  confer  with  the  Prudential  Committee. 


60       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.  CHURCH,  NEW   YORK. 

He  had  accomplished  his  business,  and  was  on  his  return  in  the 
steamboat  Atlantic.  It  seems  the  storm  had  begun  before  he  left 
Boston  ;  and  his  friends  urged  him  not  to  leave  them  ;  but  he  ear- 
nestly desired  to  be  with  his  little  family  on  Thanksgiving  Day. 
You  know  the  general  course  of  the  events.  When,  on  Thurs- 
day, it  appeared  that  the  danger  was  imminent,  and  that  no 
vessel  could  near  them,  Dr.  A.  got  permission  of  the  captain  to 
have  religious  services.  He  gathered  all  the  passengers  below, 
read  the  Scripture,  prayed,  called  on  two  other  gentlemen  to 
pray  ;  and  invited  all  present  to  spend  a  few  moments  in  silent 
devotion,  which  they  did.  From  various  accounts,  it  appears 
that  he  was  much  engaged  in  comforting  and  corroborating  the 
minds  of  those  around  him.  While  he  was  praying,  a  lieutenant 
in  the  United  States  Navy  thought  he  recognized  the  voice,  and 
on  going  to  him,  remembered  him  as  the  pastor  of  his  infancy  in 
Richmond.  This  gentleman's  mother  was  also  on  board,  but 
has  perished.  Her  son  was  in  church  to-day.  Dr.  A.  put  on 
the  life-preserver  with  which  his  poor  wife  had  supplied  him, 
and  with  others,  at  the  instance  of  Lieut.  M.,  tore  slips  of  blanket 
and  bound  about  the  head.  What  a  sight  it  must  have  been ! 
They  already  expected  to  go  to  pieces  at  sunset ;  but  they  did 
not  till  4  A.  M.  All  night  in  the  howling  storm,  the  fires  all 
out,  the  cold  insufferable,  a  few  biscuits,  but  no  drink,  and  the 
bell  tolling  all  the  while.  The  last  time  Dr.  A.  is  reported  to 
have  been  seen,  he  was  standing  above,  surveying  the  scene, 
perfectly  calm  ;  he  then  uttered  these  words  (I  think)  to  a  hearer 
of  mine  :  "  I  entertain  liDpe  that  we  may  reach  the  shore  ;  but 
if  not,  my  confidence  is  firm  in  that  God  who  doeth  all  things 
well,  in  wisdom  and  in  love !  "  Surely  no  man  in  the  serenity 
of  a  dying  chamber  could  be  better  employed.  Young  C.  S. 
Stewart  (United  States  Engineer)  who  was  saved,  stayed  by  the 
vessel  till  the  timbers  parted,  in  company  with  Capt.  Cullum 
and  Lieut.  Norton.  At  length,  his  hair  and  eyelashes  being 
frozen,  his  hands  were  so  benumbed,  that  he  thought  they  would 
become  useless,  unless  he  let  himself  down  at  once,  which  he 
did.  Aftei  struggling  in  the  surf,  he  gained  footing.  Shortly 
after  he  heard  Capt.  Cullum's  voice.  Norton  was  lost.  Charles  S. 
was  much  bruised,  and  so  exhausted  as  to  fall  down  three  times 
before  reaching  the  house ;  of  which  they  had  previously  en- 
deavoured, by  day-light,  to  fix  the  locality  in  their  minds.  After 
ten  hours  he  reached  New  London,  whence  he  had  set  out ;  he 
is  there  engaged  on  the  new  fortification.  Dr.  Armstrong  was 
struck  on  the  head  a  violent  blow  by  the  falling  timber,  which 
probably  killed  him  instantly.  His  body  was  taken  to  Norwich, 
but  was  not  recognized  for  some  time,  as  the  pockets  had  been 


1844—1849.  61 

cut  and  rifled  of  every  thing.  The  funeral  services  were  attended, 
at  11  this  morning,  in  the  Broome  St.  church,  which  was  crowded, 
in  every  standing-place  ;  hundreds  could  not  gain  entrance.  The 
hymn,  "  Unvail  thy  bosom  faithful  tomb,"  was  sung.  Dr. 
Adams  delivered  a  simple,  touching,  and  admirable  address ;  in 
which  he  did  justice  to  the  excellent  character  of  the  deceased, 
and  applied  to  him  with  much  force  those  words,  as  eminently 
characterizing  him,  "  In  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity,  not  with 
fleshly  wisdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  have  had  our  con- 
versation in  the  world,"  2  Cor.  i.  12.  The  choir  sang,  "  Hear 
what  the  voice  from  heaven  proclaims."  The  pulpit  was  occupied 
by  Drs.  Skinner,  Adams,  De  Witt,  and  Cox.  Dr.  De  Witt 
offered  a  prayer  of  great  earnestness  and  impression.  The 
clergy  of  our  city  were  very  generally  there,  and  deep  emotion 
was  manifested. 

Dr.  Armstrong  has  left  a  wife  and  five  children,  one  a  young 
infant.  The  remains  are  gone,  to  be  laid  by  those  of  his  vener- 
able father,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Amzi  Armstrong,  of  New  Jersey. 

You  will  find  that  our  departed  brother  is  remembered  with 
respect  in  Trenton.  He  was  an  upright,  believing  man,  and  a 
solemn,  and  often  pathetic  preacher.  Those  who  have  often  been 
warned  and  entreated  by  him  should  remember  the  voice  of 
God  by  him. 

New  York,  December  31,  1846. 
Monday,  which  is  always  a  day  of  many  interruptions,  has 
this  day  been  busier  than  usual.  One  Mission-committee,  one 
Seamen's-committee,  one  Church-extension-committee,  and  one 
prayer-meeting  of  ministers.  The  last  I  could  not  attend. 
Letters  from  China  tell  us  that  the  anxiety,  in  consequence  of 
the  riots,  is  very  great.  I  saw  in  my  church  yesterday  a  Dane, 
a  Swede,  and  a  Chinese.  We  have  recently  gained  a  Jew,  who 
is  a  candidate  for  baptism.  Count  Zinzendorf,  on  one  occasion, 
(as  I  find  by  his  Life,)  extemporized  six  hymns,  during  one  meet- 
ing ;  it  was  his  frequent  practice.  Most  of  the  Moravian  hymns 
are  by  him,  and  these  are  very  beautiful  in  German,  however 
ludicrous  in  the  wretched  English  version.  The  fine  gold  has 
become  dim.  If  ever  there  was  true  religion,  since  primitive 
days,  it  was  among  the  Bohemian  and  Moravian  confessors. 
Two  of  my  young  men  have  interrupted  me,  and  taken  up  two 
hours.  Yet  I  am  not  sorry.  What  little  strength  I  have  here, 
lies  in  this.  How  humiliating  it  is  to  find  that  I  am  pained, 
when  I  learn  that  M  or  N  does  not  like  my  preaching,  yet  am 
so  calm,  when  all  the  alphabet,  for  years,  reject  my  Master's 
message !     Our  theory  of  a  church-session   is   grand ;    but  0 


62      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

what  a  practice !  It  is  made  for  a  church  in  a  high  spiritual 
state,  and  this  I  think  is  in  its  favour.  One  of  my  elders  makes 
up  to  every  man,  woman,  and  child,  who  frequent  the  church. 
He  visits  as  much  as  I  do  ;  knows  every  church-member ;  talks 
to  every  inquirer  ;  goes  often  to  every  house  ;  and,  when  I  point 
out  any  place,  is  sure  to  be  there  within  twenty-four  hours. 
This  leads  me  to  two  practical  reflections :  1.  How  important 
to  have  a  number  of  young  men  in  training  for  such  offices. 
2.  How  desirable  for  a  pastor  so  to  labour,  as  to  leave  the 
church  in  the  best  possible  state  for  his  successor ;  in  regard 
particularly  to  the  children,  youth,  family-habits,  &c.  My  latest 
texts  have  been  such  as  have  much  interested  me :  2  Tim.  i.  19, 
John  xiii.  36,  Eph.  v.  2,  Matt.  vi.  ult.,  Deut.  xxxiii.  1, 
Ps.  cxix.  9,  Rom.  viii.  34,  Matt.  xxv.  10,  Luke  xii.  57, 
John  xvi.  12,  13,  Matt.  v.  6,  Heb.  ii.  4,  Rom.  viii.  1.  What 
we  seem  to  want  here,  is  not  polish  or  literature  in  sermons, 
but  something  earnest,  real,  and  affectionate ;  something  to  make 
the  people  hear  as  if  some  truth  of  transcendent  present  inter- 
est was  set  forth.  Never  was  I  more  convinced  that  in  order  to 
this  there  is  nothing  so  necessary  as  a  direct  and  specific  influence 
from  on  High.  Rhetorical  interest  is  impotent.  There  was  great 
interest  under  the  Finneyitish  revivals,  but  it  was  not  evangelical, 
and  I  am  working  among  its  bitter  fruits  every  day.  There  is  a 
wonderful  vitality  and  permanency  in  experience  which  is  built 
on  the  preaching  of  Christ.  The  style  of  sermons  in  the  Scottish 
Free  Church  seems  to  be  the  thing.  When  the  new-divinity- 
converts  grow  cold,  they  are  colder  than  ice,  nothing  but  a  biting 
censoriousness.  I  had  no  idea,  even  in  Jersey,  of  the  modifica- 
tions wrought  in  the  religion  of  this  city,  by  the  overwrought 
revivalism  of  past  years.  Some,  even  of  those  who  were  once 
fiery,  have  degenerated  into  pulpit-metaphysicians,  subtile  and 
elegant.  Vanity-Fair  is  beginning.  New  Year's  day  is  a  very 
carnival  hereabouts.  I  am  in  despair  about  church-music.  The 
nearest  approach  to  my  ideal  is  in  the  German  church  near  me, 
where  every  creature  sings,  where  the  tunes  are  all  slow,  making 
up  in  volume  for  the  lack  of  twiddle-diddle,  and  where  they 
never  have  a  new  tune.  In  some  churches  here,  the  choir  is  about 
a  pew-full,  and  the  people  use  a  purely  vicarious  psalmody.  I 
sometimes  feel  a  tune,  in  our  lecture-room  ;  in  our  church,  never. 
Do  we  employ  psalms  and  hymns  sufficiently,  as  a  means  of 
grace,  in  our  families  1  A  poor  Irishman  has  found,  I  trust,  the 
true  foundation,  in  his  sick-room.  Last  night  he  sat  up,  with 
his  popish  host,  till  they  had  read  over  twelve  or  fourteen 
chapters  of  the  Bible.  He  has  been  faithfully  followed  up  by 
a  most  assiduous  young  man  of  ours.     This  young  man  spends 


/ 
1844—1849.  63 

part  of  every  day  among  the  poor.  I  fear  our  Whig  Congress- 
men are  going  to  use  no  general  exertion  for  peaee.  I  honour 
Calhoun  for  his  manful  resistance  to  both  the  war-measures.  I 
am  astonished  at  the  greatness  of  the  evangelical  movement 
among  the  Papists  of  France,  as  detailed  in  the  late  French 
reports ;  whole  villages  reformed,  assemblies  of  several  thou- 
sands, &c.  I  wish  you,  beforehand,  a  happy  New  Year.  Let  us 
seek  to  have  one  of  simpler  walk,  and  higher  usefulness. 

New  York,  January  9,  1847. 
I  compliment  you  on  the  termination  of  your  church-debt ; 
we  are  making  an  effort  towards  ending  our  own  "  pious  fraud." 
I  hope  both  parsons  may  soon  have  their  respective  parsonages. 
The  immigration  to  this  port  alone,  last  year,  was  115,000 ;  or 
more  than  315  per  diem.  An  effort  is  making  to  get  decent 
Temperance-ism  out  of  the  gutter,  and  on  its  legs  again.  It  has 
been  sadly  drugged  hereabouts,  and  is  in  a  state  of  titubation. 
FalstafFs  regiment  could  not  have  exceeded  our  recruits  for 
Mexico.  My  congregation  is  a  receiving-ship  fur  up-town.  I 
am  just  setting  up  a  converted  popish  book-pedler,  with  a  basket 
of  books  for  the  wharfs,  sloops,  and  grog-shops.  I  saw  to-day 
a  Californian  paper,  (Colton's,)  Spanish  and  English.  My  text 
for  the  year  was,  "  We  are  the  Lord's."  I  have  since  seen  it  in 
a  "  copy  of  verses  "  penes  me,  and  engraved  on  a  (phylactery) 

gold-ring.     As  I  used  to  remark  in  Trenton  an  endemic  pronun- 

i  i 

ciation,  in  the  female  choristers,  of  "  nude  "  for  "  made,"  "  tyke  " 

1  2    1 

for  "  take,"  &c.  ;  so  here  I  find  in  the  same  class,   "  fa-er  "  for 

2     1 

"  fire,"  "  ta-em  "  for  "  time."  I  perceive  little  or  nothing  like  con- 
gregational devotion  in  psalmody,  often  scarcely  attention.  I 
have  a  trifling  book  in  hands  of  Sunday  School  Union,  which  I 
have  written  out  of  pity  for  town-boys.1 

New  York,  January  25,  1847. 
1  had  to-day  the  offer  of  a  ticket  to  the  grand  concert,  13th  prox., 
for  the  Popish  orphans.  It  is  to  surpass  all  ever  heard  "  on  this 
side."  Except  the  operatic  corps,  amateurs  are  to  do  the  thing. 
The  "  lady  patronesses"  are  all  Protestants.  The  Presbyterians 
make  so  much  of  a  call  from  a  congregation,  and  in  theory  are  so 
much  opposed  to  ordination  sine  tilulo,  that  I  lately  made  a 
search  of  the  whole  New  Testament  in  quest  of  authority.  1  find 
none.    I  find  no  minister  undeniably  marked  out  as  the  pastor  of 

1  "  Frank  Harper  ;  or,  the  Country  Boy  in  Town." 


64:      WHILE   PASTOK    OF   DUANE    ST.   CHUECH,   NEW  YORK. 

any  single  flock.  I  have  copious  notes  of  the  results.  Mondays 
are  much  alike  with  me  ;  first  our  Foreign  Committee,  which  I 
always  meet  with  pleasure,  and  then  a  round  of  visits  till  three. 
Yesterday  our  Bible  collection  was  made ;  $874.  We  add  about 
$180  by  female  association.  One  young  lady  in  my  flock  does  a 
work  which  is  very  unusual  and  pleasing.  She  devotes  about 
three  hours  a  day  to  teaching  poor  girls.  Almost  every  one  of 
those  who  have  left  her  class,  perhaps  twelve,  is  well  educated, 
and  truly  pious.  I  can  almost  pick  out  her  pupils  in  the  gallery 
by  their  looks.  She  also  teaches  in  Sunday  School ;  is  a  leading 
Dorcas,  and  collects  annually  $250  for  a  French  evangelist. 
What  a  change,  if  each  of  us  had  even  six  such  :  and  does  not 
this  suggest  the  importance  of  separate  and  deliberate  efforts  to 
train  individual  helpers?  I  am  unspeakably  blessed  in  several  of 
m.Y  young  men.  A,  a  schoolmaster,  superintendent  of  Sunday 
School,  is  a  model  of  modest,  able,  indefatigable  service.  B,  a  dry- 
goods  man,  Sunday  School  teacher,  is  the  most  of  a  Harlan  Page  I 
ever  saw  ;  shrewd,  original,  humorous,  always  among  the  poor, 
courageous,  and  prudent.  I  could  hardly  wish  him  other  than  he  is. 
-C,  teller  in  bank,  Sunday  School  teacher,  well-read,  gentle,  ortho- 
dox, punctual,  liberal,  looked  up  to  by  the  others.  D,  more  re- 
served, but  valuable,  and  always  in  his  place,  a  ship-chandler.  E, 
lawyer,  accomplished,  active,  a  good  collector,  and  real  aid.  F,  a 
bookseller,  graduate  of  Princeton,  ditto,  ditto.  All,  except  the 
last,  are  New  Englanders ;  all  are  unfailing  at  prayer  meetings,  &c. 
Their  influence  on  young  men  coming  in  among  us  is  great. 
Nothing  is  more  remarkable  in  all  these,  than  their  readiness  to 
do  any  thing  I  propose.  It  is  my  chief  comfort.  I  sensibly  feel 
what  you  say  about  reports  of  sermons.  Some  months  ago  I  was 
shocked  at  the  inane  stupidity  of  a  report  of  one  of  mine.  A 
few  days  after,  a  poor  mantuamaker,  not  of  my  parish,  read  it  in 
the  newspaper,  and  found  something  in  it  the  means  of  bringing 
her  to  Christ,  after  two  years  bondage.  I  wonder  whether  our 
meanest  sermons  are  not  our  best.  LoughridgeV  death  made 
me  say  to  myself :  "How  seldom,  now-a-days,  does  a  minister 
die  among  his  own  people  !  From  this  time  our  Board  of  For- 
eign Missions  will  have  the  annual  distribution  of  some  of  the 
government  money,  for  Indian  Schools.  Our  Choctaw  Academy 
is  quite  a  college  ;  Ramsey  is  a  noble  fellow. 

New  York,  January  26,  1847. 
I  follow  one  letter  with  another  thus  soon,  because  I  omitted 
what  I  meant  to  say  in  my  last  on  a  point  of  interest.    Some  time 
ago  you  mentioned,  in  passing,  a  desire  to  have  an  occasional 

1  Pastor  of  the  Fourth  Church,  Philadelphia. 


1844—1849.  65 

German  discourse  in  Trenton.  There  is  a  man  here  well  fitted 
for  such  a  work,  to  whom  a  few  dollars  would  be  a  great  help  ; 
if  some  of  your  people  would  bestow  it.  For  a  trifle  more  than 
expenses,  I  think,  he  would  go  on,  once  a  month,  or  perhaps  a 
fortnight.  He  has  been  taken  under  our  Presbytery,  though 
Lutheran  by  ordination.  A  Jew,  but  very  long  under  the  best 
Christian  and  University  training.  A  learned  man.  As  far  as 
can  be  judged,  warmly  pious.  He  has  preached  repeatedly  in 
the  German  pulpits  here,  and  is  said  to  be  highly  acceptable.  He 
preaches  every  Sunday  in  the  Almshouse,  gratuitously,  to  the 
seven  hundred  Germans  who  are  there.  I  know  not  what  could 
be  done  in  Trenton,  in  this  regard  ;  but  if  any  thing  is  needed, 
you  could  scarcely  alight  on  a  better  person  for  an  occasional 
sermon  and  an  experiment.  I  hope  before  long  to  get  him  some 
permanent  preaching-post  here ;  but  things  do  not  mature  as 
fast  as  I  could  wish.  He  speaks  poor  English,  but  can  talk 
French  and  Latin. 

New  York,  February  22,  1847. 
The  snow  has  set  in  (like  some  preachers)  with  a  codicil, 
after  the  conclusion.  Broadway  is  beginning  to  ring  and  swarm. 
I  can't  help  thinking  how  much  better  oft'  the  Southern  slaves  are, 
physically  and  morally,  than  the  Irish.  Who  ever  heard  of 
slaves  starving  until  the  master  starved  1  I  see  no  trace  of  the 
modern  dogmas  about  absolute  freedom  in  the  Bible.  The 
wretchedest  portion,  by  far,  of  the  black  race,  is  the  free  portion. 
Our  New  York  negroes  are  lower  than  savages  in  many  respects. 
I  believe  slavery  will  be  abolished ;  and  will  be  abolished  in 
Mexican  lands,  and  parts  adjacent,  where  the  climate  suits,  and 
where  the  taint  of  colour  is  less  felt ;  and  that  all  attempts  to 
wall  slavery  within  its  present  bounds,  only  hurts  the  negro  and 
procrastinates  the  grand  result.  I  am  more  and  more  convinced 
that  our  endeavours  to  do  at  a  blow,  what  Providence  does  by 
degrees,  is  disastrous  to  those  whom  we  Would  benefit.  To  give 
the  gospel  to  the  slaves,  is  a  duty  pressing  above  all  others  ;  and 
my  painful  and  mortifying  endeavours  for  two  years  to  build  up 
a  black  church  here,  and  my  previous  preaching  for  six  years  to 
free  people  in  Jersey,  convince  me  that  it  is  easier  to  give  the 
gospel  to  the  slaves.  I  am  looking  for  a  house.  That  in*  which 
I  live  has  been  a  perpetual  mortification  to  me  :  no  spare  room 
to  which  I  may  ask  a  friend  without  chagrin.  I  am  forced  to  live 
down  town  ;  and  here  there  are  no  new  houses.  I  have  inspect- 
ed many  houses.  Scarcely  five  have  had  Croton  water,  and  only 
one  a  bath-room.  I  was  pleased  with  one  in  Barclay  street,  two 
stories  and  a  half :  the  rent  was  $950.     I  heard  Gough  the  other 


66       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

night.  I  never  willingly  miss  him.  His  pathos  and  his  humour 
and  acting  are  beyond  any  thing  I  know  of  just  now.  What  a 
nasty  mean  little  squabbling  your  Trenton  papers  keep  up.  I 
have  taken  the  Newark  Daily  for  ten  years,  and  have  never  seen 
a  line  which  would  apprise  me  of  the  existence  of  the  rival  print. 
In  regard  to  correspondents,  you  are  the  only  regular  one  I  have 
in  the  world.  Did  you  ever  meet  with  an  expression  of  Jane 
Taylor's,  "  Preserve  me  from  affrontable  people  "  ? 

New  York,  March  5,  1847. 
I  am  a  little  disturbed  about  our  epistolary  debits  and  credits, 
— so  here  goes.  The  military  funeral  to-day  of  sundry  officers 
slain  in  Mexico,  is  holden  to  have  been  a  failure.  The  mud  and 
mire  was  such,  that  the  "  municipalities"  would  not  "  walk." 
The  canaille  were  out  in  force,  by  tens  of  thousands.  I  felt  it  to 
be  a  bathetic  affair,  and  no  honour  to  the  poor  victims.  Our 
church-collection,  chiefly  for  Scotland,  is  a  little  short  of  $700  : 
individual  subscriptions  among  our  people,  in  addition,  about 
$1,000.  Mr.  G.  last  night,  gave  some  of  his  views,  as  a  law 
yer,  of  the  evidences  of  Christianity.  Take  the  following  mems  : 
"  Every  regeneration  is  a  miracle — answers  all  the  definitions. 
Most  Christians,  at  some  time  or  other,  are  sure  they  have  been 
subjects  of  it.  Suppose  the  affidavits  of  these,  taken  on  dying- 
beds,  were  collected,  (say  300.000,000,)  how  far  ought  this  to 
go,  with  an  honest  sceptic,  as  testimony  ?  "  "  Hume,  &c,  say  a 
miracle  cannot  be  made  credible.  But  if  so  extraordinary  a 
thing  as  a  revelation  could  be  proved,  it  might  be  credible  that 
for  this  even  a  miracle  might  be  wrought.  I  would,  therefore, 
seek  to  prove  a  revelation  on  separate  grounds.  Thus :  the 
human  race  is  not  eternal.  They  were  created.  They  could  not 
have  continued  in  existence  without  some  Divine  instruction. 
This  is  a  revelation."  Dr.  Boardman  has  spent  a  week  here. 
He  sails  for  Europe  proximo.  Greeley  said,  in  a  speech,  that 
this  city  has  already  made  twenty-five  millions  by  the  scarcity 

in  Europe.     How  our  good  brother removes  the  claws  and 

horns  from  autocrats  !  Having  done  that  office  for  Nicholas,  and 
shown  that  he  never  wronged  the  Poles,  he  has  now  presented 
the  Grand  Turk  in  the  same  amiable  guise.  Would  that  he  had 
seen  the  Pope  !  I  have  finished  my  exposition  of  the  Hebrews ; 
in  sixty-two  lectures :  I  trust  to  my  own  instruction  at  least. 

L ,  who   has   just   uttered   a  volume   on   the  Apocalypse, 

(moderately  millenarian,)  is  a  retired  merchant ;  the  same  who 
some  years  ago  mauled  the  New  Havenites  so  unmercifully,  in 
his  periodical  pamphlets,  entitled  "  Views  in  Theology."  He  is 
very  acute,  cool,  perspicuous,  consistent,  and  erudite ;  and  I  sup- 


1844—1849.  67 

pose  has  guessed  about  as  near  as  the  rest.  Our  streets  are  at 
the  acme  of  filth  and  putrescence.  The  new  planet,  I  hear,  is  to 
be  called  Neptune,  and  its  sign  f  .  Dr.  Cox  is  lecturing  on  it. 
The  next  should  be  Vulcan  ;  for  steam,  ocean,  and  iron,  are  in  the 
astrological  ascendant.  My  congregation  sends  a  captain  and  a 
lieutenant  in  the  new  regiment  of  regulars. 

New  York,  April  5,  1847. 

Your  kind  letter  of  the  2d  was  received  on  the  4th,  and  you 
will  accept  my  thanks.  Our  little  one  was  a  very  lovely  object 
in  our  eyes ;  and  our  remembrance  of  him  is  peculiarly  free  from 
all  that  could  give  pain.  He  faded  away  exactly  like  a  slowly- 
dying  flower.  Partly  to  avoid  funeral  mockeries,  and  partly  to 
have  the  three  little  graves  together,  for  the  moral  influence  on 
my  other  children,  I  removed  the  remains  to  Princeton,  to  "  the 
plot  of  ground"  where  I  shall  probably  lie  myself. 

I  have  this  morning  been  furnishing  New  Testaments  (they 
cannot  carry  large-print  Bibles)  to  a  company  of  the  10th  regi- 
ment. I  have  been  stimulated  by  the  war  to  prepare  a  manual 
of  devotions  for  sailors  and  soldiers,  which  is  now  complete.1 
Bunsen  is  getting  out  the  most  magnificent  work  on  Rome,  pic- 
torial and  antiquarian,  which  has  ever  been  made.  The  Ameri- 
can Messenger  (of  American  Tract  Society)  is  expected  this  year 
to  rise  to  a  circulation  of  100,000.  One  should  write  for  such  a 
paper,  however  slim  it  is,  and  to  make  it  less  so.  I  dreamed 
that  I  heard  Dr.  Yeomans  say  these  words,  on  hearing  a  Presby- 
terial  lecture,  or  the  like  :  "  Yes,  it  is  only  nonsense  ;  but  nothing 
is  more  damning  than  nonsense  ;  especially  when  it  purports  to 
be  the  Word  of  God,  in  exposition."  1  have  recovered  my 
father's  trial  sermon,  preached  fifty-six  years  ago,  set.  19. 
He  was  very  boyish,  and  the  text  was  Jer.  i.  7.  The  style  is 
exactly  that  of  his  present  writing. 

118  Chambers  street,  May  8,  1847. 
I  am  writing  on  a  most  shoemaking  sort  of  paper,  which 
please  ascribe  to  my  study-less  condition  ;  my  work-place  being 
the  back-parlour.  Coming  into  a  house  which  has  been  "  im- 
proved" by  a  defaulting  boarding-house  keeper,  we  find  horrid 
filth,  damage,  and  dilapidation,  and  are  amidst  a  gang  of  glaziers, 
whitewashers,  plumbers,  and  joiners.  I  have  gone  up  one  story, 
leaving  the  first-floor-back  (Anglice)  for  distinguished  clergymen. 
Your  patronage  is  solicited.     The  military  display  to-day  was 

1  Published  by  the  Board  of  Publication  in  1847.  In  the  same  year,  his 
"  Thoughts  on  Family  Worship  "  was  published  by  that  Board.  The  latter 
work  was  republished  in  Edinburgh  in  1853. 


68       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.  CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 

very  grand :  once  it  would  have  pleased  me :  it  did  not :  and 
the  illumination,  which  is  about  to  begin  in  a  few  moments,  I  do 
not  expect  to  see.1  I  feel  like  preaching  on  "  Charity  ....  re- 
joiceth  not  in  iniquity — vaunteth  not  itself."  Dr.  Burns  of 
Toronto  left  town  this  evening,  after  a  sojourn  of  two  or  three 
days.  He  goes  to  Halifax  about  a  new  theological  school  there. 
I  think  he  has  more  exactness  and  extent  of  knowledge,  and  a 
greater  outpouring  of  it  in  vehement  and  often  affectionate  dis 
course,  than  any  man  I  ever  met ;  unless  I  except  Chancellor 
Kent,  whom  he  resembles  in  his  contempt  of  all  conventionalities. 
Our  communion  is  coming  on,  without  one  addition  on  examina- 
tion. This  causes  "  searchings  of  heart."  I  feel  no  disposition 
to  look  at  other  parties'  share  of  the  blame.  From  my  soul  1 
say,  confitentem  habes  reum  !  On  an  examination  of  my  preach- 
ing, I  do  not  see  any  thing  in  doctrine,  topics,  or  application, 
(notwithstanding  grievous  defects  in  zeal  and  faith,)  which  I  con- 
demn myself  in  :  yet  I  am  not  "  hereby  justified."  This  day  of 
festivity,  has  found  me  very  sad,  at  times,  in  the  survey  of  every 
sort  of  temper  almost  or  quite  as  bad  as  years  ago.  Few  things 
startle  me  more  than  this  permanency  of  one's  inward  features  : 
the  same  man,  the  same  nature,  in  a  degree.  If  it  were  not  for 
other,  and  sometimes  countervailing  tendencies,  I  might  well 
doubt  whether  any  new  nature  exists.  If  I  have  any  experience 
it  fully  agrees  with  that  exegesis  which  ascribes  Romans  vii.  to 
a  believer,  who  "  delights  in  the  law  of  God  after  the  inner 
man."  Durbin's  Travels  in  the  East  are  full  of  good  matter  for  a 
preacher ;  he  has  a  knack  at  painting  the  scene  to  your  imagination. 
We  cannot  be  too  well  versed  in  the  physique  of  the  Holy  Land. 
Dr.  Jenks's  Explanatory  Atlas  is  the  best  geographical  help 
for  a  pastor  I  have  seen.  Robinson's  book  wilJ  be  a  great  one. 
The  Conference  of  the  American  Branch  of  the  Evangelical  Alli- 
ance have  been  fighting  several  days  about  slavery,  &c,  and  do 
not  seem  to  know  what  the  aforesaid  Alliance  is  for.  A  man  of 
prudence  may  be  pardoned  for  not  securing  a  berth  until  he 
knows  whither  the  ship  is  bound.  From  the  pugnacity  of  the 
crew,  the  "  sign  "  would  seem  to  be  "  Castor  and  Pollux."  They 
will  probably  succeed  in  creating  a  new  anti-slavery  sect.  One 
speaker  said,  if  they  went  wrong  about  slavery,  a  new  Alliance 
would  certainly  be  formed.  Perhaps  it  would  be  as  well  to 
have  enough  new  ones  to  suit  us  all.  Murray's  Letters  to 
Hughes  are  producing  a  great  sensation  ;  far  beyond  any  thing  I 
can  account  for.  They  are  read  with  avidity  in  kitchens,  and  will 
sell  by  thousands  among  the  Irish.  The  Irish  abolitionists  are 
agitating,  with  tremendous  fury,  because  the  Dublin  Committer 

1  For  the  victories  of  General  Taylor  in  Mexico. 


1844—1849.  69 

did  not  "  send  back  the  money"  of  the  slave-holding  States.  So 
great  is  their  compassion  for  Cuffee,  that  Paddy  may  die  of  star- 
vation. Poor  Lichtenstein  lies  very  low,  with  a  fever  which  he 
probably  caught  from  the  infected  air  of  the  almshouse.  His  re- 
ligion shines  in  this  affliction.  Dr.  Burns's  son,  set.  20,  is  just 
settled  in  Kingston,  in  one  of  the  chief  posts  in  Canada.  An 
elder  son  is  in  the  ministry  in  Scotland.  Mrs.  Burns  is  a  cousin- 
german  of  Bonar,  who  accompanied  McGheyne  and  wrote  his  life : 
(the  Latins  would  have  avoided  that  ambiguity,  "  et  hujiis  scrip- 
sit  vitam.") 

New  York,  May  13,  1847. 

I  thank  you  for  reminding  me  of  the  date  of  our  correspond- 
ence. I  feel  it  somewhat  tenderly  in  connexion  with  the  kind- 
ness you  intend  for  us,  in  the  naming  of  your  boy.  My  tears 
(I  seldom  shed  tears)  flow  profusely  while  I  think  that  in  a  sort 
he  takes  the  place  of  our  sweet  translated  child.  Forgive  this 
burst  (unusual  in  our  long  correspondence,  and  proving,  perhaps, 
that  I  grow  weaker  as  I  grow  older,)  and  accept  my  prayers  for 
the  little  one's  eternal  good. 

Our  anniversaries  are  as  much  thronged  as  usual,  but  less 
and  less  by  New  Yorkers.  I  also  perceive  that  the  old,  staid 
societies,  e.  g.  Bible  and  Tract,  are  forsaken  by  the  more  fiery 
persons.  At  the  Bible  Society  to-day,  the  prime  thing  was  a 
glorious  speech  from  the  delegate  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  a  Londoner,  Mr.  Corderoy,  a  youngish,  soldierly- 
looking  layman.  Fine  delivery,  noble  elocution,  and  that  tact 
and  pathos  which  I  have  never  found  in  our  American  cut-and- 
dried  speeches.  Hundreds  of  pocket-handkerchiefs  were  moist- 
ened, and  the  enormous  auditory,  usually  impatient,  would  not 
let  him  stop.  I  will  try  to  send  you  a  report,  but  perhaps  it 
was  all  in  his  manner,  pronunciation,  tone  and  feeling.  I  sat  be- 
tween Vermilye  and  Pres.  Hopkins  (both  cool  men)  and  both 
weeping.  You  will  see  nothing  in  the  words  to  account  for  this. 
Lewis  Green  made  an.  eloquent  speech  yesterday  at  the  Ameri- 
can Tract  Society.  Fred.  Douglass  is  a  black  Demosthenes. 
For  the  mere  quality  of  strength  I  never  heard  his  superior.  He 
has  a  diabolical  smile,  from  ear  to  ear,  which  contrasts  with  his 
ferocious,  lowering  brow,  in  an  indescribable  manner.  It  was 
Catilinarian  and  treasonable.  He  said,  up  and  down,  that  he 
despised  and  hated  the  country  and  the  Constitution,  and  in- 
voked the  aid  of  England.  The  JVfrllerites,  the  Fourierites,  and 
other  Bedlamites,  have  protracted  agonisms.  The  Evangelical 
Alliance  has  been  sweetly  pugnacious,  like  Gen.  Scott,  bent  oi 
"  conquering  a  peace."      Like  the  dear  Baptist  brethren,  the 


70      WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DITANE    ST.    CHURCH,  NEW  YORK. 

open  their  arms  to  all  Christendom,  free-gratis,  full  admission, 
to  the  broad  union-platform  ;  only  with  proviso,  that  no  one 
enters  the  door  who  mispronounces  the  Shibboleth.  In  their 
chagrin  at  their  smallness,  they  anathematize  all  who  have  not 
sued  for  entrance.  Is  Christendom  really  more  united  than  be- 
fore, by  such  means  %     I  trow  not. 

If  there  is  such  a  thing  as  the  duty  of  warring,  I  think  a 
Mexican  might  assert  it.  Who  can  deny  them  the  credit  of 
bravery  %  Military  martinets  here,  as  I  happen  to  know,  are 
now  glorifying  Scott  at  Taylor's  expense  :  they  say  Scott's  way 
of  killing  Mexicans  is  selon  les  regies.  Certainly  it  effuses  less  of 
our  own  blood.  I  loathe  and  fear  this  war.  We  shall  be  readier 
for  another.  Yet  perhaps  Popery  may  lose  its  secular  hold  on 
Mexico. 

University  of  Virginia,  May  27,  1847. 
Having  done  the  job  for  which  I  came  to  Richmond,1 1  proceeded 
to  another  matter  of  very  great  moment,  which  has  brought  me 
here.  The  Assembly  looks  young.  Scarcely  any  gray  heads.  The 
fathers  are  Dr.  Janeway  and  Mr.  Smylie.  Great  array  of  sunburnt, 
broad-brimmed  southern  and  western  Chorepiscopi.  Some  sons  of 
Anak,  noble  specimens  of  manly  beauty  from  the  west.  Thorn- 
well  is  the  great  man  of  the  south,  and  I  do  not  think  his  learn- 
ing or  powers  of  mind  have  been  overrated.  His  speech  on 
taking  the  chair  was  a  chef  d'oeuvre.  His  sermon  (not  the 
popery  one)  was  ill-delivered,  but  natheless  a  model  of  what  is 
rare,  viz.,  burning-hot  argument,  logic  in  ignition,  and  glowing 
more  and  more  to  the  end  ;  it  was  memoriter,  and  with  terrific 
"  contentio  laterum."  The  spring  was  very  late  ;  consequently 
the  sudden  outburst  just  before  we  came  clothed  every  tiling  with 
beauty.  The  mountains  are  green  to  the  very  tops.  Albemarle 
is  the  crack  county  of  Virginia ;  and  the  state  of  the  grain- 
market  .  has  thrown  much  tobacco-land  into  wheat.  I  passed 
numerous  wheat-fields  in  full  ear,  not  one  of  which  was  less  than 
one  hundred  acres.  The  education  of  the  gentry  here  has  led 
to  a  brisk  competition  in  scientific  tillage ;  observable  around 
the  seats  of  such  men  as  Mr.  Rives,  Col.  Randolph,  Gen.  Gordon, 
Dr.  Merriwether.  The  foreground  is  all  arable  land,  one  sea  of 
grass,  blossoming-clover,  and  wheat,  slowly  rising,  without  any 
visible  fences  or  artificial  demarcations  to  injure  the  landscape, 
and  the  background  a  chain  of  wooded  or  cultivated  heights  (S. 
W.  Mountain)  unequalled  by  any  I  know.  I  have  seen  hills,  and 
I  have  seen  farming ;  but  I  never  saw  them  so  blended.  After 
going  westward  for  some  miles  to  this  place,  crossing  a  lap  of 

1  He  preached  the  annual  sermon  on  Missions,  before  the  General  As- 
sembly, in  Richmond,  May  25.     The  text  was  Phil.  ii.  11. 


1844—1849.  71 

this  ridge,  and  skirting  the  Rivanna,  which  has  craggy  and  pre- 
cipitous  banks,  full  of  rhododendron,  honeysuckle,  &c,  we  come 
to  the  side  of  Monticello,  and  then  into  this  valley,  over  which 
the  long  chain  of  the  Blue  Ridge  begins  to  tower  in  -the  North- 
west. Jefferson  knew  how  to  select  one  of  the  finest  plateaus  in 
the  land  for  this  college.  His  antichristian  plans  have  been 
singularly  thwarted  every  way.  For  example,  here  is  a  chapel, 
(since  I  was  here  last ;)  three  professors  communicants,  besides 
Dr.  McGuffey,  who  is  a  Presbyterian  minister  ;  and  a  proctor 
and  treasurer  who  are  Presbyterian  communicants.  McGuffey 
is  a  West  Pcnnsylvanian,  and  is  second  to  no  man  in  Virginia 
for  fame  as  a  lecturer  and  public  speaker.  He  does  not  preach 
here,  but  often  in  other  places.  I  shall  not  be  surprised  if,  be- 
fore ten  years,  this  rich  and  central  institution  should  have  on 
its  very  grounds  a  Presbyterian  theological  school ;  as  the  law 
founding  the  University  gives  leave  to  any  Christian  sect  to 
build,  and  to  have  a  theological  professor,  with  freedom  of 
library,  apparatus,  &c.  Scheie,  professor  of  Modern  languages, 
is  a  Prussian,  and  a  pious  Lutheran.  The  chaplain  for  next  year 
is  Gillette,  a  Baptist  of  Philadelphia,  [now  of  New  York.]  1 
have  met  with  all  the  Professors  here ;  they  are  remarkable  for 
their  courtesy  to  strangers.  Dr.  Cabell  is  just  closing  his  year 
of  presidentship,  with  some  eclat.  I  see  he  is  nominated  in  the 
Richmond  Enquirer  to  succeed  Dr.  Warner  in  the  Surgical  Chair. 
Emery  tells  me  their  edifice  (Medical  College  of  Hampden  Syd- 
ney) is  the  finest  in  the  city.  I  think  I  observe  more  prevalence 
of  religious  warmth  here  than  with  us.  I  lodged  with  Mr. 
Beadle  of  New  Orleans,  four  years  Missionary  in  Syria ;  he  is 
fluent  in  Arabic.  To-morrow,  Deo  volente,  I  go  to  Gordonsville, 
to  visit  the  house  of  my  birth,  which  I  have  not  been  in  for 
forty-two  years  :  this  will  consume  one  clay.  I  hope  to  reach 
home  by  Thursday  or  Friday  night.  The  Charleston  and  Co- 
lumbia folks  have  a  refinement  of  manners  which  has  always 
struck  me.  They  do  not  depend  on  Northern  cities,  but  get 
their  books  and  fashions  direct  from  London  and  Paris.  It  is 
something  new  under  the  sun,  for  Virginia  daily-prints  to  report 
doings  of  a  General  Assembly.  There  is  preaching  every  morn- 
ing, and  service  every  evening.  Dr.  Empie,  formerly  President 
of  William  and  Mary,  (Episcopal,)  opens  his  church,  St.  James's, 
all  Sunday  and  thrice  during  the  week,  for  the  Presbyterians. 
So  do  all  the  Baptists  and  Methodists.  Fleming  James  gave  a 
great  soiree  in  his  palatial  house,  to  sundry  of  our  brethren  ; 
among  whom  I  was  present.  We  are  revelling  on  strawberries, 
with  floods  of  bona-fide  cream ;  and  ice-cream  is  what  its  name 
imports. 


72      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

New  York,  June  15,  1847. 
I  have  been  waiting  for  time  to  fill  a  sheet,  but  cannot  any 
longer  hope  for  it.  Till  my  Princeton  Discourse  '  it  is  utterly 
out  of  my  power  to  do  any  thing  out  of  New  York  and  Prince- 
ton, great  or  small.  This  must  be  my  reply  to  your  invitation, 
which  I  fully  estimate,  to  baptize  your  child.  There  is,  how- 
ever, another  thing  :  though  not  often  moved,  I  am  sometimes 
very  weak,  and  I  do  not  think  I  could,  publicly  in  Trenton,  pro- 
nounce the  name  you  have  given  your  boy  2  without  a  degree  of 
pain,  which  I  am  perfectly  sure  you  would  not  allow  me  to  incur, 
even  for  the  pleasure  which  the  solemn  service,  thus  admin- 
istered, might  afford  your  friendly  minds. 

Long  Branch,  July  28,  1847. 

I  ran  away  from  your  capital,  much  disordered,  reached  New 
York  about  two  yesterday ;  visited  Junk.  The  Chinamen  look 
very  much  like  Malays  ;  but  I  saw  one  of  them  writing  Chinese 
characters.  Embarked  at  seven  this  morning ;  cool,  but  fine 
passage ;  but  in  the  outer  bay  a  great  prevalence  of  cascading. 
Found  all  well  here.  At  this  present  I  am  in  my  pigeon-hole  ; 
our  children's  shakedown  on  the  floor ;  voices  of  female  and  male 
singing  on  the  piazza.  A  glorious  full  red  moon  rose  out  of  the 
ocean.  Bathing  is  cold  work.  I  saw  one  of  the  Junk-men  drunk 
with  opium.  Addison  has  engaged  for  another  month  at  Dr. 
Boardman's.  More  than  five  hundred  obits  in  New  York  last 
week  :  more  than  eighteen  hundred  emigrants  in  one  day. 

Love  to  the  young  and  rising  generation,  not  forgetting  my 
godson  Johanniculus,  as  Luther  often  calls  his  young  Hans. 

What  a  useless  pest  capital  letters  are :  the  ancients  had 
none,  or  rather  they  had  none  other ;  nor  were  they  bothered 
writh  punctuation.  How  I  envy  them.  A  capital  plagues  me 
so,  that  I  foresee  it  with  apprehension,  as  one  foresees  a  mudhole 
in  driving.  i  am  your  friend, 

j.  w.  alexander. 

New  York,  September  3,  1847. 
We  got  home  on  the  1st,  and  are  in  the  hubbub  of  fixation, 
and  the  heats  of  our  second  edition  of  summer.  Choir  and  organ 
business,  everywhere,  seems  fruitful  of  ills.  Lowell  Mason  has 
now  come  out  against  choirs,  but,  I  fancy,  not  against  organs. 
My  idea  of  psalmodic  service  is,  that  it  should  be  :  (1)  univer- 
sal ;  (2)  vocal ;  (3)  slow,  (in  general ;)  (4)  without  complication 

1  At  the  Centenary  of  the  College,  June  29,  1847. 

2  John  Alexander,  the  name  of  one  of  his  deceased  children. 


1844—1849.  73 

of  parts  ;  (5)  simple  ;  (G)  little  varied ;  i.  e.  a  few  tunes  well 
learnt ;  (7)  with  no  prominence  of  individual  voices,  (duets  or 
solos ;)  (8)  without  fugue ;  (9)  without  frequent  repetition  of 
words;  (10)  depending  on  volume  of  many  voices,  rather  than 
brilliant  execution  of  one  or  two.  It  is  plain  as  A  B  C,  that 
whole  masses  cannot  sing,  unless  the  tunes  be  familiar  to  a  high 
degree.  This  ideal  I  never  expect  to  see  realized.  The  nearest 
approach  is  in  the  large  Lutheran  congregations,  barring  their 
harshness  ;  but  better  the  harshness,  than  the  feeble  warble  of 
twenty  per  cent,  in  vacuo.  Much  illness  about ;  chiefly  dysen- 
tery. Every  day  some  case  of  sorrow  in  my  large  flock  at- 
tracts my  feeble  help.  My  topic  for  Sunday  is  ''Sorrow  is 
better  than  Laughter." 

This  is  my  fifth  letter,  at  one  sitting.  The  Mexicans  seem 
to  me  plainly  below  our  free  blacks  ;  except  a  corps  of  desperate 
military  leaders,  whose  trade  and  hope  have  been  War,  nothing 
but  war  ever  since  they  broke  with  Spain.  Taylor's  election,  I 
judge,  would  be  a  national  vote  for  peace. 

New  York,  Sept.  20,  1847. 
Elizabeth  Fry's  life  (the  large  one,  vol.  1)  will  make  many 
quakeresses  :  a  lovelier  woman  I  never  read  of  or  heard  of; 
humility,  meekness,  love,  and  sense.  The  "  meek  and  quiet 
spirit "  in  such  a  case,  looks,  as  it  is,  7ro\vTe\£s.  Dictionaries 
and  id  genus  being  my  chief  helps  for  exposition,  I  have  added 
Kitto's  Biblical  Cyclopedia,  and  find  it  the  best  thing  yet,  in  its 
line  :  it  is  rationalistic  and  Andover-like,  in  many  places.  One 
of  the  missionaries  lately  sent  out  by  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  before  his 
going,  being  then  at  New  Haven,  told  a  friend  of  mine,  approv- 
ingly, that  Dr.  Taylor  said  in  his  lectures,  in  regard  to  David's 
expression,  (Psalm  51,)  "  In  sin  did  my  mother,"  &c. ;  that  they 
are  to  be  interpreted  as  exaggerations  like  that  of  the  sailor, 
[who  in  prayer  spoke  of  himself  in  a  phrase  of  vulgar  slang.] 
Three  services  yesterday.  I  addressed  my  young  men  and 
women.  The  city  is  vile  with  common  sewers.  Nathan  Rice's 
book  against  Popery  is  good  :  only  about  two  pages  can  1  except 
to.  Why  do  you  not  have  a  Reading-room  in  Trenton  %  The 
Newarkers  have  laid  the  corner  of  a  grand  Library.  I  was  in- 
vited to  lay  it,  but  pleaded  un-Masonic  dispositions. 

New  York,  Sept.  23,  1847. 
Yesterday  we  had  the  O'Connell  obsequies.     It  speaks  well 
for  the  good  nature  of  our  people,  that  so  immense  a  procession 
should  have  marched  for  miles,  with  effigies  of  the  pope,  &c. 

VOL.  II.- 


74      WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DTJANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

&c,  yet  without  a  word  or  gesture  of  interruption.  Apropos  of 
which,  the  recent  site  of  Niblo's  is  occupied  by  the  "  Great 
Tent "  of  the  Millerites,  with  a  lofty  flag,  bearing,  "  Thy  King- 
dom come  !  "  Preachments,  concourse,  &c.  Failures  have  oc- 
curred here,  and  more  arc  looked  for.  Addison's  popularity  in 
Philadelphia  surprises  me  the  more,  as  his  last  summer's  work 
here  seemed  to  draw  scarcely  anybody.  The  sphere,  I  admit,  is 
very  different :  a  joeople  engaged  solely  in  trade  affords  small  in- 
tellectual ability.  I  think  I  am  not  censorious,  nor  chagrined,  in 
judging  that  religion  in  New  York  runs  very  much  towards  ex- 
ternals. Fine  churches,  pews,  and  music,  fine  sermons,  fine  '  en- 
terprises,' viewed  in  the  same  light  as  stock-company  concerns, 
fine  collections  ;  such  are  the  stimulating  ideas.  "  Moderatism  " 
is  the  terminus  ad  quern.  So  far  as  my  researches  go,  Presby- 
terianism  has  never  and  nowhere  made  striking  advances,  except 
when  the  body  of  preachers  and  people  has  been  animated  with 
a  zeal  for  truth  and  saving  souls,  such  as  at  the  very  time  has 
been  a  little  too  strong,  methodistical,  pietistical,  enthusiastical, 
in  the  eyes  even  of  many  sound,  good  sort  of  brethren.  When 
we  substitute  for  this  secular  stimulants,  wealth,  apparatus, 
ritual,  decorum,  letters,  or  oratory,  we  find  that  these  (at  least 
in  the  apprehension  of  the  million)  exist  in  greater  force  among 
the  Episcopalians.  Nor  do  we  mend  the  matter  by  fighting 
these  last,  on  questions  of  difference.  Our  real  aggression  has 
always  been  by  warm  pushing  of  our  evangelical  tenets.  Right 
or  wrong,  this  has  become  more  and  more  my  theory  :  I  would 
I  could  show  some  corresponding  practice:  neyativehj  I  think 
I  can. 

New  York,  October  5,  1S47. 
If  these  rumours  of  new  horrors  in  Mexico  are  true,  what  an 
account  will  our  country,  and  we,  as  claiming  to  be  self-govern- 
ors, have  to  render  to  God  !  I  am  much  impressed  by  Web- 
ster's speech  at  Springfield.  It  is  a  war  of  pretexts.  None  of 
the  alleged  causes  existed.  It  has  gone  from  small  skirmishing 
beginnings  to  the  most  hideous  atrocities.  Never  have  I  so 
much  feared  the  judgments  of  God  on  us  as  a  nation.  Yet  I  am 
not  quite  clear  as  to  the  duty  of  individuals  ;  or  what  means  are 
best  for  stopping  further  carnage.  Who  knows  but  our  judg- 
ment will  be,  that  our  people,  having  tasted  blood,  and  grown 
proud  of  their  undoubted  prowess,  will  becomej  as  Rome  be- 
came, a  people  with  war  for  a  trade  ?  Military  lust  for  conquest 
is  manifestly  on  the  rise.  All  Mexico  would  not  (on  worldly 
grounds  even)  repay  us  for  the  American  lives  which  have  been 
lost.    A  Chinese  youth,  named  Khur,  was  here  to  see  me  to-day ; 


1844—184:9.  75 

on  his  third  voyage  to  America,  from  Amoy  :  wishes  to  go  to 
school  here.  He  speaks  a  most  funny  mixture  of  English,  Por- 
tuguese, and  Chinese,  an  almost  unintelligible  baby -talk.  But  he 
is  acute  and  bright-faced.  The  Millerite  tent,  Chinese  Junk,  and 
Fair  of  American  Institute,  are  all  in  full  force.  Powers' s  Greek 
Slave  is  only  a  beautiful  piece  of  licentious  nudity.  Mods.  Niel, 
a  reformed  French  popish  priest,  has  appeared.  Old  Mr.  Galla- 
tin still  receives  company,  and  takes  lively  interest  in  philo- 
logical inquiries.  It  is  a  wonderful  fact,  that  the  characters  on 
the  famous  stone,  found  at  Grave  Creek  Mound,  on  the  Ohio, 
(Virginia,)  are  fully  proved  to  be  ancient  Libyan.  It  is  the  very 
first  documentary  link  between  the  red  men  and  the  old  world. 
No  doubt  of  the  above  fact  remains  with  our  knowing  ones.  I 
am  pleased  that  you  like  Simeon :  x  his  influence  was  owing, 
perhaps,  in  no  small  degree,  to  his  amazing  colloquial  flow, 
chirping  oddity,  and  irrepressible  vivacity  :  hence  his  soirees, 
which  nobody  else  could  reproduce.  As  to  his  dread  of  systems, 
I  do  not  share  in  it ;  unless  said  systems  be  false  ;  and  even  then 
I  prefer  methodized  to  immethodized  statements.  His  own  sys- 
tem was  clear  enough,  though  he  chose  not  to  own  it.  In  regard 
to  his  plan  of  preaching  both  sides  of  questions,  on  which  the 
Scriptures  seem  to  speak  both  ways,  no  man  ever  did  it,  except 
on  two  or  three  picked  topics.  Every  man's  common  sense 
teaches  him  that  he  must  aim  at  conciliation  of  apparent  discrep- 
ancies, or  abandon  inspiration.  No  man  ever  preached  e.  g.  that 
the  planet  is  eternal,  though  Scripture  seems  to  say  so.  They 
have  a  noble  copy  of  his  Skeletons,  twenty  odd  volumes,  in  the 
Seminary  Library  at  Princeton,  the  gift  of  Wilberforce.  On 
Sunday  night  I  had  a  soiree  under  our  church,  where  I  chatted 
to  fifty  of  our  young  men.  I  saw  Addison's  big  congregation 
in  pretty  full  review.  The  steamers  to  Bremen  are  quite  an 
epoch :  I  hope  you  saw  traveller  Stephens's  account  of  the  jolli- 
fication at  arrival  in  Bremen.  George  P.  Marsh  (M.  C.)  of  Vt., 
speaks  French  like  a  Frenchman,  and  Swedish  like  a  Swede,  and 
is  thorough  in  Danish,  German,  and  Spanish  ;  yet  he  has  never 
been  abroad.  He  is  associated  with  Gallatin,  Robinson,  Turner, 
Gibbs,  Salisbury,  &c,  in  the  Ethnological  Society.  The  modern 
books  of  note  on  Arithmetic,  such  as  Davies's,  adopt  the  French 
billion,  which  makes  the  whole  series  go  homogeneously  by 
threes,  (000  000  000  000.)  A  six-story  house  in  my  daily  walks 
seventy-five  feet  long,  which  had  been  completed  to  cornice,  has 
just  been  taken  down  brick  by  brick  to  the  very  ground  from 
fault  in  the  foundation  :  it  filled  me  with  thoughts  every  day  as 
I  passed. 

1  Life  of  Rev.  Charles  Simeon,  of  Cambridge. 


76      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

New  York,  October  27,  1847. 
When  the  demission  business  was  sent  down  to  the  presby^ 
teries  some  years  ago,  I  voted  against  it.  Since  then  I  have 
doubted.  The  demission  takes  place  all  over  the  land,  de  facto : 
the  question  seems  to  be,  how  to  legalize  what  we  already  allow, 
and  avoid  the  evils  of  our  "  anomalous  condition."  But  curia 
vult  avisare.  Before  I  look  for  your  extension-table,  let  me  say  an 
experience  of  one  of  the  crack  (not  cracked)  ones  is  unfavour- 
able. Madame  says  the  old  way,  of  annexing  a  common  table, 
in  case  of  clerical  invasions,  is  better.  Our  extension-table  is 
too  heavy,  on  the  floor,  as  a  fixture ;  hurts  carpets,  and  is  hurt 
by  hoofs  of  youth,  &c.  If  one  is  used,  the  one  we  have  qua  ex- 
tensio,  is  admirable.  It  is,  however,  paying  for  a  daily  encum- 
brance, in  view  of  an  occasional  need.  I  went  to  Astoria  yester- 
day, to  see  my  landlady  and  parishioner,  who  is  dying  with  con- 
sumption ;  a  fine  specimen  of  old-fashioned  Presbyterian  religion  ; 
all  the  doctrines  turned  into  experience ;  full  of  calm  hope  and 

wisdom  ;  a  lesson  for  life.     is  homceopathically  cured  of  a 

fever.  What  cured  was,  however,  by  no  means  accordant  with 
homoeopathic  peculiarities  ;  it  was  cold  shower-bath,  when  the 
fever  was  hottest :  this  looks  like  reason  ;  but  it  is  not  "  similia 

similibus  curantur,"  the  great  maxim  of  Hahnemann.     is 

getting  well  of  a  fever,  on  the  old  plan.  A  bachelor  presents 
me  flutter's  New  Testament  in  twelve  languages,  (1699.)  I 
am  at  1  Thess.  ii.  9  in  exposition.  Look  at  the  untranslated 
force  of  eavTris  1  Thess.  ii.  7,  and  at  the  exquisite  tenderness  of 
the  whole  verse.  Jacobus  is  coming  out  with  notes  on  Matthew. 
I  know  not  what  to  say  about  the  flocks  of  candidates  who  fre- 
quent every  even  the  smallest  vacancy.  Strangers  come  to  me 
every  week,  as  if  I  kept  a  "  vacancy  intelligence  office."  Want 
of  missionary  zeal  seems  to  be  the  cause,  not  want  of  room. 
Cheever's  church  [Union  Square]  opens  on  Sabbath  first.    Henry 

Beecher  is   the  Brooklyn  star ;  being   the  comet.      Our 

synod  did  nothing  about  the  war.  The  details  of  Chapultepec 
are  equal  to  any  thing  military  I  remember. 


New  York,  November  16,  1847. 
I  owe  you  for  yours  of  the  4th.  How  time  flies  !  I  should 
have  said  it  wras  not  a  week  old.  Perhaps  this  is  the  way  the 
market  Women  make  such  anachronisms  about  their  eggs.  I 
heartily  rejoice  in  Governor  Haines's  election,  not  only  because 
he  is  my  classmate,  but  because  I  think  he  fears  God.  Good 
Mr.  F.  seemed  to  join  in  my  expression  of  the  same  opinion. 
How  the  last-named  good  man  is  embushel-ed  in  this  our  uni- 


1844—1849.  77 

versity !  Had  he  abode  in  Jersey,  his  light  would  have  been 
like  that  of  Sandy  Hook.  He  tells  me  he  has  been  to  see  old 
Chancellor  Kent,  at  Chatham ;  who  is  sinking.  All  our  young 
men  are  ravening  for  good  places ;  and  erring  as  to  what  consti- 
tutes a  good  place.  There  is  a  congestion  of  candidates  about 
our  cities,  while  at  the  extremities  and  frontiers,  all  is  chill  and 
suffering.  Unless  we  all  get  awakened,  in  some  extraordinary  de- 
gree, I  don't  see  how  we  are  to  fail  sinking  into  Moderatism. 
Some  people  absurdly  ascribe  the  diminished  zeal  of  ministers 
to  Seminaries.  This  is  much  as  if  I  should  ascribe  our  poor  beef 
to  the  change  of  market-house.  Those  who  never  saw  a  college 
or  seminary  are  as  low  as  we.  It  lies  deeper,  and  affects  the 
whole  church,  I  verily  believe.     It  means  just  this,  want  of  zeal 

for  the  salvation  of  souls.     Though  you  mentioned  Mr. 's 

"  losing  his  eyesight,"  I  imagined  him  to  be  out  of  town,  till  I 
saw  he  was  dead.  Oh  how  my  conscience  pierces  me  that, 
though  he  was  my  occasional  hearer,  I  never  urged  this  matter 
on  him  in  private  !  How,  how  shall  we  meet  people  at  judg- 
ment !  Addison's  popularity  in  Philadelphia  is  quite  extraor- 
dinary.1 I  am  pleased  to  think  that  it  urges  him  to  regard  more 
and  more  the  great  end  of  preaching.  Last  week  I  saw  a  new 
painting  (small)  by  Leslie,  u  the  Pharisee  and  the  Publican ;  " 
it  begat  a  sermon  in  me.  Item,  a  copy  of  the  first  Bible  ever 
printed — the  Mazarin  Bible — of  which  only  nine  other  copies 
are  known  of.  It  is  perfect ;  two  vols,  folio;  Mentz,  1450-1455; 
illuminated,  incomparably  noble  for  paper,  ink,  and  press-work  ; 
printer  Guttenberg.  This  was  the  copy  of  Mr.  Hibbert.  Other 
copies  are  (so  far  as  I  remember)  1,  Bodleian ;  2,  Mazarin  lib. 
Paris  ;  3,  George  III.'s  lib.  British  Museum  ;  4,  Advocates'  lib. 
Edinburgh  ;  5,  late  Duke  of  Sussex's  lib. ;  6,  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire ;  7,  Estate  of  late  Richard  Heber,  Esq.  On  beholding  it, 
my  emotion  was  altogether  a  religious  one ;  thinking  of  the 
effects  of  the  printed  Scriptures. 

New  York,  December  14,  1847. 
You  see  [Chancellor]  Kent  is  dead.  Mr.  F.  tells  me  he 
lately  talked  with  him,  and  found  him  much  troubled  about  the 
"  new  birth,"  &c.  He  has  been  a  constant  defender  of  religion. 
H.,  in  his  new  book,  several  times  has  the  pleasant  adverb 
"  illy,"  which  does  not  sound  altogether  "  welly."  Pope-stock 
rises.  See  how  most  papers  take  the  Jesuit  side  in  regard  to 
Switzerland.      See  the  avatar  of  romish   prelates  in  England, 

1  He  was  supplying  the  pulpit  of  the  Teuth  Church  during  the  absence 
of  the  pastor,  Dr.  Boardman. 


78       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.    CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 

with  legal  titles.  I  wish  I  had  a  copy  of  the  last  North  British, 
to  send  you  a  review  of  (Arnold's  friend)  Bunsen's  book  on  tha 
Church.  I  have  seldom  been  more  moved  than  by  some  pas- 
sages there.  Do  try  to  get  hold  of  it.  It  opens  a  vista  into  an 
absolutely  new  forest  of  opinions  on  the  great  question  of  the 
age — the  Church.  For  high  churchism  to  be  rebuked  from  such 
a  height  as  the  cabinet  ojf  the  greatest  king  alive,  is  like  thunder 
from  mid  heaven.  And  yet  Bunsen's  is  a  kind  of  Catholicism  : 
only  it  makes  Puseyism  look  very  mean  and  toy-shop  like ; 
like  a  snug  China  mandarin  beside  a  Jupiter  tonans.  For  the 
relief  of  the  red  appearance  on  Hale's  church,1 
"  ^.  pap.  Kirwan,   3  iij - 

Van  Renss.  scrupuli  xxxiij. 
Fiat  haustus." 
Unless  penance  be  your  object,  I  see  no  rational  cause  of  lament 
at  the  freezing  off  of  your  bath  ;  for  all  health-purposes  indoor 
water  is  cold  enough.  Did  you  ever  read  the  story  of  Diogenes, 
embracing  the  brazen  statue,  in  winter  1  Stand  in  a  good  big 
tub,  with  a  good  big  spunge,  and  give  yourself  a  swashing  of 
water  every  morning  ;  that  is  Sir  Astley  Cooper's  recipe. 

New  York,  January  4,  1848. 
0 1  am  a  little  belated  with  my  New  Year  wishes  ;  but  they  are 
none  the  less  sincere  in  behalf  of  you  and  your  family,  and 
church.  Dr.  Spring  very  truly  said  yesterday,  at  our  cleric 
prayer-meeting,  that  ministers  sinned  when  they  did  not  care 
about  the  edification  of  their  neighbours'  churches.  He  also 
said  this  :  "  I  am  almost  tempted  at  this  late  day  to  prepare 
myself  to  preach  without  notes  ;  the  day  a  man  who  reads  his 
sermons  puts  on  spectacles,  he  is  shorn  of  half  his  strength." 
I  do  not  know  when  I  have  begun  a  year  with  more  serious 
feelings  5  even  the  hurly-burly  of  New  Year's  day  did  not  remove 
the  impression.  My  verse  for  the  year  is  Heb.  xiii.  8  :  "  Jesus 
Christ,  &c."  It  would  "convene"  me  .very  much  (as  an  agent 
said  to  me  in  a  note)  if  you  would  come  on,  and  give  me  a 
sermon  ;  why  not  next  Sunday  evening  1  I  have,  for  some  time, 
had  three  services  ;  though  doubtful  about  my  duty  as  to  health. 
I  have  no  extras  to  lop  off ;  never  having  made  a  platform- 
harangue  here ;  exhortations  are  not  extras.  Your  eclaircisse- 
ment  with  II.2  is   characteristic.     Nobody  ever   knows   whose 

1  When  the  scaffolding  of  the  new  church  at  Pennington,  N.  J.,  was 
taken  down,  it  was  discovered  that  the  workmen  had  disposed  some  red 
dates  among  the  black,  so  as  to  form  a  huge  cross  on  each  side  of  the  high 
1  oof 

2  A  hearer  who  falsely  suspected  a  political  object  in  a  sermon. 


1844—1849.  79 

face  a  "  double-header  "  will  fly  into.  It  has  already  taught  you 
what  something  like  it  taught  me.  Hardly  any  thing  so  raises 
my  pride  and  indignation,  as  when  ministerial  independence  is 
assaulted  in  my  person  ;  but  I  continue  to  have  difficulty  in 
knowing  how  the  line  lies  between  the  man  and  the  minister. 
In  regard  to  the  latter,  we  are  authorized  to  take  high  ground. 
I  am  much  reflected  on  by  a  few  in  my  congregation,  for  my 
expressed  opposition  to  the  war.  My  Henry  will  feel  thankful 
for  the  coins  you  send,  when  they  shall  have  arrived ;  it  is,  how- 
ever, not  unfrequently  the  case,  in  this  island,  that  expected  coin 
fails  to  arrive.  You  do  not  mention  whether  sovereigns,  rupees, 
or  louis  d'or.  If  you  have  the  Missionary  Chronicle  for  1843, 
see  how  near  [the  Rev.  Walter  M.]  Lowrie  was  to  death  by 
drowning  in  1842,  (page  134.)  Then  it  was  that  he  was  pre- 
pared for  an  event  which  occurred  five  years  later,  [August, 
1847.]  What  a  mercy  that  he  leaves  no  wife.  I  am  beginning 
the  year  with  a  weight  of  145  lbs.  Julius  Hare  (now  Arch- 
deacon of  Lewes)  has  a  volume  of  parish  sermons  I  should  like 
to  lend  you  ;  they  surpass  the  other  [Augustus  William]  Hare's 
(who  died  abroad)  whose  you  excerpted  from,  I  think,  for  the 
Journal.  The  Archdeaon's  are  as  plain,  but  more  racy.  Which 
of  us  would  say  as  follows  :  "  What,  I  ask,  have  you  been  doing 
during  the  whole  of  this  year  1833?  Eating  and  drinking, 
sleeping  and  waking,  working  for  your  wages,  and  receiving  your 
wages,  and  spending  your  wages.  Well !  and  of  all  this,  what 
fruit  have  ye  now  1  Nothing.  All  this  has  brought  you  forward 
in  the  journey  of  life,  just  as  much  as  a  horse  gets  forward  that 
keeps  going  round  and  round  in  a  mill.  How  will  you  ever  get 
to  heaven  in  the  end  1  And  if  you  do  not  get  to  heaven,  where 
will  you  be  1  When  this  world  is  swept  away,  there  will  be 
only  two  places ;  and  he  who  is  not  at  the  gate  of  heaven,  when 
he  dies,  will  find  himself  at  one  of  the  gates  of  hell.  For  hell  has 
a  thousand  gates,  yawning  around  us  on  every  side,  and  ready  to 
close  upon  us  and  shut  us  in ;  whereas  heaven  has  only  one 
gate,  even  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  \ 

1  With  the  saddening  associations  of  January,  1860,  I  find  on  one  of  the 
pages  of  the  letters  of  that  month  in  1848,  the  following  characteristic  spe- 
cimen of  the  humour  of  his  brother  Addison  : 

"  New  York,  7th  day,  1st  Month  18, 1S4S. 

"Esteemed  Friend, — Not  knowing  that  thy  mouth  had  been  opened  iD 
meeting,  nor  even  that  thy  principles  were  friendly,  I  was  greatly  tendered 
to  learn  that  thou  has  had  a  concern  to  review  the  Life  of  Elizabeth  Fry, 
and  has  had  to  give  up  to  it.  I  trust  thy  piece  was  written  after  the  neces- 
sary preparatory  baptisms,  and  under  a  very  solemn  covering ;  and  also 
that  thou  will  follow  the  opening  in  which  thou  has  been  led  to  stand  up. 
a  Thy  friend,  Deborah  Darby.." 


80      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJAKE    ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

Chambers  St.,  March  1,  1848. 

The  day  that  a  child  says  "  I  will  "  or  "  I  won't"  a  second 
time,  is  a  bad  day  for  parent  and  child.  It  is  just  the  point 
where  our  American  license  begins  and  where  parental  capacity 
is  tried.  Probably  several  thousand  children  under  fourteen,  in 
this  city,  own  no  allegiance  whatever,  but  are  sui  juris. 

Mr,  G.  of  the  State  Department  dined  with  us  yesterday ; 
amazing  as  a  talker,  a  historian,  and  a  polyglott.  His  memory 
of  places,  maps,  dates,  and  facts,  is  beyond  all  I  ever  thought 
possible.  He  is  at  home  in  all  the  southern  languages.  Though 
he  spent  some  years  in  Italy,  he  thinks  Mexico  a  far  more 
interesting  country.  There  lies  on  my  table  a  letter,  dated 
Puebla,  January  1.  I  will  crib  a  few  sentences  :  "  I  am  still  in 
Puebla,  living  under  the  shade  of  the  glorious  Popocatapetl ; 
what  a  mountain !  The  very  sight  of  it  would  pay  for  a  visit  to 
Mexico.  One  of  the  greatest  curiosities  in  this  city  is  the 
library  and  picture-gallery  of  the  late  Bishop.  The  library  is 
the  finest  private  one  I  have  ever  seen.  Among  the  pictures 
are  some  of  great  value.  He  was  a  man  of  great  eru- 
dition, cultivated  manners,  and  elegant  tastes,  and  appears  to 
have  been  beloved  by  all  classes  of  people.  He  died  on  the 
11th  of  October  last,  at  the  ancient  city  of  Cholula,  ast.  80. 
This  library,  the  pictures,  and  various  articles  of  virtu,  were 
bequeathed  to  the  poor."  "  I  have  been  reading  Prescott ;  and 
you  may  judge  of  the  pleasure  of  such  pages,  on  the  very  soil 
immortalized  by  the  achievements  of  the  '  Conqueror.'  "  ';  I 
am  reading  Clavigero,  one  of  the  best  historians  of  ancient 
Mexico  ;  to  whom  Prescott  is  much  indebted  for  his  elegant 
work."  "  The  [theatrical]  pieces  called  jmstorellas  are  a  mixture 
of  the  ludicrous  and  the  religious ;  the  infant  Saviour,  Joseph, 
Mary,  the  manger,  the  ass,  being  introduced  on  the  stage,  the 
piece  winding  up  with  la  Polka."  Mr.  G.  says  the  constant 
impression  made  on  him,  all  over  Mexico,  was,  that  the  people 
are  an  Indian  race ;  the  white  and  the  black  blood  secondary. 
The  new  treaty  will  give  us  "  little  but  deserts  ;  "  but  better  we 
should  have  these  (for  the  Mexicans)  than  they  ;  it  will  more 
effectually  keep  our  fellows  off  their  border.  O  how  desirous 
one  feels  that  the  Gospel  might  pour  in  through  these  channels  ! 
What  a  glorious  thing  if  the  ambition  of  war  could  only  be 
emulated  by  any  analogous  zeal  for  the  introduction  of  the 
Gospel !  I  do  not  p,erceive  why  these  poor,  simple,  brave,  per- 
fidious, paganized  people  might  not  be  plied  by  thousands  of 
books  and  tracts.  They  are  not  more  hopeless  than  were  the 
boors  of  Bohemia  and  Germany,  when  the  tracts  of  Wiclif  and 
the  Lollards  came  among  them,    or  than  the  Swiss  mountaineers 


1844—1849.  81 

when  the  writings  of  Zuingle  and  Calvin  roused  them.  Further, 
I  soberly  think  some  daring  young  ministers  (if  any  such  are 
left  in  these  days  of  literary  clerical  petit-maitres)  ought  to  dash 
into  Vera  Cruz,  Perote,  Puebla,  and  Mexico,  and  blow  at  least  a 
long  loud  blast  of  defiance,  where  Satan's  seat  is.  In  1555,  men 
were  found  to  go  to  torrid  Brazil,  from  Geneva ;  and  several 
died  martyrs  there.  I  have  expressed  this  opinion  in  my  official 
capacity  ;  but  my  brethren  think  me  flighty.  Would  God  my 
boys  might  preach  Christ  in  that,  or  any  other  foreign  land ;  so 
only  they  be  faithful !     Amen. 

New  York,  March  28,  1848. 
Gurley,  the  auctioneer,  who  has  just  died  of  erysipelas,  will 
be  regretted.  He  was  a  wonderful  bibliographer,  and  a  man  of 
remarkable  tact  and  courtesy,  as  well  as  honesty.  I  never  heard 
him  make  an  extravagant  remark,  in  selling.  The  news  by  the 
"  Caledonia "  surprises  people.  That  the  [French]  Republic 
should  slip  on  the  rails,  as  by  a  mere  turning  of  the  switch,  with 
no  friction  and  loss  of  life,  is  wonderful.  The  editor  of  the 
"  Schnell  Post,"  a  German  radical,  was  off  in  the  "  Cambria,"  as 
soon  as  the  first  news  came,  to  take  part  in  the  revolution  that 
is  to  be  in  Germany.  Two  of  his  comrades  sang  the  Marseillaise 
to  him,  from  the  wharf.  The  horrible  treachery  of  Louis 
Philippe,  in  regard  to  the  Protestants,  and  especially  the  Spanish 
marriages, -is  now  visited  on  him  ;  as  well  as  the  blood  of  French- 
men and  Arabs  shed  for  nothing  in  Algeria.  Algeria  declared 
part  of  the  French  Republic  !  We  have  authorized  a  new  mis- 
sion under  the  Equator,  near  J.  L.  Wilson,  and  at  his  instance. 
None  of  the  return-missionaries  have  instructed  me  more  than 
he.  History  has  often  made  much  of  less  daring  than  his. 
The  practice  of  funeral  sermons  months  ^>ost  mortem  is  common 
in  Virginia ;  I  think  the  more  common  way  in  rural  places.  I 
lament  to  hear  such  painful  things  of  your  kind  old  aunt ;  my 
mind  reverts  to  antediluvian  banquets,  of  steaming  coffee,  cakes 
and  sausage.  May  the  world  never  want  a  race  of  affectionate 
old-fashioned  people,  who  shall  so  spread  their  bounties  as  to 
make  them  remembered  for  a  whole  generation  !  I  wish  her  a 
safe  and  gentle  descent  down  the  slippery  foot  of  the  hill.  By 
reason  of  preaching  twice  on  Sunday,  as  I  ought  not,  on  top  of 
a  sore  throat,  I  have  made  myself  ("  war-horse  "  as  a  plain  man 
translated)  hors  de  combat  I  believe  I  make  less  of  [ecclesias- 
tical] differences  than  I  did.  Though  a  reunion  with  the  New 
School  body,  just  as  it  is,  would  be  unedifying,  and  a  signal  for 
unprecedented  squabbles  and  disciplines,  I  think  there  are  many 
among  them  with  whom  we  ought  to  maintain  the  most  brotherly 

VOL  II. — 4* 


82       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DITANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

correspondence.  Nevin  [Mercersburg]  holds  unimaginable  doc- 
trines ;  e.  g.  that  Christ  is  now  incarnate  in  the  church ;  (pro- 
gressively ;)  that  whoso  denies  this,  is  an  anti-christ ;  that  we 
eat  Christ's  body,  and  derive  our  life  from  it,  so  that  our  life  is 
the  very  life  (theanthropic  life)  which  Christ  has ;  that  we  are 
justified  by  the  transfusion  of  Christ's  righteousness,  as  head, 
to  us  as  members ;  (the  popish  doctrine ;)  that  all  other  Pres- 
byterians in  America  are  a  set  of  Puritans,  who  have  apostatized 
from  Calvin. 

New  York,  May  11,  1848. 

Dr.  Neander's  Life  of  Jesus  is  about  as  bad  a  book,  for  us, 
as  could  be  furnished  by  Germany.  It  will  keep  in  countenance 
those  numerous  persons  who  are  half  ready  to  give  up  all  inspi- 
ration. The  book  of  the  day  is  the  Life  of  Pollok,  by  Scott. 
Take  a  few  sentences  :  "  Scotland  gave  him  birth,  and  England 
donated  him  a  tomb ;"  p.  350.  "  His  hair  dark,  and  his  counte- 
nance touched  with  the  olivaster  shade  ;  "  p.  360.  "  His  thoughts, 
imagery,  logomachy,  style,  and  plan  are  his  own,  and  most  appro- 
priate for  the  great  psalm  which  he  indited  ;  "  p.  362.  If  you 
ever  see  it  in  a  shop,  read  the  first  sentence,  which  is  too  big  and 
rotten  to  bear  transportation.  Dr.  Schroeder's  people  have 
bought  the  Eighth  Street  church.  There  had  been  a  little  squint- 
ing towards  it  among  our  folks,  but  they  got  no  countenance  from 
me. 

At  no  time  have  things  looked  duller  in  my  charge.  Addi- 
tions very  few,  and  a  general  fluctuation,  which  makes  me  doubt 
whether  our  church,  like  so  many  others,  will  not  be  swept  away 
before  the  surge  of  commerce.  About  twelve  families  leave  us. 
Of  nine  persons  dismissed  by  us  since  last  communion,  all  but 
one  were  dismissed  to  us  within  five  years.  If  my  powers  were 
of  the  arousing  sort,  I  might  hope  for  more  in  a  mission-church, 
but  all  the  little  I  can  attempt  is  in  the  way  of  gradual  training  ; 
and  this  requires  people  to  stay  with  you.  Our  Sunday  services 
are  as  full  as  ever,  but  our  other  indications  are  all  bad.  When 
I  look  at  home,  I  no  longer  marvel  it  should  be  so.  There  is 
some  likelihood  that  I  shall  take  boarding  for  my  family  at 
Astoria,  for  about  six  weeks  in  summer  ;  it  is  an  hour  by  coach, 
and  half  an  hour  by  steamboat ;  and  is  right  on  the  strait  and 
violent  channel  between  the  East  River  and  the  Sound  :  "  Hurl- 
gate." 

Accept  for  self  and  co.  our  loves,  and  allow  me  to  subscribe 
myself,  in  the  mode  which  threatens  to  become  the  laconism  of 
American  epistles, 

"  Respectfully,  &c." 


1844—1849.  83 


New  York,  May  30,  1848. 
In  yours  of  tho  16th,  you  speak  of  "  chirography  "  vice 
"  penmanship  ; "  it  would  be  a  good  exercise  in  a  school  or 
college,  or  even  for  ourselves,  to  make  out  a  list  of  cases  in 
which  the  lean  kine  have  thus  eaten  up  the  fat :  e.  g.  "  com- 
mence "  for  "  begin,"  "  truthful "  for  "  true,"  (though  it  has  a 
meaning  of  its  own  ;)  "  indebtedness  "  for  "  debt ;  "  "  stand- 
point "  for  "  point  of  view  ;  "  &c.  This  month  is  turning  into 
a  Pluviose.  I  sec  numbers  of  waistcoats  a  la  Robespierre ; 
white,  with  high  turn-over  lappels.  The  "cafe  cles  1,000  colon- 
nes "  has  come  out  fresh  as  "  cafe  de  la  Republique."  Mr. 
Bridel  has  large  congregations  in  French  ;  on  these  occasions  he 
confines  himself  to  the  simple  gospel.  Four  prayers  and  two 
entire  chapters  in  the  service ;  opening  prayer  read,  and  apos- 
tolical benediction  at  beginning,  as  in  France.  I  have  just  read 
the  Augsburg  Confession,  for  the  first  time ;  it  is  not  a  dry  list 
of  points,  but  a  beautiful  and  stirring  argument  and  protest.  I 
fear  from  hints  in  papers,  that  the  General  Assembly  are  going 
to  apply  the  knife  of  frugality  to  the  very  life  of  our  Boards  ; 
perhaps  I  mistake.  At  a  moment  when  the  world,  in  its  very 
selfishness,  sees  the  importance  of  giving  full  salaries,  &c,  in 
every  bank  and  insurance-office,  what  a  cowardly  concession  to 

misers  and  Nabals,  to  complain  that  such  a  man  as ,  gets 

his  $1,500  or  $1,800.  Mr.  Sosnosky  (I  need  not  say  whence)  is 
colporting  here,  among  French,  as  Mr.  Rauschenbusch  among 
Germans.  On  the  28th  and  29th  the  emigrants  landed  at  our 
Quarantine,  for  the  two  days,  =  10,030  ;  mostly  Germans,  and  no 
disease  but  small-pox.  Are  any  of  us  at  all  awake  to  what  this 
influx  means  1  I  propose  D.  v.  to  take  my  family  out  of  this 
noise  about  the  middle  of  June,  to  some  quiet  riverside,  near 
enough  for  me  to  do  duty.  After  that,  I  will  make  an  exchange 
with  you,  or  will  go  to  you  without  exchange,  as  circumstances 
may  admit.  I  see,  beyond  denial,  that  my  congregation  is  suffer- 
ing from  its  site.  Though  we  have  tens  of  thousands  down- 
town, they-are  mission  folks,  and  increasingly  foreigners,  if  not 
papists.  The  talent  they  require  is  not  mine.  I  say  truly, 
when  I  add,  that  I  have  not  even  a  momentary  hankering  for 
uptown :  my  leading  members  feel  otherwise ;  so  should  I,  were 
I  they.  We  have  sent  away  about  fifteen  families  this  spring, 
thither  and  out  of  town. 

Astoria,  June  22,  1848. 
We  have  six  passages  a  day,  from  here  to  town,  by  steam- 
boat, besides  omnibus  and  railway  on  crossing  the  ferry — the 


84      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTTANE    ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK 


latter  every  hour.  Price  sixpence.  This  is  a  beautiful  cove  on 
the  end  of  Long  Island,  formerly  called  Hallet's  Cove,  and  just 
opposite  the  upper  end  of  Blackwell's  Island.  From  the  upper 
windows  of  this  house  we  can  see  across  to  the  North  River. 
All  the  navigation  of  the  Sound  passes  directly  at  our  feet ;  for 
the  house  (Mr.  Henry  Mulligan's)  is  on  a  terraced  bank,  at  the 
bottom  of  which,  separated  only  by  a  road,  is  the  East  Eiver. 
I  think  it  an  unspeakable  mercy  to  be  permitted  to  bring  my 
» family  here,  as cannot  bear  a  longer  trip,  and  we  have  a  down- 
stairs room,  two  piazzas,  a  fine  garden,  and  a  lawn  like  a  noble- 
man's. To  me  it  is  almost  like  being  in  town.  Next  lot  is  Mr. 
George  Douglass ;  next  Dr.  Alexander  Stevens ;  next  Thorburn's 
nursery,  &c.  Mr.  "Walker  (elder)  and  Mr.  Jas.  Soutter  are  out 
here.  The  sea-air  is  very  perceptible.  Last  night  a  quite  thick 
blanket  was  in  order.  I  saw  old  Mr.  [Albert]  Gallatin  yester- 
day ;  a  wonderful,  wonderful  man  !  I  am  always  struck  with  the 
fact,  that  the  whole  of  his  conversation  is  on  important  topics, 
always  in  choice  language,  and  always  novel.  He  gave  me  the 
best  account  I  ever  had  of  the  respective  systems  of  Boodh, 
Brahma,  and  Confucius  ;  of  the  Chinese  language  and  of  the 
Polynesian  languages.  He  showed  me  the  latest  Genevese 
version  of  the  Bible  in  3  vols.  8vo,  and  laughingly  said  it  was 
"  very  orthodox."  He  showed  me  a  book  on  Geneva,  by 
Goliffe,  and  complained  that  he  was  very  unfair  to  Calvin,  whom 
Mr.  G.  regards  as  one  of  the  greatest  mortals.  On  a  former 
occasion  he  drew  a  comparison  between  Calvin  and  the  Puritans, 
on  the  subject  of  witchcraft,  &c,  very  unfavourable  to  the  latter. 
He  has  just  completed  a  volume,  of  some  hundreds  of  pages, 
on  the  Aboriginal  languages  of  America.  His  ethical  and  the- 
istical  feelings  are  very  correct  and  profound  ;  I  cannot  find  out 
what  he  thinks  of  Christ.  He  is  minutely  acquainted  with  all 
the  nice  points  of  Calvinistic  controversy. 

Albany,  July  28,  1848. 

You  will  hardly  believe  me  when  I  say  that  I  went  to  Sara- 
toga reluctantly  ;  nothing  but  a  desire  to  gratify  my  good 
mother,  who  needed  the  water  and  a  companion,  took  me 
thither.  We  remained  just  a  week.  It  is  a  most  unagreeable 
place  to  me,  unspeakably  less  agreeable  than  the  seashore.  We 
left  there  yesterday,  and  made  the  trip  to  this  place  in  a  heavy 
rain  and  thunder-storm.  I  propose  to  preach  at  home  on 
Sunday. 

I  am  at  the  Delavan  House,  which  I  continue  to  think,  of 
taverns,  the  best  house  I  ever  stopped  at.  When  we  came  up 
in  the  boat  last  week,  we  had  the  Van  Burens,  father  and  son, 


1344—1849.  85 

with  us  ;  Martin  looks  hale,  and  had  a  fresh  cabbage-leaf  inside 
of  his  hat ;  reason  unknown.  To  one  who  passes  up  the  East 
River,  Dr.  Tyng's  church  is  the  most  conspicuous  building  in 
upper  New  York,  and  yet  it  wants  the  two  steeple-towers,  which 
are  to  be  250 — 300  feet  high.  The  church  is  to  seat  2,000,  and 
to  cost,  they  say,  $200,000.  There  is  a  vestry-discussion  as  to 
which  of  the  two  houses  shall  be  St.  George's  church,  and  which 
St.  George's  chapel. 

After  some  hot,  steaming  days,  this  is  one  of  the  pleasantest 
of  the  season.  I  have  been  giving  my  mother  and  sister  a  drive 
around  the  city  ;  and  am  much  surprised  to  find  so  many  im- 
provements, beautiful  buildings,  sweet  gardens,  &c.  The  upper 
part  is  to  be  very  charming. 

New  York,  August  21,  1848. 
This  is  my  first  literary  act,  on  returning  home,  after  an 
absence  of  58  days.  Seldom  have  I  been  gladder  to  get  back, 
for  I  have  scarcely  had  a  week  without  illness.  The  Hellgate 
end  of  Long  Island  is  almost  as  much  broken  into  ups  and  downs, 
as  a  mountain-ridge.  My  second  sojourn  was  with  my  elder 
Walker.  From  his  house  I  could  see,  not  only  Astoria,  the 
East  River,  and  the  west  side  of  the  North  River,  but  Staten 
Island,  and  a  fine  view  of  New  York  in  the  distance.  Astoria  is 
a  place  of  villas.  The  sea-breeze  is  fresh,  but  I  opine  they  will 
have  agues.  Nearly  100  embark  on  the  little  steamers  for  New 
York  every  morning.  My  first  visiter,  on  return,  was  Mr. 
Bridel,  a  very  lovely  little  man.  There  has  been  great  prev- 
alence of  dysentery  on  Long  Island,  and  in  other  country-places 
about  here.  New  York  has  also  approximated,  this  year,  towards 
Philadelphia,  in  respect  to  cholera  infantum.  I  observe  by  the 
bills,  however,  that  febrile  disorders  decrease,  in  the  ratio  that 
bowel-disorders  increase ;  e.  g.  last  week  but  one,  of  all  fevers, 
14;  of  all  bowel-ills,  114;  last  week,  of  former  26,  of  latter 
126.  Good  old  Dr.  Miller  said  to  me,  the  other  day  :  "  When 
the  semi-centenary  of  my  ministry  came  round,  I  was  glad  to 
let  it  pass  in  silence,  as  I  was  ashamed  of  my  ministerial  per 
formances."  When  Dr.  Emmons  was  dying,  he  said  to  Dr 
Hawes  :  "  I  shall  soon  be  on  the  other  side,  but.O  how  ashamed 
I  shall  feel,  to  be  there  !  "  I  lately  saw,  in  German,  a  history 
of  the  world,  in  many  volumes,  all  biographical ;  i.  e.  a  chain 
of  individuals,  from  Adam  down,  each  comprising  the  age  he 
lived  in  :  it  struck  me  that  a  Biblical  History,  on  a  similar  plan, 
might  fill  a  series  of  lectures.  It  is  remarkable  how  much  this 
is  the  plan  of  the  Bible  itself.  Addison  is  here,  on  his  way  to 
orate  at  East  Windsor. 


86      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DTJANE   ST.    CHURCH,    NEW  YORK. 

New  York,  September  7,  1848. 

The  rumours  of  yellow-fever  die  away.  The  Board  of  Health 
ceases  to  report  any  at  the  Curr entitle — such  is  the  current  pro- 
nunciation— and  no  cases  are  believed  to  exist  on  this  island. 

Dr.    ,  of  Glasgow,  was  in  my  church  on  Sunday.     Like 

almost  all  these  Scotsmen,  he  seems  to  have  a  mighty  good  con- 
ceit of  himself,  and  a  superciliousness  towards  every  thing  Ameri- 
can ;  this  incenses  me,  because  there  is  so  little  pretence  of  foun- 
dation for  it.  I  could  perhaps  bear  it  in  an  Oxonian  or  Cantab 
dignitary  ;  but  in  a  snuffy  Sawney,  speaking  the  horriblest  dialect 
that  ever  came  from  the  mouth  of  a  Briton,  I  can't  stand  it. 
People  are  beginning  to  come  back  to  their  quarters  ;  and,  after 
all,  there  is  nothing  like  one's  own  home. 

I  do  not  think  the  Sunday  School  Journal  can  ever  occupy 
that  place  in  public  notice  which  its  redaction  merits  ;  its  title 
is  so  narrow,  and  its  period  of  revolution  in  its  orbit  so  long  and 
irregular  :  I  would  as  soon  calculate  the  moon's  motion,  as  tell 
when  it  is  coming.  We  have  again  essayed  a  ministers'  prayer- 
meeting  ;  I  don't  know  how  it  will  go.  Text  last  Sunday  after- 
noon, Ecc.  iv.  9,  10.  A  clergyman,  known  to  me,  publicly  read 
in  a  service,  a  chapter  in  the  Apocrypha,  and  never  found  it  out. 
I  have  been  reperusing  Herodotus,  in  English.  Several  things 
strike  me  :  1.  It  is  a  series  of  grand  old  stories  ;  as  entertaining 
as  the  Arabian  Nights.  2.  The  extraordinary  advance  of  the 
world,  since  then,  in  science.  What  hideous  incredibilities! 
3.  The  equal  advance  (under  Christianity)  of  humanity.  You 
can  scarcely  read  ten  pages  anywhere  in  Herodotus,  without 
lighting  on  some  atrocity.  4.  A  delightful  book  might  be 
made,  by  stringing  together  the  best  ancient  narratives,  cutting 
off  superfluities,  and  taking  any  liberties  with  language,  and 
entitling,  Stories  from  the  Old  Historians.1  In  a  month,  one 
might  from  Herodotus,  Thucydides,  Xenophon,  Plutarch,  Dio- 
genes Laertius,  Livy,  Sallust,  and  Tacitus,  make  one  of  the  best 
and  most  saleable  volumes  of  the  day.  It  should  have  many 
maps,  titles,  notes,  and  Christian  comments,  and  should  be 
well  printed.  It  would  necessarily  comprise  the  most  famous 
events  of  olden  time,  such  as  people  are  constantly  alluding  to, 
without  exact  knowledge.  Plutarch  is  an  inexhaustible  magazine 
himself. 

New  York,  October  11,  1848. 

The  loss  of  good  Mrs.  Rice,2  gives  me  many  serious  feelings. 

1  His  correspondent  had  anticipated  this  hint  in  a  series  of  "  Old 
Stories  "  from  Herodotus  :  Sunday  School  Journal,  September  and  October, 
1839. 

2  Of  Trenton,  see  vol.  L,  1SG,  201. 


1844—1849.  87 

The  more  I  think  of  it,  the  more  I  believe,  that  such  quiet  and 
meekness  of  well-doing  will  be  more  prized  in  "  that  day,"  than 
many  brilliant  qualities.  How  much  better  than  the  self-tor- 
menting pride  we  have  known  in  some  families.  I  am  glad  your 
tour  in  the  Pines  has  caused  itinerancy  to  rise  in  your  estima- 
tion ;  Presbyterianism  owes  almost  its  existence  to  it,  in  new 
settlements.  Do  you  see  that  Nevin  sets  up  the  "  Mercersburg 
Review  "  1  I  have  been  with  my  children  to  the  Fair  of  the 
American  Institute,  in  Castle  Garden.  There  were  thousands  of 
things,  but  not  much  that  I  coveted,  except  the  pears.  They 
talk  of  building  out  the  Battery  further  into  the  bay.  A  balloon 
and  man  went  up  to-day.  A  military  band  is  going  by,  which 
reminds  me  how  vastly  that  branch  of  art  is  improved  since  my 
boyish  clays  ;  I  am  as  much  pleased  with  the  sound  as  I  ever  was. 
The  number  of  such  bands  is  astonishing  ;  great  numbers  of 
them  are  Germans.  Surgeons  see  a  very  bloody  side  of  war.  I 
observe  that  Luther's  original  Catechism  omits  the  second  com- 
mandment, and  divides  the  tenth ;  just  as  the  Papists  do.  On  the 
first  of  this  month,  my  father  said  it  was  the  anniversary  of  his 
licensure,  fifty-seven  years  ago  ;  I  have  his  trial-sermon,  though 
he  does  not  know  it. 

New  York,  October  29,  1848. 
I  congratulate  in  regard  to  your  North  Church  ;  it  was  time, 
and  it  will  not  hurt  the  "  old  South."  The  Repertory  Article  on 
Chalmers,  is  by  my  father,  who  seldom  contributes  now.  Paul 
Delaroche's  great  painting  of  Napoleon  crossing  the  Alps,  is  in 
the  new  style — matter-of-fact ;  nothing  ideal.  You  see  the  wear 
and  tear  of  the  breeches,  and  gray  surtout ;  the  mule  is  a  com- 
mon mule.  In  this  respect,  one  is  gratified.  You  remember 
David's  on  the  same  subject,  in  the  old  Academy.  I  have  just 
received  notice  that  the  Board  [of  Publication]  would  stereotype 
my  "  Family  Worship."  Looking  over  Walsh's  "  United  States 
and  England,"  lately,  I  find  it  entirely  free  from  those  twists  of 
diction,  which  characterize  his  later  writings.  It  would  surely 
be  carrying  coals  to  Newcastle,  to  give  you  any  ana  of  Mr. 
[James  F.]  Armstrong,  [of  Trenton,] .  close  as  you  are  to  head- 
quarters. I  remember  the  old  gentleman  very  well ;  but  he  was 
past  preaching.  You  know  he  had  a  fine  library.  Where  are 
all  his  sermons  ?  what  becomes  of  sermons  1  He  wras  very 
much  the  gentleman  ;  cordial  and  benignant,  even  to  children  ;  dis- 
posed to  fun.  I  have  heard  that  he  was  very  animated  and 
pathetic  in  his  discourses,  when  in  his  prime.  I  suppose  Mr.  A. 
would  have  been  called  an  old-side  Presbyterian.  He  was  of 
*ihe  Stanhope  Smith  school,  and  they  were  very  intimate.     Ask 


88       WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DTJANE    ST.    CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

for  the  exact  particulars  of  an  incident,  at  the  old  parsonage, 
between  Mr.  A.  and  Dr.  Witherspoon,  when  the  Dr.  came  with 
coach-and-four,  just  after  his  marriage  to  a  young  wife.  We  are 
in  expectation  of  the  cholera  soon  in  New  York.  I  heard  Gough 
the  other  night,  and  still  think  him  a  master  of  eloquence  in  his 
way.  [David]  Lord  is  really  a  genius.  I  don't  believe  in  his 
applications,  but  his  main  principles  [of  interpreting  Prophecy] 
are  the  true  ones,  and  are  almost  self-evident.  He  takes  all  the 
symbols  which  are  explained  in  the  Scriptures,  and  from  these 
deduces  rules. 

New  York,  November  16,  1848. 

I  have  ministered  at  two  instalments,  within  a  week,  and 
have  taken  a  very  annoying  cold.  I  never  was  in  the  Jersey 
City  church  till  yesterday  ;  '  you  know  it  is  the  old  Wall  Street 
do. ;  it  is  a  model  of  beauty  to  my  eye.  I  know  of  no  good 
models  for  cheaper  edifices.  Potts  once  named  to  me,  as  a  great ' 
invention  of  a  certain  architect,  a  very  economical  plan,  of  so 
building  that  the  church  might  at  any  future  time  be  enlarged  in 
either  dimension.  At  Yorkville,  where  I  was  installing2  last 
week,  Mr.  Butts  has  put  up  a  very  snug  affair  for  $1,500 ;  wood. 
A  MS.  history  of  Virginia  has  come  to  light,  several  years  older 
than  Capt.  John  Smith's.  It  makes  the  bragging  descendants  of 
the  princess  Pocahontas  flutter,  as  it  shows  that  her  highness 
had  an  Indian  husband  two  years  before  she  was  married  to 
Rolfe. 

My  heart  is  thankful  for  the  result  of  the  election.  What- 
ever Gen.  Taylor  may  do,  or  not  do,  the  reign  of  corrupt  office- 
holders is  broken  for  a  time.  Old  Mr.  Johnstone  showed  me  a 
whole  sermon  written  on  half  such  a  sheet  as  this  :  he  says  his 
father,  who  was  a  clergyman,  taught  him  it  when  he  was  a  boy 
and  he  has  used  it  ever  since  to  the  saving  of  much  eye  and 
hand,  ink,  paper,  and  time.  By  a  home-made  scheme  of  small 
marks  for  the  most  commonly  occurring  words,  (the,  and,  for 
from,  Gospel,  church,  proof,  text,)  it  is  surprising  to  one  who 
has  not  made  the  calculation,  how  much  work  is  abridged.  By 
about  fifty  such  marks,  I  think  fully  half  would  be  saved.     What 

a  libel  on  Mary  Magdalene,  to  name after  her ;  there  is  not 

a  breath  of  proof  that  she  was  a  profligate  person  ;  or  even  that 
she  was  the  sinful  woman  of  Simon's  house :  there  is  every 
presumption  that  she  was  a  lady  of  leisure,  if  not  of  wealth. 

1  When  he  preached  at  the   ordination  and  instalment  (as  assistant  pas- 
tor) of  the  Rev.  Lewis  H.  Lee. 

2  The  Rev.  Joshua  Butts. 


1844—1849.  89 

New  York,  December  14,  1848. 

I  can  scarce  think  of  a  finer  subject  for  a  Philadelphian  to 
write  on,  than  "  The  first  hundred  years  of  Philadelphia."  The 
first  fifty  would  be  the  chief.  Men  and  manners,  houses,  anti- 
quities, &c.  How  Watson  [Annals]  has  murdered  this  in  his 
Higgledy-piggledy  !  The  gold  fever  is  wondrous  ;  thirty-one 
vessels  now  advertised  for  California.  Mr.  O.  hired  a  ship  to 
government ;  when  arrived  all  hands  deserted  ;  could  not  get  a 
raft  manned ;  consequence,  United  States  forfeits  to  Mr.  O.  $80 
per  diem,  for  every  day  the  ship  is  detained  beyond  a  certain 
time. 

Dr.  Dill  [from  Ireland]  is  a  superior  man ;  young,  but 
canny,  like  Cunuingham.  He  is  tall  and  eloquent.  A  couple, 
former  Finneyites,  whipped  their  children,  to  make  them  sub- 
mit ;  next  became  perfectionists  ;  next  rejected  Old  Testament, 
and  now  are  wondering  after  Davis,  the  clairvoyant.  I  have 
just  been  buying  my  winter  butter  at  22  cents ;  but  I  reckon 
you  can  get  it  cheaper,  as  I  know  you  can  better.  I  have  never, 
in  a  single  instance,  tasted  New  York  butter  equal  to  Phila- 
delphia. Old  Schoolism  has  no  good  chance  in  New  York,  where 
the  warp  is  Dutch  and  the  woof  Yankee.  See  how  little  room 
between 


Naturally  enough  all  immigrant  Yankees  go  to  the  Congrega- 
tionalists.  The  Dutch  churches  here  command  my  respect  for  their 
peacefulness  and  conservatism.  The  state  of  things  in  Austria 
and  Prussia  looks  very  threatening.  It  looks  like  another 
general  war  in  Europe.  Hengstenberg  and  his  class  denounce 
all  this  liberalism  as  Anti-christ  itself;  and  these  are  the  king's 
advisers.  Domestic  Missions  seems  to  be  pointed  out  as  our 
work.  A  letter  of  my  grandfather  Waddel  has  come  to  hand, 
dictated  by  him,  in  blindness,  to  my  mother,  and  addressed  to 
Dr.  Hoge.  It  has  one  remarkable  sentence  :  "  There  is  a  mini- 
mum feci  written  on  all  the  actions  of  my  life." 


90      WHILE   PASTOR    OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

New  York,  December  22,  1848. 

Lately  I  ient  two  small  articles  to  the  "  American  Mes- 
senger." They  circulate  130,000.  I  suppose  the  snow  which  is 
coming  clown  here  is  also  coming  down  on  you.  The  new  Con 
gregational  Journal,  the  "  Independent,"  has  taken  in  Joshua 
Leavitt,  as  the  real  editor.     They  lead  off  with  much  spirit. 

Another  death  of  cholera  in  town  yesterday.  All  the  old 
disputes  about  contagion.  Every  case  thus  far  is  traceable  to 
the  crew  of  the  "  New  York."  The  rate  of  mortality  here  is 
formidable.  Yesterday's  case  was  just  from  Pittsburg,  but  had 
communication  with  above  passengers.  Dr.  Stevens,  wrho,  in 
last  cholera,  said  "  No  contagion,"  now  talks  otherwise.  In  look- 
ing at  the  history  of  the  Puritans,  I  find  very  few  of  the  things 
which  they  scrupled  to  be  such  as  would  hurt  my  conscience ; 
though  I  might  wish  them  altered.  The  tendencies  of  Independ- 
ency in  England  have  been  very  latitudmary  and  disorganizing. 

I  was  at  the  New  York  Lying-in-Asylum,  yesterday.  What 
a  blessed  refuge  for  poor  creatures  in  their  extremity  !  Last 
year  between  two  and  three  hundred  confinements,  and  not  one 
death,  or  unhappy  result ! 

Carter  has  imported  a  very  large  stock  of  the  Bibles  printed 
at  Coldstream,  by  Dr.  Adam  Thompson,  who  broke  up  the 
monopoly.  As  imported  books,  paying  ten  per  cent.,  their 
cheapness  is  remarkable ;  and  they  are  worth  looking  at,  by  one 
who  loves  linen-paper,  British  press-work,  and  immaculate  typo- 
graphy. The  small  New  Testaments  are  12.j  cents,  small  Bibles 
25,  50,  &c.  Large  4to  Family  Bible,  with  short  notes,  calf,  $5.  All 
have  the  Scotch  Psalms ;  all  are  faulty  in  regard  to  size  of  paper. 

I  once  mentioned  to  you  the  erroneous  and  deceptive  reten- 
tion of  the  e  in  Urbane.  The  same  is  true  of  clothes,  which 
should  be  cloths,  to  be  intelligible  to  modern  readers.  The 
Scotch  Bibles  all  have  "  bras-en,  morter,  caterpilkr,  jubile, 
throughly ;  "  in  this  agreeing  with  the  English.     It  seems  odd 

to  me,  that should  praise  A.  Monod  &  Co.  for  sticking  to 

a  National  church,  which  is  Arian,  and  which,  by  synodal  act, 
has  refused  to  make  either  baptism  or  moral  conduct  a  con- 
dition of  church-membership. 

To-day  I  went  to  see  a  sick  parishioner.  All  shut.  Dead. 
What  solemn  reflections  should  this  produce  ! 

A  doctor  from  Bellevue  almshouse  tells  me  they  have  the 
ship-fever  there  horribly  ;  it  broke  out  in  a  room  of  eighty 
persons.  Conscience,  about  such  matters,  is  so  dispersed,  as  to 
amount  to  nothing.  The  filth  of  our  streets  is  absolutely  mys- 
terious. In  the  driest  weather  I  have  seen  the  crossings  quite 
sloppy  ;  this  is  chiefly  from  ordure  and  swill,  squeezed  up  from 


1844—1849.  91 

between  the  paving-stones,  by  the  heavy  loads,  &c.  The  Irish 
Deputation  [Dill  and  Simpson]  have  netted  more  than  $6,000  in 
this  city.  With  all  its  faults  New  York  is  certainly  a  giving  place. 
My  old  chum,  Waterbury,  preached  for  me  on  Sunday. 
Princeton  must  have  been  very  rank  for  doctorizing,  not  to 
be  able  to  contain  till  Commencement ;  perhaps  they  were  afraid 
the  candidates  would  die.  So  Baptist  Noel  has  come  out  of  the 
Establishment.     I  doubt  the  wisdom  of  the  method. 

New  York,  January  8,  1849. 
A  Happy  New  Year  !  In  what  country  but  Scotland  would 
950  [Prize]  essays  on  the  Sabbath  be  sent  in  by  labouring  men  ? 
This  even  more  strikes  me  than  that  the  best  should  be  written 
by  a  woman,  ["  The  Pearl  of  Days."]  I  think  almost  every- 
body undervalues  the  actual  good  done  by  our  Missions  ;  say, 
among  the  Indians  ;  which  is  the  one  I  regard  most.  Just  in 
their  infancy,  yet  they  affect  the  tribes  through  and  through. 
Mr.  Dougherty  has  twenty  native  communicants ;  at  two  other 
places  there  are  sixteen  ;  and  among  the  Choctaws,  the  Presby- 
terian church  (though  under  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.)  has  264  native 
members.  Where  is  there  more  success,  proportionally  1 
Dickens's  Christmas  story  is  paltry  ;  though  one  of  its  puns 
showed  me  how  the  English  pronounce  ;:  Ma  ;  "  though  I  might 
have  inferred  it  from  the  concurrence  of  New  England  and  Vir- 
ginia. Pittsburg  is  unfortunate  in  fires,  and  New  Orleans  in 
pestilences.  I  hear  every  day  of  merchants  and  people  of  that 
class  having  died  of  the  epidemic  in  New  Orleans.  The  New 
Haven  road  is  now  open  ;  passage  in  two  hours,  fine  cars  ;  next 
thing  will  be  Albany.  Already  we  go  on  rails  (Erie  Railway) 
about  200  miles.  Our  markets  show  it.  Venison  is  a  drug. 
For  the  cuisine  rccherchee,  nothing  will  do  but  prairie-hens  from 
Illinois,  $2  a  pair,  which  is  as  low  as  canvass-backs ;  as  Juve- 
nal says  :  "  Instruit  ergo  focum  provincial' — Sat.  v.  I  visit  old 
Mr.  Gallatin,  in  his  bed.  It  is  a  treat  to  have  his  reminiscences 
of  our  greatest  men,  all  of  them.  On  such  topics  his  powers 
are  unbroken,  and  he  is  equal  to  anybody  I  ever  heard,  for  never 
hesitating,  and  always  hitting  just  the  word,  with  a  curiosa  feli- 
citas.  He  professes  firm  belief  in  Christianity,  and  I  understand 
him  now  to  admit  the  divinity  of  Christ.  He  thinks  Madison 
the  Greatest  argumentative  parliamentarian  we  ever  had  ;  I  have 
heard  that  Marshall  had  the  same  opinion.  It  just  occurs  to  me, 
that  in  his  earlier  life  Madison  used  to  have  family-worship. 
Afterwards  his  religion  assumed  a  Washingtonian  invisibility. 
My  New  Year's  text,  and  motto,  is  :  "  Hope  thou  in  God."  The 
condition  of  our  yicious  poor  is  very  dreadful.     When  I  think 


92      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW   YORK. 

of  the  hunger  and  nakedness  of  some,  I  cannot  lie  down  in  my 
warm  bed,  without  a  feeling  akin  to  shame.  Contrary  to  my 
expectations,  a  good  many  of  my  young  men  are  away  in  winter, 
on  commercial  travels  ;  it  is  the  only  season  in  which  they  dare 
traverse  the  Western  States. 

New  York,  February  1,  1849. 

I  saw  an  advertisement  which  says  :  "  A  quill-pen  begins  a 
±etter  like  a  pen,  continues  it  like  a  pin,  and  ends  it  like  a  shav- 
ing-brush." The  respectability  of  the  people  going  to  California 
is  very  marked.  Among  those  known  to  me,  many  are  educated, 
and  many  are  religious.  One  party  of  a  hundred  has  included 
Sabbath  observance  in  their  indentures.  One  ship  known  to  me 
is  to  have  daily  worship.  Having  long  believed  colonies  to  be 
the  best  missions,  I  see  in  this  a  most  hopeful  means  for  spread- 
ing the  gospel.  California  churches  can  send  missions  with  ease 
to  China,  Japan,  and  Polynesia.  The  great  proportion  of  north- 
ern men  going  thither,  will  be  favourable  to  the  preserving  of 
our  Union.  Miss  Martineau  comes  out  Pantheist,  in  her  reada- 
ble book  on  Palestine.  The  pull  and  vexation  of  these  numerous 
charitable  collections  upon  us  is  dreadful,  and  injurious,  I  feel 
sure,  to  the  growth  of  our  congregations.  No  other  sect  is  so 
harassed,  and  no  other  ministers  so  "  serve  tables."  Look  at  an 
able  article  on  Immigration  (statistical)  in  the  American  Almanac 
for  1849.  The  "  German  Messenger"  of  the  Tract  Society  is 
edited  by  an  excellent  German,  Mr.  Rauschenbusch.  There  is 
also  here  a  Mr.  Ungewitter,  a  friend  of  Hengstenberg,  and  some- 
time editor  of  a  loyalist  journal  in  Berlin,  but  driven  away  by  the 
Republican  movement.  The  German  method  of  singing  is  the 
true  one,  in  these  respects:  1.  The  harmony  is  confined  to  the 
organ.  2.  The  choir,  which  is  small,  sings  the  air.  3.  They  intro- 
duce no  new  tunes.  4.  The  chorals,  which  they  sing,  (Old  Hun- 
dred being  one,)  are  slow  and  familiar.  5.  Consequently  the 
people  all  sing ;  and  all  sing  the  air,  except  as  individual  fancy 
may  vary  to  suit  the  voice. 

I  have  read  Miss s'  tale,  and  think  it  wonderful ;  but  I 

know,  by  previous  trials,  that  our  booksellers  would  do  nothing 
with  it.  I  was  particularly  struck  with  the  knowledge  of  religion 
evinced,  and  with  the  absence  of  all  turgid  language.  Except 
"  resurrection-morn,"  in  the  last  sentence,  I  do  not  remember  a 
young-ladyism.  Would  that  Bishop  Doane  could  see  it,  before 
again  he  prints  a  sermon !  I  am  surprised  your  Lutheran 
knows  nothing  of  Old  Hundred.  I  have  it  before  me  in  two 
German  collections,  where  it  is  referred  to  two  other  books,  of 
date  1666  and  1772.     The  ascription  of  it  to  Luther  is  no  doubt 


1844—1849.  £3 

mythic.  The  more  pious  divines  (pietists)  in  Wurtemburg, 
look  on  the  democratic  uproars  as  "  Anti-Christ ;"  and  expect  a 
speedy  intervention  of  God,  by  ^ap^aTa  and  miracle. 

Inauguration-day  of  Zachary  Taylor,  March  5,  1849. 
There  is  something  pleasing  in  the  chase  of  a  text  through 
several  versions.  I  have  just  been  looking  at  that  delightful  but 
obscure  one,  Eph.  iv.  16.  The  phrase  Sia  Trdaqs  a^?  ttjs  l-m.- 
XopTTytas,  is  thus  given  :  1.  Eng.  Auth.  Vers.,  "  by  that  which  every 
joint  supplieth."  2.  Geneva,  "  in  every  joynt,  wherwith  one 
ministreth  to  another."  3.  Tyndale,  "  in  every  ioynt  wherwith 
one  ministreth  to  another."  4.  Cranmer,  "joynt  wherwith  one 
ministreth  to  another."  5.  Vulgate,  "  per  omnem  juncturam 
subministrationis."  6.  Rheims,  "  by  al  iuncture  of  subministra- 
tion."  7.  Wicklif,  "  bi  eche  ioynture  of  undir  seruying."  (These 
last  are  just  the  Vulgate  transferred.)  Robinson,  in  Lexicon, 
renders,  "  by  all  the  joints  of  supply."  This  is  just  the  force  of 
the  (8)  Dutch,  "  door  alle  vasgselen  der  toebreuginge,"  and  (9) 
the  old  French,  "par  toutes  les  jointures  du  fournissement." 
Luther  (10)  has  "  clurch  alle  Gelenke;  dadurch  eins  dem  andern 
Handreichung  thut,"  (which  is  very  like  the  English;)  and  (11) 
deWette,  "  durch  allerlei  Gelenke  der  Handreichung,"  which  is  very 
exact,  I  think,  namely,  "by  every-kind-of  joint  of  (hand-reaching) 
supply-help."  I  do  not  think  our  version  here  maintains  its 
usual  superiority.  Before  leaving  this  matter,  I  must  copy  a 
sample  of  Wiclif 's  literal  following  of  the  Vulgate,  in  2  Cor.  i. 
17—19 : 

"  Ether  the  thingis  that  I  thenke,  T  thenke  aftir  the  fleische,  that  at  me, 
be  it  is  &  it  is  not,  but  god  is  trewe,  for  our  word  that  was  at  you  is  &  is 
not,  is  not  therinne,  but  is  in  it,  for  whi  ihesus  crist  the  sone  of  god,  which 
is  prechid  among  you  bi  us,  by  me  &  siluan  and  tymothe,  ther  was  not  in 
him  is  &  is  not :  but  is  was  in  him,"  &c. 

All  this  arises  from  the  singular  fact  that  the  Romans  had 
no  word  for  Yes,  and  had  to  use  Est,  Ita,  Immo,  Maxime. 
This  perpetual  moving  is  a  plague  to  a  family  situated  as 
mine  is.  The  house  I  occupy  has  just  been  sold  over  my  head, 
and  the  new  landlord  raises  the  rent  from  $700  to  $800.  My 
congregation  is  going  down,  by  going  up  (town).  We  dismiss 
two  for  one  we  receive.  Though  the  house  continues  full,  it  is 
of  transient  people ;  no  pews  are  sold,  though  all  are  hired  for 
short  terms.  About  nine-tenths  of  the  property -holders  want  to 
sell  and  go  up  town ;  they  would  do  so  in  a  moment  if  I  should 
say  the  word ;  and  with  every  probability  of  a  new  and  full 
church  there :  but  that  word  I  dare  not  say,  nor  have  ever  given 
any  countenance  to  the  proposal.     Two  of  my  elders  move  up- 


94      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE   ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

town  in  May.  If  you  want  a  colleague  you  had  better  strike 
while  the  iron  is  hot,  and  call  me  now.  Addison  has  a  Com- 
ment on  the  Psalms  going  through  the  press ;  popular ;  no 
strange  tongues.  I  have  not  lately  met  with  a  remark  more  ex- 
actly suiting  me  than  the  following  of  W.  S.  Landor,  respecting 
Southey  :  "  no  prose  writer,  except  Cobbett  and  Sydney  Smith, 
has  written  such  pure  English."  No  week  passes  without  some 
one  going  from  our  congregation  to  California,  almost  all  very 
respectable  persons.  I  am  sorry  to  perceive  that  the  cholera  is 
increasing  at  New  Orleans  and  on  the  plantations. 

New  York,  March  19,  1849. 
Addison  is  certainly  printing  on  Psalms :  I  am  glad  of  it,  as 
no  book  is  more  needed.  Poor  Ebenezer  Mason  was  buried  yester- 
day, in  a  vault  to  which  his  father's  remains  [Dr.  John  M. 
Mason]  had  been  conveyed  the  day  before.  Violent  sudden 
rheumatism.  Duncan  of  Baltimore,  on  his  way  to  the  funeral, 
was  paralyzed  in  a  coach  from  our  wharf,  and  lies  ill,  but  better. 
My  house  is  sold  over  my  head,  and  also  rented,  and  I  am  as 
yet  houseless.  The  kind  of  house  I  need  cannot  be  had,  but  for 
such  sums  as  $800,  $900,  and  even  $1,000.  Atkinson  (when  a 
lawyer)  was  a  particular  friend  of  mine ;  he  was  an  uncommonly 
amiable  man.1  I  do  not  expect  to  lose  fewer  than  twenty  fami- 
lies from  my  church  by  the  1st  of  May.  I  went  yesterday  to 
see  the  man  from  whom  my  child  took  the  varioloid  ;  he  has  had 
the  most  dreadful  form  of  confluent  small-pox.  The  mask  on  his 
face  was  half-an-inch  thick,  so  that  he  cut  it  off  with  a  knife.  I 
am  glad  to  see  the  Bostonians  have  printed  Macaulay  without 
the  "offense,"  uchimist,"  "traveler,"  "  highth,"  and  "luster." 
There  is  a  third  impression  for  twenty-five  cents,  I  continue  to 
see  Mr.  Gallatin,  and  talk  to  him  on  divine  things.  Even  at  his 
almost  hopeless  age,  he  seems  to  make  some  progress  ;  disavows 
deism  ;  disavows  Unitarianism  ;  speaks  of  relying  on  the  merits 
of  Christ  alone ;  on  being  saved  by  faith ;  and  on  the  last  occa- 
sion used  these  words,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  "  My  love  to  my 
redeeming  God."  But  his  mind  loses  its  thread  instantly  if  you 
oppose  any  thing  he  is  saying.  A  pleasant  boy  of  my  church 
suffered  amputation  of  the  leg,  last  week,  for  the  second  time  in 
six  years :  in  the  last  instance  he  was  entirely  insensible,  under 
chloroform. 

New  York  April  24,  1849. 
I  thought  you  would  be  pleased  with  [Life  of  Dr.]  Channing ; 
The  book  did  me  much  good.     How  refreshing  to  find  a  man 

1  The  Rev.  William  M.  Atkinson,  D.D.,  died  February  24,  1849. 


1844—1849.  95 

who  is  in  earnest  about  something.  I  make  great  distinction  be- 
tween Channing  and  his  biographer :  who  knows  how  far  the 
suppressio  has  gone  ?  My  taste  increases  for  books  which  flow 
straight  on,  as  from  an  inner  source ;  little  erudition,  no  quota- 
tion, no  heads  or  divisions,  growing,  swelling,  &c. :  not  the  less, 
because  I  am  individually  of  the  opposite  sort,  and  tend  to  mince 
things  up,  and  put  them  into  patty-pans,  with  numbers.  I  got  a 
shove  for  weeks  from  reading  "  Foster's  Estimate  of  R.  Hail,  as 
a  Preacher."  Don't  fail  to  read  it,  especially  what  he  says  about 
Hall's  faults.  John  Howe  is  the  only  Puritan  writer  of  the  sort 
I  mean.  Addison,  in  one  or  two  of  his  best  sermons,  exemplifies 
my  meaning.  The  year's  pew-letting  (how  1  hate  it !)  has  re- 
sulted in  the  taking  of  as  many  seats  as  at  any  time  before :  it  is 
with  peculiar  pleasure  that  I  see  the  galleries  filling  up.  Coque- 
rel  has  an  answer  to  Strauss,  which  (Unitarian  though  he  be)  con- 
tains some  fine  suggestions  about  the  life  of  Christ.  Mr.  Galla- 
tin joins  in  the  prayers,  wThich  I  offer  by  his  bed-side,  with  a  fer- 
vour and  tenderness  which  fill  me  with  wonder :  I  certainly  never 
saw  a  human  face  more  radiant  with  emotion.  I  wonder  if  every 
other  Presbyterian  minister  in  New  York  feels  (in  secret)  the 
same  want  of  brotherly  support  and  communion  that  I  do. 
Four  distinct  times  I  have  essayed  a  weekly  ministerial  meeting, 
chiefly  for  prayer.  All  other  sects  but  ours,  I  believe,  maintain 
such  a  service  here.1  The  Diisseldorf  collection  of  paintings,  by 
great  modern  Germans,  strikes  me  as  surpassing  any  collection 
I  ever  saw.  Ensingmuller  (])  has  a  picture  in  the  Academy, 
"  Christ  and  his  Church,"  from  Solomon's  Song  :  but  oh,  the 
amatoriousness  of  it,  when  painted,  is  fearful !  It  is  the  most 
gorgeous,  furnace-like  piece  of  colouring  I  ever  beheld,  and  yet 
has  originality  and  merit.  I  am  greatly  struck  with  Ezek.  xxxv. 
10,  as  a  text :  "whereas  Jehovah  was  there :"  it  had  escaped  me 
till  now. 

New  York,  May  8,  1849. 
Our  new  house  [10  Beach  street]  is  an  oddity.  It  is  bulging 
in  front,  deep  in  the  basement,  and  high  like  a  tower.  I  cannot 
account  for  it,  but  I  never  was  in  a  house  from  which  you  could 
look  down  on  so  many  others.  From  our  attic  we  can  count 
most  of  the  city  steeples.  From  my  study  I  behold  Trinity,  St. 
Paul's,  St.  Gardiner's,  St.  McLauren's,  St.  Hardenburg's,  the 
Hospital ;  and  from  every  front  window  St.  John's  tower  and 
dial.  A  tall  liberty-pole,  both  front  and  rear,  with  conspicuous 
vane.  Though  not  precisely  on  St.  John's  Park,  we  are  in  view, 
and  have  sight  of  the  jet  d'eau.     For  the  sake  of  having  a  bath- 

1  A  meeting  of  this  kind  was  afterwards  established. 


96       WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,  NEW   YORK. 

room,  with  hot  and  cold,  and  shower,  we  have  even  consented  to 
have  plumbers  and  id  genus  in  our  kitchen  for  a  week,  and 
have  not  yet  cooked  a  dinner  at  home.  My  study  is  in  a  chaotic 
state.  Our  yard  is  smaller  than  before.  We  have  two  good 
trees  at  the  door,  a  wide  street,  free  sweep  of  winds,  no  neigh- 
bour on  the  west,  and  exemption  from  all  objects  of  nuisant 
aspect.  It  has  been  a  soaking  time  for  the  anniverse,  (qu. :  "  any- 
fuss-eries'"?)  the  Board  of  (Foreign)  Missions  yesterday  and  to- 
day :  several  hours  of  debate  about  appointing  a  general  agent ; 
postponed  till  June.     I  was  glad  to  hear  from  the  Rev.  Dr. 

J (indirectly)  that  you  are  the  author  of  the  "  Letters  to  a 

Young  Minister."1  They  do  you  credit.  Go  on,  my  dear 
brother,  to  rear  the  tender  youth ! 

New  York,  May  21,  1849. 
Dr.  Spring  goes  to  Assembly  after  all,  by  the  illness  of 
Greenleaf,  (green  leaves  have  generally  followed  Spring.) 
What  a  time  of  disasters  !  Crevasse  at  New  Orleans ;  cholera 
and  conflagration  at  St.  Louis ;  loss  of  steamboat  Empire ;  riots 
and  cholera  here.  There  is  little  disposition  among  us  to  turn 
this  to  a  religious  account,  as  our  fathers  used  to  do.  The  true 
state  of  the  case  as  to  our  mob  [Astor-Place  Opera  House]  is, 
that  it  was  crushed  by  one  timely,  though  afflictive  blow,  instead 
of  being  left  to.  dribble  on  year  after  year  :  it  is  the  first  street- 
disturbance  since  I  have  been  here.  I  saw  and  heard  no  sign  of 
it ;  all  my  information  being  from  the  papers.  Rauschenbuseh 
(a  rough  but  devoted  and  Luther-like  man)  is  going  back  to  the 
West.  He  says  the  revolutions  have  driven  to  America  great 
numbers  of  royalists  and  religious  scholars.  The  average  num- 
ber of  sick  Germans  in  the  Staten  Island  Emigrant  Hospital  is 
seven  hundred.  For  these  there  is  no  Protestant  chaplaincy ; 
while  the  Popish  priests  and  Sisters  of  Charity  are  constantly 
there.  A  learned  and  pious  German  of  Elberfeld,  named  Fliede- 
ner,  has  a  seminary  for  Protestant  deaconesses,  to  do  the  same 
work  in  hospitals  that  the  Soeurs  do.  He  has  trained  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  some  of  wealth  and  rank.  He  is  to  be  here  in 
July,  and  I  have  the  promise  of  being  made  acquainted  with  him. 
Whether  feasible  or  not,  the  scheme  is  beautiful  and  gospel-like. 
New  potatoes  abound,  from  Charleston,  at  37^cts.  the  half  peck. 
The  gold  dollar  is  a  pretty  plaything ;  I  can't  think  it  will  live. 
I  am  trustee  for  three  persons  in  the  Savings  Bank.  One  of 
them,  a  servant,  has  $200  deposited  to-day.     Our  chambermaid 

1  This  was  a  series  of  articles  written  by  himself,  and  published  in  "  The 
Presbyterian." 


1844—1849.  97 

has  $500  there.  One  of  the  officers  says  a  few  days  ago  a  known 
prostitute  deposited  $1,600,  and  that  they  receive  a  great  deal 
from  strange  women.  At  my  communion  last  Sunday  five  on 
examination ;  one  on  certificate.  I  know  of  a  few  persons  inquir- 
ing. Mr.  Gallatin  grows  constantly  more  right-minded  in  reli- 
gion;  this  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  it  includes  points  on  which 
1  never  address  him,  and  no  other  religious  person  has  access  to 
him. 

New  York,  May  31,  1849. 

Just  at  this  time,  as  you  may  suppose,  I  am  in  much  heavi- 
ness.1 Only  a  day  or  two  had  1  any  warning  of  what  was  im- 
pending, as  it  did  not  spring  from  my  Princeton  friends.  At 
this  moment  I  am  absolutely  void  of  all  information  except  the 
telegraphic  vote.  The  thing  gives  me  unspeakable  pain.  To 
you  I  will  say,  believing  you  can  understand  it,  that  any  little 
unction  of  flattery  in  the  appointment  is  instantly  more  than 
absorbed  by  the  greatness  of  the  question,  and  the  anguish  of  a 
separation  from  my  charge,  if  I  accept.  They  (with  no  syllable 
from  me)  seem  to  give  up  at  once,  and  think  I  have  no  option. 
This  I  do  not  think :  but,  at  the  same  time,  the  judgment  of  our 
highest  court  is  very  grave,  in  a  case  where  all  previous  plans 
seemed  to  fail.  There  is  no  need  of-  saying  so  to  the  public,  but 
to  know  that  I  might  remain  here  would  be  a  joy  unspeakable. 
No  dreams  of  mine  respecting  the  social  happiness  of  the  pas- 
toral relation  have  failed  to  be  realized :  in  this  I  compare  it  to 
marriage.  I  have  tried  academic  and  Princeton  life,  and  was  less 
happy.  Every  thing  makes  me  feel  solemn,  and  I  am  (not 
metaphorically,  but  literally)  sick.  All  my  ministerial  friends, 
to  a  man,  say  Go.  Seldom  have  I  more  deeply  felt  my  utter 
insignificance — the  blindness  of  fellow-creatures,  who  from  some 
view  of  outside  think  me  of  any  value  in  such  a  matter — and  the 
unimportance  of  the  question,  in  all  but  a  religious  and  eternal 
view.     Life  is  very  short :  Dirigat  Deus  ! 

I  have  just  purchased  for  the  College  a  collection  of  ancient 
Greek  and  Roman  medals,  imitated  perfectly  in  a  composition  of 

1  In  the  General  Assembly,  at  Pittsburg,  May  21,  1849,  the  Report  of 
the  Directors  of  the  Princeton  Seminary  was  received,  in  which  it  was  an- 
nounced that  the  venerable  Professor  Miller,  on  account  of  bodily  infirm- 
ities, wished  to  resign  his  office.  The  Assembly  resolved  to  continue  Dr. 
Miller's  connexion  with  the  institution,  under  the  title  of  Emeritus  Pro- 
fessor, with  its  salary  and  all  other  rights  during  his  life,  and  to  elect  a  new 
professor  for  the  active  duties  of  instruction.  On  the  26th  May,  the  As- 
sembly proceeded  to  the  election,  and  Dr.  Alexander  received  a  majority 
of  the  votes.  The  professorship  was  that  of  Ecclesiastical  History  and 
Church  Government.     Dr.  Miller  survived  until  January  7,  1850. 

VOL.  II. 5 


98      WHILE   PASTOR   OF   DUANE    ST.   CHURCH,   NEW  YORK. 

sulphur,  as  to  colour,  detrition,  &c.  They  are  chronological- 
ly arranged  in  twenty-two  boxes,  each  having  six  cassettes. 
They  number  6,089.  They  were  made  for  Lord  Vernon,  by 
Odelli,  of  Rome.  A  few  alumni  of  the  College,  being  called  on, 
raised  the  money  immediately.  You  can  hardly  imagine  the 
effect  produced  on  the  imagination  by  looking  over  such  a  series, 
so  like  reality  ;  seeing  the  same  emperor's  face,  going  through 
phases,  and  the  legends  in  such  Roman-looking  Roman  uncials. 
I  have  several  things  to  tell  you  about  Mr.  Gallatin,  but  coram. 
I  think  he  is  renewed  by  direct  spiritual  agency.  There  is  a 
something  which  looks  more  supernatural  than  what  I  ever 
observed.  I  want  to  propose  to  you  an  article,  which  you  have 
facilities  for  preparing,  in  the  State  Library  :  a  Digest  of  the 
Laws  of  the  several  States  concerning  Marriage,  so  far  as  they 
respect  the  officiating  clergyman.  It  might  lead  to  excellent  re- 
sults, and  open  way  for  kindred  remarks,  &c.  In  some  States 
ministers  are  liable  in  heavy  penalties,  without  any  authority  to 
take  depositions,  or  any  protection  by  license.  In  Virginia, 
most  sensibly,  all  responsibility  is  on  the  county-clerk,  who  gives 
the  license,  after  inquiry,  oath,  &C.1 

1  Within  a  few  weeks  after  the  date  of  this  letter,  Dr.  Alexander  de- 
clared his  acceptance  of  the  professorship,  and  removed  to  Princeton. 
Although  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  soon  after  the  opening 
of  the  session  of  the  Seminary,  his  inauguration  did  not  take  place  until 
November  20,  1849. 


CHAPTER    X. 

LETTERS  WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

1849—1851. 

Princeton,  June  14,  1849. 

My  anxious  suspense  is  so  far  relieved  that  I  have  determined 
to  remove  hither.  The  voice  of  the  .Assembly  seemed  to  leave 
me  little  option,  except  in  points  of  which  they  could  not  he  cog- 
nizant. The  voice  of  my  clerical  brethren,  in  and  out  of  New 
York,  so  far  as  known  to  me,  has  been  in  favour  of  my  transla- 
tion. Jones  informs  me  that  this  is  the  unanimous  wish  in 
Philadelphia  ;  and  a  number  of  my  own  people  have  reluctantly 
owned  that  they  think  it  my  duty  to  go.  I  have  been  somewhat 
moved  by  this  singular  concurrence ;  but  more  by  the  unexpect- 
ed Providence  which  has  secured  such  a  result,  by  the  frustration 
of  all  preceding  plans.  As  to  competency  I  cannot  judge  of  that. 
As  to  the  comparative  importance  of  the  two  posts,  I  have  never 
had  any  question,  that  (to  one  competent)  the  teaching-place  was 
equal  in  importance  to  any  ten  of  the  other. 

I  have  seen  clearly  that  the  Duane  Street  Church  could  live 
only  by  moving  up-town,  and  thither  I  wished  not  to  move.  I 
have  seen  as  clearly  that  my  powers  were  tasked  to  a  tension 
which  must  soon  be  fatal ;  while,  in  the  steadier  routine  of  teach- 
ing,  I  might  last  a  season,  with  ordinary  favour  of  Providence. 

Do  not  be  surprised  to  see  me  on  Sunday,  but  do  not  look 
for  me.  My  going,  if  I  go,  is  merely  to  attend  on  my  father.  I 
have  been  very  much  unwell,  even  in  bed  for  a  time.  The  cause 
I  think  was  my  extreme  trouble  of  mind  about  removal. 

Princeton,  June  30,  1S49. 
Again  our  relation  is  changed,  and  you  are  once  more  the  city, 
and  I  the  country  mouse.     President  Bonaparte  seems  to  be  con- 


100    WHILE   PROFESSOR   IN   THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

tradicting  all  previous  beliefs  of  his  imbecility  :  they  say  he 
managed  the  late  emeute  admirably.  You  see  Baptist  W.  Noel 
has  become  an  anabaptist.  I  am  in  the  thick  of  painting,  scour- 
ing, mending,  whitening,  &c,  and  have  not  yet  got  in  any 
of  my  furniture.  I  have  never  read  such  personality  and  scur- 
rility in  ecclesiastical  debate  in  the  United  States,  as  in  the  two 
Scotch  Assemblies.  In  the  Established  Church  they  debated 
three  hours  about  the  two  nominees  for  Moderator,  Bell  and 
Simpson  ;  with  very  unbecoming  opprobrium  on  both.  Nobody 
seems  to  know  any  thing  of  Bannerman,  who  succeeds  Dr.  Chal- 
mers ;  he  may  be  none  the  worse  for  that.  Addison  (pro  more) 
has  moved  again,  and  has  chambers  in  the  Seminary,  lowest 
floor,  front,  next  to  Dr.  Hodge's. 


Princeton,  July  19,  1849. 
Paint,  paint !  Hammer,  Hammer  !  Still  in  transitu.  When 
a  house  has  had  no  regular  inhabitant  for  four  or  five  years,  it  is 
wonderful  how  many  things  get  awry  ;  locks,  keys,  grates,  pot- 
hooks, pins,  bolts,  panes,  clrawers,  knobs,  ceilings,  floors,  steps, 
spouts,  shingles,  gates,  hinges,  coops,  well-buckets,  volunteer 
trees,  weeds,  &c.  We  have  not  got  in  yet;  though  I  write  in 
my  quondam  study.  I  will  give  you  two  hundred  young  paper- 
mulberry  trees,  now  growing  in  my  grounds,  on  condition  you 
take  away  the  parent  dittos.  An  excellent,  pious  cook,  whom 
we  left  in  New  York,  has  had  the  cholera ;  a  girl  of  whom  I 
made  a  little  purchase  of  mint  lozenges  the  other  day,  has  since 
died  of  the  same.  Mrs.  S.  (New  York)  was  taken  with  formida- 
ble symptoms,  including  marble-coldness,  sinking/  and  nausea, 
on  Sunday  night.  Dr.  Beatty  of  Ohio,  who  is  here,  encountered 
cases  everywhere  on  the  canal.  In  an  upland  village  near  him, 
the  Rev.  John  K.  Cunningham,  one  of  our  alumni,  has  lost  his 

wife,  and  seven  or  eight  valuable  members  of  his  church.     

is  a  good-natured  fellow,  and  1  think  may  be  led  into  ways  of  much 
more  usefulness  than  he  has.  When  1  see  how  he  has  gained  in 
a  year  or  two,  I  have  hopes  he  may  get  over  even  his  desire 
digito  monstrarier.  In  Princeton  College,  I  am  certain,  a  boy 
will  be  better  taught,  more  developed,  and  made  a  man  of,  than 
in  a  city  college.  True,  he  will  be  more  endangered ;  but,  after 
all,  strength  cannot  come  but  by  some  peril.  I  have  scarcely 
ever  known  a  studious  boy  injured  in  college ;  never  one  who 
added  good  habits  and  dutifulness,  on  entrance.  Though  I  own 
my  parental  apprehensions  would  forbid  me  to  do  it,  I  soberly 
think  our  sons  would  gain  most,  by  going  through  the  entire 
college-trials,  commons  and  all. 


1849—1851.  101 

Princeton,  August  11,  1849. 
The  only  critical  case  among  the  car-wrecked  people,1  is  that 
of  Walters.  Mr.  Schenck,  Dr.  Maclean,  and  Dr.  Hodge  have 
been  daily  with  the  afflicted.  Three  of  them  have  chiefly  fallen 
under  my  notice ;  one  of  these  is  a  black  woman,  a  seemingly 
pious  Baptist.  Another,  dreadfully  hurt  in  the  legs — wounds 
a  hand's  breadth  deep,  with  iron  screw  in  bottom  of  one — 
is  a  good-looking  German  tanner,  from  Magdeburg.  He  cannot 
speak  a  word  of  English.  This  morning  it  occurred  to  me  to 
quote  the  beginning  of  the  Hymn,  "  O  Haupt  voll  Blut  und 
Wunden  ;"  he  immediately  repeated  the  whole  fourteen  stanzas 
of  eight  lines  each ;  it  was  evidently  to  him  an  act  of  devotion. 
He  also  repeated  two  other  long  hymns,  highly  evangelical,  but 
new  to  me.  What  an  instance  of  the  good  of  hymns  got  by 
heart !  Next  to  him  lies  a  New  York  Yankee,  who  perhaps  does 
not  know  one,  though  the  more  intelligent,  and  possibly  the 
more  pious  of  the  two.  The  Company  spare  no  pains  :  indeed 
no  pains  or  price  can  neutralize  the  effect  of  the  testimony  before 
the  coroner.  Our  lives  have  all  been  at  the  mercy  of  a  switch- 
tender,  who  may  be  miles  away.  I  think  it  a  kindly  Providence 
that  the  sufferers  are  where  they  can  receive  so  much  soothing 
and  useful  truth.  I  preached  to  a  fine  congregation  on  Fast  Day, 
at  Blawenburg,  and  to  Africans  on  Sunday.  I  desire  not  to  be 
away  for  more  than  a  night,  till  I  can  get  through  my  heavy 
preparations.  After  I  am  a  week  or  two  warm  in  the  saddle,  I 
will  gladly  give  you  one,  two,  or  three  Sundays.  Mr.  de  San- 
dran,  the  French  master,  died  this  morning  from  apoplexy. 
Though  somewhat  settled,  our  painters  have  left  us  with  a  num- 
ber of  window-shutters  off,  front-door  barricaded,  and  stairs  un- 
carpeted.  We  took  in  half  a  hogshead  of  water,  which  entered 
loft,  attic,  and  guest-chamber.  Chancellor,  Bishop,  and  Dr. 
Johns  have  each  a  son  in  College.  Accession  about  50.  Prof. 
Loomis  is  recalled  to  University,  New  York  city.  I  fear  we 
none  of  us  feel  duly  our  exemption  from  the  plague,  (cholera.) 
What  a  difference  between  Trenton  and  Brunswick  !  By  avoid- 
ing all  aperient  fruits  and  vegetables,  I  have,  since  coming  here, 
enjoyed  (what  I  never  had  before  in  July)  a  perfect  regularity  of 
health.  Still  I  look  on  the  cholera  very  much  as  I  do  on  a  stroke 
of  lightning,  and  have  no  notion  of  charging  every  one  who  has 
it  with  imprudence.  Two  deaths  of  it  on  Sourland  Mountain,  in 
a  high,  airy,  secluded  nook.  At  Blockley  they  tried  every  variety 
of  approved  practice ;  almost  all  died.  Several  very  near  neigh- 
bours of  ours  in  New  York  have  been  carried  off  by  it,  including 
two  physicians,  and  three  in  the  family  of  one  of  them. 

1  An  accident  on  the  railway  near  Princeton. 


102    WHILE  PROFESSOR   IN  THE   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

Princeton,  August  28,  1849. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  applied  myself  more  constantly  or 
closely  than  for  two  months  past.  On  the  30th  our  duties  be 
gin.  The  next  two  Sabbaths  I  expect  to  preach  in  Duane  street, 
For  some  time  past  Mr.  Gallatin  was  unable  to  see  me,  or  even 
hear  my  name.  Just  before  his  death  his  exercises  were  as  fol 
lows  :  "  He  has  been  at  the  point  of  death,  and  his  situation  is 
still  very  critical.  During  his  extremest  illness  he  had  the  most 
blessed  assurance  of  acceptance  and  salvation  through  Christ,  re- 
peatedly praising  and  thanking  God  for  his  mercies  and  good- 
ness, in  that  he  should  have  been  made  a  partaker  of  this  salva- 
tion, as  he  expressed  himself  continually.  The  God-Man  still  a 
mystery  to  him,  but  (no  longer  doubted)  fully  believed  and  re- 
ceived. For  one  hour  heaven  was  opened  unto  him,  and  he 
appeared  on  the  threshold  of  Eternity ;  but  it  pleased  God  to 
bring  him  again  to  earth,  with  shattered  frame  and  intellect,  &c." 

I  own  no  copy  of  Doddridge  but  the  one  volume  one.  By- 
the-bye,  I  have  got  more  good  from  that  book  than  from  any 
commentator.  There  ought  to  be  a  new  edition  with  modernized 
references ;  nobody  knows  the  numerous  dissenting  authors 
whom  he  cites  in  the  notes.  Addison  has  saddled  himself  with  a 
tremendous  job  in  his  book  on  Psalms,  but  his  working-power  ex- 
ceeds any  thing  I  ever  dreamt  of.  I  hope  you  see  Copperfield, 
[Dickens'  Tale ;]  it  is  delightful  and  useful.  I  wish  you  had 
been  here  to  meet  the  Rev.  Theodore  Fliedner,  of  Prussia,  who 
has  been  at  Dr.  Hodge's.  For  thirteen  years,  besides  being  a 
pastor,  he  has  been  training  Christian  nurses,  (sceurs  de  charite,) 
or,  "  Evangelical  deaconesses,"  of  whom  he  and  his  wife  have 
trained  a  hundred  and  fifty.  He  has  been  making  a  flying 
visit  to  the  United  States,  to  set  up  four  of  his  deaconesses  at 
Pittsburg.  They  are  under  no  vows,  but  engage  to  serve  five 
years.  I  have  his  reports.  Among  his  subscribers  are  all  the 
royal  and  princely  names  of  Prussia,  and  all  the  ecclesiastical 
authorities.  He  is  a  most  earnest,  one-idead  man,  full  of  the 
tenderness  gendered  by  such  pursuits.  Some  of  his  remarks  in 
conversation  abridged :  "  You  Americans  far  surpass  us  in  some 
things,  especially  in  practical  tact ;  but  O,  what  a  want  of  ten- 
derness and  heart !  O,  what  singing  in  the  churches ;  not 
half  singing ;  and  some  schools  where  no  singing  is  taught ! 
Your  American  church  is  a  good  father,  but  it  is  not  a  mother ; 
it  lacks  the  mother-love  to  the  poor,  and  sick,  and  prisoner. 
This  you  leave  to  Free  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  and  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance. Your  young  ministers  are  not  trained  at  bedsides,  and 
in  gaols  ;  the  best  training.  Are  the  difficulties  greater  for  you 
than  for  Papists'?     Surely,  there  are  maiden  ladies  in  America 


1849—1851.  103 

who  would  love  to  nurse  Christ  in  his  sick  members."  He  pub- 
lishes a  Magazine  for  the  Poor  and  Sick,  and  for  those  who 
attend  them.  I  have  it.  They  have  been  especially  useful  in 
the  Magdalen  cause,  (as  it  is  calumniously  called.)  I  don't  think 
I  shall  ever  lose  the  impression  of  his  gentleness  and  energy. 
If  I  hear  of  his  coming  here,  in  time,  I  will  send  for  you,  and  you 
must  come,  if  only  for  an  hour. 

Princeton,  September  13,  1849. 
Since  I  wrote  last,  I  have  passed  through  a  thicket  of  thoughts 
and  cares,  though  I  have  been  blessed  with  unusual  health.  My 
new  business  involves  more  pressing  study  than  I  had  thought ; 
and  in  a  new  habitation  there  are  daily  wants  emergent  which 
take  time  and  money.  Then  the  pleasing-painful  care  of  other 
peoples'  cares  has  been  daily.  I  am  glad  you  have  escaped  the 
model  of  the  Pantheon,  as  all  un-hcllenistic  people  call  it,  even 
in  verse.  See  Pope  to  the  contrary.  My  inauguration  is  to  be 
on  the  20th  of  November :  at  which  time  you  will  appear  at  bed 
and  board.  Phillips  and  Plumer  induct,  by  charge  and  sermon. 
"  O  Mother  dear  Jerusalem,"  is  a  famous  Scotch  hymn  or  ballad, 
by  Dickson  of  the  17th  century.  I  cannot  lay  my  hands  on  it : 
it  is  very  long,  and  is  the  mother  dear  of  "  Jerusalem  my  Happy 
Home."  The  least  of  my  doubts  concerning  Fliedner  is  on  the 
point  you  mention :  I  think  it  clear  that  there  were  deaconesses 
of  old.  Look  at  1  Tim.  iii.  11,  of  which  the  whole  force  is  lost  in 
our  version :  ywawoas  does  not  mean  their  wives  (why  should 
the  qualifications  of  wives  of  deacons  and  of  no  other  officers  be 
named])  but  the  females,  i.  e.  the  deaconesses.  Just  look  at  this 
in  the  whole  connexion.  I  am  afraid  you  will  find  the  chronology 
of  our  Lord's  doctrines  second  in  perplexity  only  to  the  preces- 
sion of  the  equinoxes.  My  poor  congregation  in  New  York  is  in 
a  bad  way.  The  two  or  three  old-hunkers,  who  can't  see  that  the 
earth  has  gone  round  any  since  Dr.  Romeyn's  day,  would  never 
believe  (what  is  undeniable)  that  the  Church  cannot  be  maintain- 
ed where  it  is,  except  as  a  free  church.  This  I  perceived  two 
years  ago,  and  discovered  six  months  ago  that  five-sixths  of  the 
people  were  ready  to  move.  But  the  plan  was  quashed  by  the 
conservatives,  and  I  fear  they  will  be  left  alone,  unless  they  in 
stanter  remove.  The  house  is  almost  embedded  in  places  of 
disreputable  resort.  Its  real  supporters  live  far  above  it. 
Drs.  Spring  and  McElroy  will  soon  go  up,  and  the  sense  of  be- 
ing a  preacher  to  a  fluent  crowd  was  what  chiefly  discouraged  me, 
and  hindered  my  labours.  I  say  these  things  to  them  freely  now, 
because  they  cannot  charge  me  with  any  worldly  lust  of  a  bet- 
ter locale,  which  they  constructively  did  while  I  was  with  them.     I 


104:    WHILE   PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

have  said  to  Mr.  Anchincloss  that  two  years  hence  there  cannot 
by  possibility  be  a  Presbyterian  church  at  that  corner.  They 
must  choose  between  scattering  (already  repeated  till  the  identity 
is  gone)  and  removal.  The  greater  the  man  they  get,  the  sooner 
will  he  translate  the  Church.  Lower  New  York  is  in  no  proper 
sense  other  than  as  a  warehouse,  compared  with  a  dwelling. 

Our  Directors  being  done  with,  do  come  on  and  bring  your 
family.  I  have  beans  and  spinach,  and  a  bushel  of  sour  grapes ; 
and  though  beef  is  rare,  we  have  a  great  diversity  of  agnine  parts, 
such  as  neck,  breast,  loin,  kidneys,  &c.  My  dear  old  father  is  a 
little  unwell  again.  He  will  preach  when  asked,  and  people  will 
ask  him.     Two  sermons  and  a  lecture  in  three  days  ! 

Princeton,  September  19,  pridie  JEquinoct.,  1849. 
In  the  sore  loss  of  my  parochial  comforts,  which  were  always 
delightful  to  me,  in  the  net  result,  and  which  are  to  a  sincere 
man  a  sort  of  expansion  of  his  fireside  pleasures,  I  try  to  comfort 
myself  by  looking  with  new  eyes  on  my  pupils.  We  have 
matriculated  fifty -three,  and  "  still  they  come."  I  am  struck 
with  the  amount  of  good  healthy  flesh  and  bone.  Nothing  is  so 
pleasing  to  me  as  the  Sunday  conference.1  It  is  a  genuine  primi- 
tive "  prophesying."  My  dear  old  father,  whose  feebleness 
reaches  my  heart,  is  nowhere  so  felicitous.  About  half  the  young 
men  are  off  at  schools  and  meetings.  The  subjects  are  always 
practical  or  experimental.  When  you  exchange  with  me,  be  sure 
to  arrange  for  attending  this  meeting.  Of  Scots  and  Hibernians 
we  have  about  a  dozen,  several  being  Glasgow  graduates ;  also  a 
Baptist  preacher,  and  wife,  from  Charleston.  Last  year  there 
were  five  or  six  Baptists,  all  most  promising  men.  Dr.  Miller 
is  really  too  weak  to  go  about  with  safety.  John  Miller,  after 
the  tour  of  Europe,  and  after  being  a  prisoner  for  half  a  day  in 
Rome,  seeing  the  Pope's  house  at  Gaeta,  and  lying  ill  in  Holland, 

is  on  the  return,  via  Edinburgh.     is  a  good  preacher,  a  pious 

man,  a  most  affable,  unpretending  companion,  but  overladen  with 
extraordinary  knowledge  of  books,  beyond  proportion  to  his 
mental  powers.     That  is  a  splendid  oration  of  Victor  Hugo  at 

the  Peace  Congress.     You  have,  through ,  an  opportunity 

to  get  a  national  thanksgiving  on  account  of  the  diminution 
of  the  pestilence.  Poor  Blythe  is  still  silenced,  by  sequelae  of 
dysentery.  The  Second  Church  is  nearly  ready ;  a  snug  little 
place.  Washington  Irving,  in  his  "  Goldsmith,"  has  illy,  and 
several  other  illiterate  expressions. 

1  A  meeting  for  devotion  and  remarks  on  topics  of  experimental  religion, 
held  by  the  professors  with  the  students  of  the  Seminary,  every  Lord's-day 
afternoon. 


1849—1851.  105 

Princeton,  October  4,  1849 
I  have  for  you  a  copy  of  "  O  Mother  Dear,"  singularly 
thrown  in  my  way,  how  or  whence  I  know  not :  I  picked  it  up 
in  the  mire  of  the  road.  The  Mons.  Perrin  you  name  is  an  ex- 
traordinary violinist ;  except  the  miraculous  Oles  and  Sivoris, 
he  beats  any  thing  I  remember.  As  to  stoves,  I  anticipated 
your  despair.     The  diversification  is  ridiculous,  like  Horace's 

Qui  variare  cupit  rem  prodigialiter  unam. 

I  have  stuck  an  old  second-hand  franklin  in  my  study-hearth, 
for  wood  :  it  does  well  enough  for  moderate  weather.  I  shall 
miss  nothing  of  New  York  so  much  as  English  coal ;  for  I  can't 
afford  to  burn  it  here. 

I  should  like  to  lend  you  Milman's  History  of  Christianity, 
volume  by  volume,  for  though  it  is  written  with  an  almost  infidel 
coolness,  it  is  the  only  English  work  that  gives  the  distilled 
essence  of  the  Germanic  researches  into  out-of-the-wTay  antiquities 
of  early  mother  church.  If  I  live,  I  must  be  some  years  familiar- 
izing myself  with  the  original  documents  of  the  former  ages. 

It  would  be  chimerical  to  expect  the  same  watch  over  hun- 
dreds of  young  men  as  a  father  has  over  half-a-dozen ;  and  there 
must  also  be  a  period  of  transition  from  home  to  the  world,  but 
this  period  should  be  (O  how  carefully  !)  guarded.  I  should  like 
to  have  the  following  queries  discussed  in  some  journal,  concern- 
ing any  college,  or  all  colleges :  How  often  does  the  President 
appear  in  private  chambers  1  How  many  times  in  a  year  does 
he  avail  himself  of  the  prayer-assembly,  to  make  any  fatherly 
remarks  1  What  assurance  have  you  that  lads  are  in  their 
chambers  from  11 — 12  P.  M.  ?  Suppose  twenty  are  at  a  grog- 
hole  all  night,  what  means  of  assuring  yourselves  of  this? 
What  limit  to  walking  all  over  the  city  or  village  on  Sunday  1 
What  superintendence  at  feeding-time,  in  those  houses  where  ten 
to  twelve  fellows  take  their  grub  separate  from  the  family  1 

Great  evils  arise  in  the  United  States  from  the  ease  with 
which  new  congregations,  churches,  and  even  sects  are  formed. 
Ex.  gr. :  suppose  a  minority  in  Smithville  choose  to  do  wrong. 
Presbytery  animadverts.  Minority  turns  on  heel ;  "  who  cares !  " 
Presbytery  more  stringent.  Minority  turns  on  heel;  new 
church;  two  steeples;  two  miserable  handfuls;  two  starving 
preachers ;  perhaps  one  independent  society.  There  is  no  dis- 
grace, and  little  difficulty,  in  rearing  a  new  sect.  Hence  an 
ecclesiastical  censure  is  brutum  fulmen ;  and  hence  church  courts 
shrink  from  uttering  their  thunders.  Our  practice  is  a  century 
or  more  below  our  book  of  discipline,  in  all  courts  but  the 
highest;    and   nobody    abides   by   acts   of  General   Assembly, 

VOL.  II. — 5* 


106     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN   THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

whether  anent  sitting  in  prayer,  or  reading  in  preaching.      A 
vermilion  edict. 

Princeton,  October  12,  1849. 

There  is  a  remarkable  amount  of  indisposition  in  the  Semina- 
ry, though  nobody  very  ill,  nor  prevalence  of  any  one  disease. 
At  least  ten  are  on  the  sick-list.  One  young  man  of  college,  na- 
tive of  Scotland,  lies  very  low  with  dysentery.  I  have  preached 
as  much  as  usual  ever  since  I  left  New  York,  besides  the  tough 
work  of  getting  ready  for  classes.1 

On  reaching  Princeton,  I  had  hard  work  to  get  ready  for  my 
lecture  at  11  o'clock.  Just  as  we  were  sitting  down  to  dinner 
we  perceived  the  house  of  our  neighbour,  Mrs.  Armstrong,  to  be 
on  fire.  Our  gardens  join,  though  she  fronts  on  Stockton  street. 
The  wind  was  towards  us,  and  at  that  moment  very  high. 
Providence  ordered  several  things  most  happily  :  the  wind  was 
from  the  house ;  it  was  mid-day ;  Edward  Armstrong  was  in  his 
mother's  house ;  and  a  new  fire-engine  had  just  been  procured 
to  be  handselled  on  this  occasion.  Commodore  Stockton  was 
soon  on  the  roof,  with  the  face  of  a  coal-man.  Armstrong  thinks 
he  saved  the  house.  Every  thing  was  removed  from  it.  The 
chief  damage  is  the  kitchen  part,  which  is  pretty  much  unroofed. 
It  came  of  the  country  practice  of  burning  a  chimney  during  the 
heavy  rain  of  the  morning. 

Princeton,  October  15,  1849. 
I  wish  I  had  begun  early  to  mark  places  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, in  which  the  play  of  the  sound  is  lost  in  English.  I  note 
these  in  my  morning  lesson:  2  Cor.  iii.  5,  6,  "Not  that  we  are 
Ikolvol  of  ourselves,  to  think  any  thing  ....  but  the  iKavoT-qs  is 
of  God,  who  also  iKanocrev  us  ministers  of  the  New  Testament. 
O  that  we  could  English  that  glorious  passage,  2  Cor.  iv.  8,  seq. ! 
The  jingle  is  lost,  and  in  OHr  version  what  a  bathos,  from  change 
of  usage  in  a  word,  is  here  :  "  We  are  troubled  on  every  side, 
yet  not  distressed  !  "  Tyndale  says,  "  without  shy  ft."  Try  your 
hand  on  the  whole  passage,  in  translation ;  it  will  at  least  breed 
a  sermon.  The  iv  -rravri  seems  to  qualify  all  the  series.  "  In  this  * 
w^hole  life  of  ours,  we  are  pressed,  but  not  oppressed,"  (pressed 
to  death ;)  clause  out :  "  a7ropov/xevot,  desponding,  but  not  e£a7ro- 
pov/xetot,  despairing;"  Wiclif  renders  veKpaxriv,  "  si  eying,"  and 
the  Rhemists,  "  mortification,"  both  actively.  I  believe  this  is 
the  only  classical  sense.     I  had  just  been  reading  with  wonder 

1  The  number  of  his  sermons  in  1844  was  97  ;  1845,  117  ;  1846,  120; 
1847,  107  ;  1848,  109  ;  1849,  80.  His  farewell  sermon  was  preached  in 
Duaue  Street,  June  10,  1849,  from  1  Cor.  iii.  21-23. 


1849—1851.  107 

Prof.  Guyot's  (Agassiz's  friend)  "  Earth  and  Man,"  when  I  this 
morning  fell  in  with  him  at  Dr.  Hodge's.  Guyot  and  Prof. 
Henry  are  busy  at  the  making  some  thousands  of,  barometers  at 
New  York,  for  government.  He  is  a  tenderly  pious  man ;  you 
would  be  delighted  to  hear  such  childlike  French  Christianity 
from  such  a  philosopher ;  he  is  brother-in-law  of  Grandpierre. 
"The  revolution  of  1848,  unlike  that  of  1830,  declares  war 
against  learning  and  science;  these  are  aristocratical.  Down 
with  all  aristocracy ! — of  mind — yes,  even  of  morals."  This 
avowed  by  a  very  distinguished  leader,  of  genius,  in  the  Canton 
de  Vaud  :  "  Down  with  all  mentalism,  ideology  !  "  "  The  next 
generation  growing  up  in  this  sensualism."  He  thinks  the  seces- 
sion of  F.  Monod,  Bridel,  &c,  very  wrong.  "Result  of  break- 
ing connexion  with  state,  would  be  to  leave  at  least  half  the 
Protestant  churches  without  service ;  and  this  in  an  unchristian 
population.  Dare  we  take  the  responsibility  of  such  a  crisis  ?  " 
He  thinks  we  have  no  notion  of  the  prevalence  of  atheism  among 
the  mass  in  Germany  and  Switzerland. 

I  feel  the  week's  ideology  does  not  fit  me  bodily  for  Sunday- 
ism  :  I  came  flagged  to  the  "  desk :"  yesterday  two  sermons : 
this  morning  nervous.  I  did  not  leave  pastoral  life  willingly ;  I 
foresaw  the  very  evils  I  begin  to  feel ;  but  they  distress  me 
more  than  I  reckoned  for.  I  miss  my  old  women ;  and  especial- 
ly my  weekly  catechumens,1  my  sick-rooms,  my  rapid  walks,  and 
my  nights  of  right-down  fatigue.  Prof.  Henry  is  lecturing  a 
rapid  course,  to  the  unspeakable  delight  of  the  collegians ;  his 
studies  were  always  pleasing  to  them,  though  he  was  such  a 
driller. 

Princeton,  November,  8,  1849. 
Bill  concerning  Old  Correspondents. 
"  Sec.  10.  And  be  it  enacted,  that  in  case  any  citizens  shall 
cause  it  to  appear  that  they  have  communicated,  conferred,  or 
corresponded,  by  letter  or  epistle,  for  the  term  of  thirty  years, 
the  said  citizens  shall  have  the  franking  privilege  for  the  remain- 
der of  their  natural  lives,  etc." 

Craven  has  just  got  back  from  South  Hampton  (one  of  four 
Hamptons,  of)  Long  Island.  Strange  place!  Puritan  settle- 
ment :  scarce  altered  in  two  hundred  years :  insulated :  antique 
fashions:  1,700  parishioners:  no  church  but  Presbyterian  in  all 
the  district :  wealthy  farmers :  surface  of  ground  covered  with 

1  He  contributed  to  the  Repertory  this  year  a  paper  on  "  The  History 
of  Catechizing."  His  other  articles  in  the  volume  of  1849  were  on  the  Bap- 
tist Controversy,  on  the  Family  of  Arnauld,  (as  connected  with  Jansenism 
and  Port  Royal,)  and  on  the  Autobiography  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ashbel  Green. 


108    WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 

rotting  sea-fish,  their  only  manure.  Every  serious  wound  leads 
to  tetanus  ;  same  in  adjacent  parishes.  Five  times  as  many  at 
church  in  afternoon  as  in  morning.  Farmers  do  not  live  on 
their  farms,  but  in  hamlets :  thirteen  elders,  one  or  more  in  each 

hamlet.     In  the  village  of  S not  one  male  communicant,  but 

many  in  the  church.  All  these  have  joined  in  revivals.  Among 
their  ministers  have  been  Jonathan  Edwards,  Dr.  Buel,  and  Dr. 
Beecher.  Imperturbable  in  old  habits.  Vacant,  but  won't  ac- 
cept one  as  candidate  till  he  has  preached  for  them  three  months. 
All  their  produce  goes  to  Sag  Harbour.  These  gleanings  from 
my  father.  Dr.  Hare's  sermon,  showing  that  baptized  children 
are  church  members.  Once  it  was  our  doctrine,  but  New  Eng- 
land has  conquered.  Every  now  and  then  I  hear  a  new  word 
added  to  the  college  lingo :  e.  g.  "  Half  the  Junior  class  are 
taking  privates,  (q.  d.  private  lessons,  with  a  tutor,  so  as  to  keep 
up  with  Prof.  Alexander's  hard  mathematics.)  Webster's  Dic- 
tionary, last  edition,  has  all  the  English  University  terms,  such 
as  Little-go,  Tripos-papers,  Wrangler,  Optimes,  Corpus,  &c.  If 
you  ever  need  a  French  dictionary,  buy  the  last  and  best "  French 
and  English,  and  English  and  French  Dictionary,  &c,  &c,  by  A 
Spiers."  1849.  Paris.  8vo,  pp.  1331:  $4:  bound  in  France. 
In  Boston,  Little  and  Brown.  It  is  under  the  auspices  of  Guizot, 
Villemain,  and  many  savans  and  litterateurs  in  England  and 
France.     Agreez,  Monsieur,  &c. 

Princeton,  November  14,  1849. 
My  mind  docs  not  easily  leave  the  death-bed  scene  of  our 
dear  young  friend  Candor,1  with  whom  I  have  spent  many  hours 
of  the  last  few  days.     I  went  from  his  speechless  countenance  to 

marry ,  and  hurried  back  to  find  him  just  gone.     He  was 

ill  six  weeks,  and  never  seemed  to  me  to  suffer  much  more  in 
mind  or  body  than  you  or  I  probably  this  moment.  It  was 
a  most  natural  death-bed,  if  I  may  say  so  of  what  was  so 
gracious.  Perhaps  a  dozen  hymns  were  sung  around  him  yes 
terday  up  to  the  very  cessation  of  his  utterance  :  there  was  no 
loquacity  or  tendency  to  talk  of  his  exercises,  but  an  uncontrol- 
lable thirst  for  prayers,  hymns,  and  Scriptures.  I  preached  from 
1  Thess.  iv.  14,  on  "  sleep  in  Jesus."  His  friends  admitted  with 
surprise  that  his  fellow-students  nursed  him  with  a  skill,  devo- 
tion, and  gentleness,  that  scarcely  a  father's  house  could  have 
afforded,  for  so  long  an  illness.  He  was  one  of  the  first  minds 
of  our  house,  as  formerly  of  the  college.  This  morning  Dr. 
Miller  sent  for  me,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  did  not  rise 

1  John  Montgomery  Candor,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  student  in  the  Seminary. 


1849—1851.  109 

when  I  entered.  He  then  formally  made  over  to  me  the  charge 
of  the  instruction,  and  said,  inter  alia :  "  No,  sir,  my  time  is 
come.  I  must  go  to  the  grave  ;  no  skill  of  man  can  do  me  any 
good."  He  no  longer  drives  out.  Every  expression  connects 
itself  with  his  departure.  In  all  my  life  I  never  saw  a  gentler 
decline,  or  a  more  serene,  collected,  looking  into  eternity.  Our 
numerous  cases  of  illness  in  the  Seminary  have  kept  me  in  paro- 
chial service,  and  our  pot  has  been  constantly  over  the  fire  with 
beef-tea,  broth,  &c.  One  case  remains.  God  grant  that  our 
chastening  may  mend  us,  and  be  removed.  There  is  far  more 
to  reach  the  feelings  in  my  Seminary  connexion,  than  I  knew  of. 
A  woman  who  works  for  us  informs  my  wife  (but  for  which  I 
should  not  know  it)  that  a  highly  respectable  student  of  ours,  a 
line,  cheerful  fellow,  boards  himself  at  a  widow's  house,  and  that 
he  has  had  one  piece  of  meat  in  three  weeks.  This  of  course  I 
will  not  suffer ;  but  many  a  private  Christian  might  relieve  such 
a  case,  by  intermitting  pies  and  puddings  for  a  month.  Two 
young  men  have  had  to  go  oft' to  schools. 

I  am  giving  you  a  very  grave  letter.  Sometimes  one  reads 
that  men  may  be  known  by  their  letters,  and  biographies  go  up- 
on this  postulate.  Certainly  it  foils  sometimes  as  to  habitual 
moods.  E.  g.  In  my  private  hours,  nine  out  of  ten,  I  am  grave 
even  to  a  fault.  In  my  letters  I  am  apt  to  seek  recreation  ;  they 
are  a  sort  of  conversation.  I  never  saw  it  alluded  to,  except  by 
Boz,  (frequently  by  him,)  but  the  funniest  things  that  ever  come 
to  my  tongue's  end,  are  in  seasons  of  deep  affliction,  so  that  re- 
pression is  needed,  to  save  appearances.  While  moralizing,  let 
me  add,  there  is  a  great  distinction  between  grief  and  misery; 
how  often  are  we  profoundly  sorrowful,  without  being  unhappy. 
Our  adorable  Lord  was  a  "  man  of  sorrows,"  and  (beautiful !) 
i?sri  asn^j,  "a  (familiar)  brother  of  grief ;"  but  how  remote  from 
being  miserable  !  I  am  half  afraid  I  am  under  some  hallucina- 
tion, or  morbid  judgment,  but  for  several  years  I  have  sickened 
at  the  common  way  of  outcry  against  specific  amusements ;  ser- 
mons and  tracts  anent  them,  &c. :  in  one  view  all  the  meetings 
of  our  unconverted  hearers  are  frivolous ;  but  are  they  worst 
when  they  are  merriest  ?  This  is  dangerous  ground,  and  I  sus- 
pect myself;  but  my  error  is  corrigible,  and  it  surely  does  not 
grow  out  of  any  disposition  to  practise  on  the  light  fantastic  tee. 
I  believe,  however,  that  sourness,  moroseness,  censoriousness, 
malice,  lust,  envy,  and  two  or  three  other  things,  may  eat  as 
doth  a  canker  in  people  who  never  danced.  The  hours  of  Inaugu- 
ration Day  are  these,  as  per  minutes  :  ':  Sermon  be  preached  in 
the  church  at  half-past  2  o'clock,  and  that  the  inauguration  ser- 
vices take  place  in  the  church  in  the  evening."     1.  Sermon  by 


110     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

Dr.  Plumer.  2.  Charge  by  Dr.  Phillips.  3.  Inaugural  Dis* 
course.1 

Princeton,  December,  1849. 

I  found  a  warfare  waging  between  Elders  A and  B , 

as  to  whether  of  the  twain  should  entertain  you,  [in  New  York.] 
Mr.  A will,  however,  take  no  denial,  and  Mr.  B reluc- 
tantly yields.  You  cannot  go  to  a  more  hospitable  roof  than 
that  of  40  Barclay  street.  Prepare  to  hear  of  perfections  in 
your  humble  servant,  which  your  lack  of  acquaintance  has  kept 
you  from  knowing.  Try  to  see  the  Panorama  of  the  Nile. 
Drop  into  Garrigue's,  under  Astor  House,  and  see  German 
Annuals,  &c.  If  you  name  me  to  G or  to  Evans,  (Put- 
nam's salesman,  son  of  an  East  India  Baptist  Missionary,  and 
born  in  Sumatra,)  they  will  probably  do  me  the  favour  of  being 
extra  polite,  as  metropolites  to  a  cosmopolite  Tridentopolite. 
Look  (at  G.'s)  at  Retszch,  Reinecke  Fuchs,  and  Outlines  of 
Thor\valds©n's  Statues.  G.  is  a  Dane,  but  speaks  every  thing. 
Dr.  Raphael  is  making  a  noise  among  the  numerous  Christians 
who  think  everybody  who  is  circumcised  authorized  to  expound 

the  Old  Testament.     M is  still  bedridden ;    quere :    bed- 

riding?     The  Scotch  say  hed-fast. 

Kinney  [of  Newark]  lectured  here  last  evening  ;  a  most  or- 
nate, eloquent,  and  patriotic  discourse.  I  never  heard  a  better 
of  the  kind.  I  received  from  a  nameless. person  in  Duane  street 
$200  for  sick  students,  with  a  promise  to  sustain  two  poor 
students. 

Dr.  Miller  has  declined  very  gradually  even  till  now.  His 
greeting  to  my  brother  Samuel  was,  "  Almost  home."  Take  it 
altogether  I  never  knew  such  a  euthanasy.  All  the  decorum  of 
his  long  life  kept  up  "  duntaxat  ad  imum."  Never  one  intrusion 
of  doubt.  Heaven  has  seemed  just  as  much  a-jar,  as  his  next- 
door  bedroom.  Still  in  his  study,  among  his  life-long  things,  and 
still  in  a  sort  of  chair,  not  bed.  It  is  not  four  days  since  he 
ceased  going  to  the  table.  He  forbids  prayer  for  recovery ; 
longs  to  depart :  has  not  seemed  to  have  any  anxiety  but  about 
the  church,  for  a  long  time.  Often  has  wept,  more  than  of  old, 
on  spiritual  matters.  Greatly  revived  at  hearing  of  conversions, 
&c.     Our  year's  text  is,  Looking  unto  Jesus. 

Princeton,  January  8,  1850. 
When  I  heard  last  night,  Dr.  Miller  was  almost  gone ;  like  a 

1  The  inauguration  of  Dr.  Alexander  took  place  according  to  this  pro- 
gramme November  20,  1849.  The  three  discourses  were  published  together 
by  the  Board  of  Directors.  The  subject  of  the  Professor's  inaugural  was, 
"The  value  of  Church  History  to  the  Theologian  of  our  Day." 


1849—1851.  Ill 

sleeping  child,  but  knew  my  father.  One  of  the  boys  came  in 
as  I  had  penned  this,  to  say  that  Dr.  Miller  died  last  night  about 
11,  a  few  hours  after  my  father  saw  him  ;  without  any  struggle, 
oppression,  or  seeming  pain.  The  funeral  is  to  be  from  the 
church,  on  Thursday,  (January  10,)  at  2  o'clock.  It  has  been  a 
great  comfort  to  the  Doctor  to  have  his  medical  son  with  him  so 
many  weeks.  The  Doctor  was  in  his  81st  year.  Of  all  the 
deaths  I  ever  knew,  this  is  the  most  surrounded  by  all  the  things 
one  could  desire. 

[Rev.  David]  Trumbull  gives  me  a  volume  of  information 
about  Chili :  he  has  a  wonderful  eye  for  observation  and  power 
of  making  you  know  what  he  means  :  accost  him.  I  am  glad 
Valparaiso  has  a  man  of  so  much  shrewdness.  Some  day  get 
David  King  of  our  first  class  to  preach  for  you.  He  is  our 
Asaph,  and  is  singularly  discreet  and  grave.1 


Princeton,  February  20,  1850. 

I  have  your  full  letter  from  Washington.  You  must  have 
had  a  delightful  time  in  the  "  Federal  City,"  as  my  father,  more 
veterum,  still  calls  it.  I  can't  help  thinking  the  responsibility  of 
the  Union  lies  just  now  on  the  North.  Garrison,  &c,  of  course 
must  feel  bound  in  conscience  to  change  the  Constitution,  and 
abolish  slavery  ;  but  other  northern  parties  seem  to  me  to  have 
some  place  for  concession,  as  they  are  the  people  who  cry  out 
so  against  disunion.  The  impending  evil  all  seems  to  result 
from  the  provision  of  the  Californians,  a  provision  which  I  can't 
help  thinking  was  unnecessary.  Nobody  questions  the  right  of 
a  Stale  to  abolish  slavery.  Why  throw  such  an  apple  of  gold 
into  the  race  of  A  talanta  % 

All  the  United  States  Missionaries  in  India  break  down,  but 
not  the  Britons.  The  Allahabad  College  teaches  as  high  branches 
as  ours.  Bishop  Wilson  says  our  men  there  are  the  most  learn- 
ed body  in  India. 

Schaff  says  a  number  of  spicy  things  in  his  January  number, 
[Mercersburg  Review.]  Among  others,  of  "  the  sad  and  hum- 
bling experiences"  of  the  Episcopalians  "  with  some  of  their 
highest  functionaries,"  in  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Constantinople.     "  All  these  disturbing 

1  Mr.  King  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  remarkable  for  the  melody  of 
his  voice  in  speaking.  In  another  letter  he  is  called  "  the  sweet  singer  of 
our  Israel  David  King."  He  declined  a  call  from  the  Duane  Street  congre- 
gation in  the  spring  of  1850,  and  accepted  one  from  Jersey  City,  where  he 
was  installed.  His  health  soon  failed,  and  he  was  about  to  take  charge  of  a 
smaller  congregation  at  Stillwater,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Troy ;  but  before 
his  installation  he  was  removed  by  death,  May  15,  1853. 


112     WHILE  PROFESSOR   IN   THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

phenomena,  besides  their  personal  aspect,  have  a  general  signiri- 
cancy  ;  they  are  not  only  symptoms  of  a  diseased  church,  "which 
is  pulled  asunder  two  opposite  ways,  never  having  been  able  to 
find  as  a  basis  that  wholesome  mean  between  Rome  and  Geneva, 
which  once  she  vaunted,  but  they  are  also  a  judgment  concerning 
all  overhasty  and  impatient  attempts  to  buttress  up  Protestant 
ism  from  without  in  a  mechanical  way.  It  is  true,  Protestantism 
is  making  uneasy  efforts  beyond,  itself,  and  struggling  also  in 
other  sections,  and  other  ways,  besides  that  of  Puseyism,  towards 
a  churchly  remodelling ;  but  its  rent  garment  will  not  allow 
patching  with  a  few  rags  from  the  old-clothes-room  of  antiquity. 
New  wine  must  not  be  put  into  old  bottles,  else  the  bottles  are 
rent,  and  the  wine  lost." 

Princeton,  March  5,  1850. 
I  don't  know  on  whose  side  the  shuttlecock  has  fallen,  but  I 
have  had  my  hands  very  full  of  writing,  having  worked  along  to 
the  Reformation-period,  as  good  Mr.  Pollock  might  say.  Re- 
newed studies  of  Luther  have  made  me  admire  and  love  him 
more  than  ever.  You  will  have  heard  that  Mr.  Schenck  is 
having  daily  meetings.  I  fail  to  perceive  a  very  deep  stirring 
of  the  people's  mind,  or  special  tenderness  under  the  Word ; 
but  thirty  to  forty  have  been  to  talk  with  the  pastor,  and  a  num- 
ber are  reported  to  be  in  a  state  of  hope.  It  is  certainly  some- 
thing to  get  large  numbers  willing  to  be  approached,  and  anxious 
to  hear  truth  ;  and  I  believe  this  is  so.  My  brother  William  is 
about  to  set  up  "  the  Princeton  Magazine ;"  pp.  48,  monthly. 
Of  course  we  shall  all  help.  It  will  not  exclude  scientific,  classi- 
cal, erudite,  sportive,  or  Jersey  articles.  Probably  a  number 
out  three  weeks  hence.  "Princeton  in  1801,"  will  open  it,  a  re- 
miniscence of  my  father.1  The  oldest  graduate,  S.  Baldwin  of 
Newark,  is  dead  ;  class  of  1770.     Alexander  Hamilton  was  his 

1  Twelve  numbers  of  this  magazine  appeared  in  1850,  after  which  it  was 
discontinued.  The  brothers  James  and  Addison  made  it  the  repository  of 
many  of  their  desultory  effusions.  The  hand  of  the  former  is  seen  in  such 
subjects  as  "  Education  among  Merchants,"  "  The  Prospects  of  the  Me- 
chanic," "  The  Working  Man's  Aim,"  "  Wordsworth,"  "  Le  Pays  Latin," 
"Books  and  Business,"  " Esthetics,"  "Minor  Works  of  Dr.  Johnson," 
"  Machinery  and  Labour,"  "  The  Physiognomy  of  Houses,"  "  Letters  on  the 
Early  Latin  Writers,"  "  Roadside  Architecture."  The  sportive  and  ironical 
wit  of  the  other  brother  is  detected  in  most  of  the  humorous  pieces  with 
which  the  magazine  abounds.  Among  these  is  the  satirical  poem  which 
soon  attracted  extensive  notice — "  The  Reconstruction  of  Society."  In  a 
letter  to  the  editor  of  these  Letters,  from  the  late  Mr.  Walsh,  (Paris,  Nov. 
12,  1850,)  that  eminent  scholar  wrote — "  The  promise  of  the  youth  of  the 
brothers  Alexander  seems  to  have  been  fulfilled.  The  Magazine  abounds 
with  matter  which  I  read  with  keen  relish." 


1849—1851.  113 

scholar.     He  was  here  when  Witherspoon  came.     I  have  fallen 
into  a  hymn-book- correspondence  with  Dr.  Demme. 

1  have  only  within  a  few  weeks  authentically  traced  up  my 
mother's  mother  to  my  g.  g.  g.  g.  grandfather  Benjamin  Harri- 
son, born  in  Surry,  in  1645  ;  ob.  1713.  A  copy  of  his  will  is  ex- 
tant. It  delights  me  to  find  that  I  have  been  erroneously  claim- 
ing descent  from  Butcher  Harrison,  one  of  King  Charles's  judges. 

Princeton,  March  19,  1850. 
I  went  to  bed  the  night  after  I  saw  you,  and  have  not  been 
out  of  doors  since.  Dieting  has  reduced  me  very  much.  Mean- 
while I  have  lost  all  but  the  report  of  the  awakening  here ; 
which  is  very  remarkable  in  the  college.  Forsyth  says :  "  There 
is  not  a  student  in  the  whole  200-f,  who  does  not  invite  or 
expect  religious  conversation."  The  best  scholars,  and  the  very 
ringleaders  in  vice,  have  been  prostrated.  Two  of  the  managers 
of  the  Commencement  Ball,  (for  next  June,)  Virginia  bloods, 
have  proposed  to  do  away  the  ball ;  a  nuisance  which  the  Trus- 
tees have  feared  to  abate,  and  which  for  twenty  years  has  drawn 
in  even  several  of  our  less  spiritual  professing  Christians,  or 
their  children.  The  whole  college  may  be  said  to  be  tempo- 
rarily seeking  God.  Many  of  these  young  men  are  the  only 
known  members  of  large  connexions,  who  care  about  religion. 
In  this  view,  when  I  admit  some  mistakes  and  some  excitement, 
a  great  point  is  gained  ;  a  great  amount  of  truth  is  thrown  into 
minds  of  ductile  youth ;  vice  is  silenced ;  truth  is  owned ;  dis- 
cipline is  re-established ;  even  if  all  who  seem  to  be  converted 
are  not  so.  But  of  all  these  things  I  have  seen  nothing.  Thirty- 
nine  joined  the  Communion  ;  thirty  reported  converts  are  yet 
behind,  in  the  village.  Schenck  [the  pastor  of  the  First  Church] 
says  most  of  the  awakened  say  their  impressions  have  been  on 
them  for  months ;  this  is  usual.  In  1844,  Dr.  Rice  admitted 
thirty-eight  at  one  time.  These  show  as  well,  so  far  as  I  know, 
as  other  professors.  Two  Romish  republican  priests,  a  Nea- 
politan and  a  Genoese,  are  coming  here  to  study,  &c.  I  hope 
they  will  do  better  than  previous  refugees.  Duncan  Kennedy 
has  a  unanimous  call  to  Duane.  Coming  doubtful.  He  is  by 
birth  a  Scot.  I  am  slowly  and  feebly  working  on  a  tract,  long 
on  hand,  for  incoming  German  emigrants.  I  desire  to  have 
it  published  in  German,  say  by  the  American  Tract  Society.  I 
have  tried  in  vain  to  get  something  of  the  kind.  It  contemplates 
temporals  as  well  as  spirituals.  The  Eclectic  Review  has 
fallen  into  infidel  hands  ;  Dr.  Price  having  yielded  the  redaction 
in  favour  of  a  young  colleague  of  W.  J.  Fox,  M.  P.,  the  Socin- 
ian  or  Straussian  preacher  of  London. 


114     WHILE   PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

Princeton,  March  22,  1850. 
Monod's  extracts  (in  the  Presbyterian)  from  De  Wette's 
preface  is  very  instructive;  I  had  seen  the  preface  before.  It 
touches  your  question  about  Antichrist.1  Though  in  difficulty 
about  the  Man  of  Sin,  I  can't  feel  satisfied  with  any  thing  that 
reaches  through  so  many  ages.  "  Pantheistic  Infidelity  "  comes 
near  it.  Scherer,  of  Geneva,  gives  up  inspiration.  We  have  an 
original  expose  from  him  to  Merle.  He  is  just  a  Quaker,  as  to 
these  things.  He  calls  our  old  doctrine  of  inspiration  a  gastro- 
mythic  cabbalistique  ;  rejects  2  Peter,  Jude,  Revelation,  (which  is 
full  of  lies  ;)  and  makes,  of  course,  nothing  of  the  Old  Testament. 
About  sixteen  out  of  twenty  students  (Geneva)  go  with  Scherer. 
The  "  numbering  of  the  people  "  gives  following  results  : 

Blacks  converted  (it  began  with  them  ;  say)       15 
Presbyterian  Congregations       ...         60 

College .40 

Methodists  report 80 

195 

There  is  no  abatement  of  the  stir.  About  thirty-seven  addi- 
tional in  college  are  serious.  I  observe  that  our  butchers, 
bakers,  and  id  genus,  flock  to  meetings,  and  talk  of  little  else. 

A  black  girl  (set  13,  but  smart)  came  to  me  under  deep  and 
intelligent  conviction  ;  caused  by  [Episcopal]  Rector  Paterson's 
sermon  last  Sunday  ;  she  sits  in  his  gallery.  About  15 — 20 
of  the  impressed  in  college  are  his  hearers.  Some  of  the 
most  resisting  and  opposing  persons  in  college,  are  sons 
of  good  men,  and  ministers.  Snodgrass  has  admitted  100  at 
his  new  Goshen.  The  whole  east  end  of  Long  Island  is  in  a 
blaze,  especially  East  Hampton,  where  there  is  no  pastor.  It 
was  there  that  Dr.  Buel  and  Dr.  Beecher  were  settled.  Every- 
thing in  that  isolated  region  remains  as  200  years  ago. 

Princeton,  May  6,  1850. 

My  father's  Reminiscences  of  Patrick  Henry,  in  the  May 

[Princeton]   Magazine,  will   be  worth  copying   in   newspapers. 

Enter  Mr.  M.  from  Baden.     "  Sare  !     You  speak  ze  Fransh  or 

ze  German  %  "     Mr.  M.  desires  to  study  theology  ;  has  been  a 

1  The  question  of  his  correspondent  was — "Is  not  the  'Man  of  Sin'  a 
bigger  man  than  the  Pope  ?  Is  he  not  the  cirotTTavn  of  all  heresy,  crime, 
backsliding  in  the  Church  from  Paul's  day  downwards,  and  appearing  to  the 
Apostle  in  the  revelation  to  him  of  the  future  history  of  the  Church,  like 
the  one  great  image  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  foreshadowing  many  eras  and 
heterogeneous  powers?     There  were  'many  Anti-Christs'  in  John's  day." 


1849—1851.  115 

functionary  in  the  treasury  of  the  grand-duke  of  Baden.  Our 
two  Italians  differ.  B.  has  a  plebeian  and  palrickian  look ; 
speaks  beastly  Latin,  and  no  English ;  says  he  was  Captain  in 
the  Revolution,  and  (I  fear  me)  is  some  day  to  be  a  burden  and 
plague  to  his  patrons.1  T.  (whatever  he  is  in  heart)  is  emi- 
nently a  scholar  and  a  gentleman ;  in  either  capacity  fit  to  be 
presented  anywhere.  His  chagrin  under  the  other's  contiguity, 
is  admirable.  They  never  met  till  here.  The  ordination  occurs 
on  the  very  day  our  Examen  begins ;  I  can  do  no  more  than 
run  down  to  the  evening  diet.a  Dr.  Wayland  is  proposing  a 
radical  reform  in  Colleges  ;  just  what  Jefferson  set  on  foot  in  his 
University  :  abolition  of  four-year  course,  mock  diplomas,  hono- 
rary degrees,  &c.  I  agree  in  every  point ;  and  did  before  I  left 
the  college.  A  letter  of  Dr.  W.  Shippen,  penes  me,  speaks  of 
President  Edwards  as  a  "  pretty  gentleman,"  and  of  President 
Finley  as  "  our  stiff,  stammering  Dr.  Finley." 

Yesterday,  five  churches  here  had  Communion.  I  was  with 
the  second  (Presbyterian)  where  fifteen  were  added  on  examina- 
tion. At  the  first,  thirty-four  on  examination.  All  disappointed, 
misanthropic  fellows  seem  of  necessity  to  doubt  about  church 
efforts,  seminaries,  and  whatever  has  grown  up  within  thirty 
years. 

The  Anniversaries  in  New  York  have  got  to  be  scarcely  an 
attraction.  It  is  remarkable  how  great  the  proportion  of  New 
Englanders  is  in  the  crowd.  They  doubtless  tend  to  keep  up 
very  strongly  a  certain  type  of  religious  activity.  The  only 
one  in  which  I  ever  felt  any  religious  advantage,  was  the  A.  B. 
C.  F.  Missions,  which  is  always  managed  with  wisdom ;  speakers 
not  snatched  up  by  accident. 

Princeton,  May  21,  1850. 
On  Saturday  I  went  to  New  York  as  an  escort  to  my  hon- 
oured parents,  and  returned  in  the  evening  to  New  Brunswick. 
Coming  homeward  from  New  York,  I  fell  in  with  M.,  who  talked 
abundance  of  smart  things,  and  some  very  good,  against  Agassiz 
and  the  many-race  hypothesis.  I  tabernacled  with  P.,  where,  as 
before,  I  was  both  humbled  and  edified  at  his  extraordinary 
ways  of  making  the  Sabbath  a  delight,  and  teaching  good  things 
to   his    children.     I   have   never  been  in  a  family  in  which  so 

1  This  was  fulfilled.  B.  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  Presbyterial  license  as 
probationer,  but  it  was  afterwards  revoked.  T.  afterwards  set  up  an  Italian 
paper,  II  Esule  Italiano,  in  New  York. 

*  The  ordination  of  Messrs.  Horatio  W.  Shaw  and  Lawrence  G.  Hay, 
missionaries  to  India,  Avhich  took  place  at  Trenton,  May  8th,  at  which  ser- 
vice Dr.  J.  W.  Alexander  preached. 


116     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

much  is  made  of  the  Bible,  with  so  little  fuss.  One  of  his 
boys,  about  fourteen,  repeated  a  large  part  of  a  chapter  in  the 
Gospel  of  John,  in  Greek,  evidently  understanding  it  well.  A 
boarder-boy,  on  Saturday  evening,  repeated  the  whole  of  the 
third  chapter  of  Colossians. 

Princeton,  June  3,  1850. 

You  are  too  severe  in  your  stricture  on  seminary  teaching. 
I  never  heard  the  methods  complained  of  as  failing  to  make 
ministerial  practice  the  daily  end.  Whole  portions  of  the  course 
have  no  other  ingredient ;  as  Dr.  Miller's  lectures  on  Sermons 
and  Discipline,  and  the  long  series  of  teachings  in  pastoral  the- 
ology. Other  portions  daily  include  the  same,  at  proper  places. 
The  separate  teaching  of  experimental  religion,  would  be  finely 
illustrated  by  our  Presbyterial  examinations  thereanent. 

West  Point  is  as  near  perfect  (for  its  ends)  as  any  thing  I 
ever  saw.  What  an  incomparable  locality  !  esplanade,  water, 
mountains,  verdure,  ruins,  decorations  !  I  had  a  pleasant  day 
there.  The  music  delightful ;  the  appearance  of  the  cadets,  and 
the  separate  drill  of  the  regulars,  were  up  to  all  my  imagination 
of  that  sort  of  beauty.  The  new  railway  along  the  Hudson  is 
a  convenience ;  forty  miles  an  hour,  sometimes. 

&th. — Backwardness  in  Repertory  copy,  has  driven  me  from 
epistolary  to  journalistic  elaboration  ;  (there's  a  fine  modern  sen- 
tence for  you.)1  From  Duane  St.  people  I  have  received,  since  I 
left  them,  (andall  but  $100  unsolicited,)  $1,500  for  Seminary  wants. 
The  panorama  of  Italy  is  the  next  thing  to  travel  there.  Barnum 
is  delivering  temperance  lectures  ;  will  he  not  one  day  compete 

with  for   presidentship  1      A   seemingly   crazed   minister 

called  this  morning,  in  forma  pauperis.  B.  is  on  the  text  "  I  go 
a-fishing."  He  is  to  settle  in  a  new  church  in  Brooklyn.  Lan- 
neau  [Missionary  to  Palestine]  tells  me  he  preached  eight  years 
in  Arabic.  C.  is  going  or  gone  to  California  with  Spieker,  the 
inventor.2  Dr.  T.  declares  the  method  new  and  infallible ;  but 
this  does  not  ensure  the  profit  of  it.  No  other  preparation, 
known  to  chemists,  will  solve  the  gold  without  solving  the  other 
things.  A  pound  of  black  sand  was  given  to  the  usual  operators 
in  New  York,  and  a  pound  of  the  same  to  T.  Cost  of  extracting 
by  former =2.+  ;  cost  by  latter  less  than  one  cent.  Much  of 
the  secret  is  in  the  incredible  diluteness  of  the  liquid,  which  pre- 

1  His  papers  in  the  Repertory  for  1850  were  on  Dr.  Foote's  History  of 
Virginia,  German  Church  History,  The  Reformation  in  Soain,  Close  Com- 
munion, and  German  Hymnology. 

2  Of  a  process  for  disengaging  gold  from  the  quartz,  &c,  which  came  to 
nothing. 


1849—1851.  117 

vents  its  taking  up  any  thing  but  the  gold.  You  see  diamonds 
are  at  length  made  in  Paris. 

Princeton,  June  24,  1S50. 
While  R.  J.  Walker  was  Secretary  of  Treasury,  the  New 
York  collector  informed  him  of  an  entry  of  magnificently  illus- 
trated books  from  France,  value  $3 — 5,000 ;  but  obscene.  W. 
ordered  them  to  be  instantly  burnt.  Importers  threatened  ven- 
geance in  a  suit.     Walker  defied  them.     Of  course  they  never 

prosecuted.     is  here  :    "  Give,  give  !  "     A  certain  kind  of 

eloquence  he  undoubtedly  has,  but  his  stock  is  small.  Sundry 
whole  paragraphs  repeated  bodily.  N.  B.  You  will  be  more 
likely  to  be  observed,  if  you  do  this  with  the  pyrpureug  pannus !y 
e.  g.  "  We  have  run  up  our  flag,  and  we  mean  to  nail  it  .  .  .  want 
more  nails;"  (three  times.)  Payson's  dying  words  (twice.) 
"  On  the  borders  of  the  man  of  sin  .  .  .  crevasse  into  Mexico  " 
(three  times.)  "  My  Master  never  tells  lies "  (once  .  .  .  too 
many.)  After  all,  I  think  he  probably  makes  impression  on 
some,  even  here. 

I  have  just  sent  seventy-seven  vols.,  big  and  little,  to  the 
embryo  college  of  Austin,  Texas.  Dr.  Torrey  has  been  deliver- 
ing a  course  of  lectures  on  the  structure,  &c,  of  plants,  all  which 
I  have  attended  with  great  delight.  He  used  drawings,  borrowed 
from  Agassiz.  You  may  judge  of  size  by  this  :  pollen-grains 
were  in  some  cases  represented  (highly  coloured)  as  big  as  large 
musk-melons.  T.  is  an  admirable  lecturer.  Neanmoins,  our 
young  collegians  treated  it  (being  non-compulsory)  with  contempt, 
the  number  of  undergraduates  towards  the  last  being  7  ...   15. 

The  article  on  Hymnology  is  clever,  but  absurd.  Some 
young  Oxonian,  fresh  from  his  metres.  So  little  is  he  at  home 
in  his  own  field,  that  he  speaks  of  the  Reformers  as  having  made 
one  version  from  the  old  church-hymns  ;  Veni  Creator  Spiritus. 
I  have  counted  of  Luther's  alone,  from  this  source,  twelve ;  and 
in  a  hasty  review  of  reformation-hymns,  in  German  alone,  from 
old  Latin,  134.  This  is  exclusive  of  Psalms.  Of  course,  my 
gleaning  is  but  a  handful.  Few  people  know  how  little  origin- 
ality the  world  possesses.  Twenty-four  hymns  in  the  Methodist 
Hymn-book  (Wesley an)  are  from  the  German.  Of  some  single 
Latin  hymns,  I  think  I  can  produce  twenty  Protestant  versions. 

Warn  Tom  [on  entering  College]  against  early  acquaintance- 
ship. I  have  seen  it  make  study  impossible,  by  the  everlasting 
run  on  one's  room ;  and  there  is  no  possible  preventive,  but 
waiting  long,  and  choosing  one's  own  friends,  not  being  chosen 
by  them.  I  never  saw  a  perfectly  punctual  scholar  go  astray. 
Get  him  to  go  always  to  the  Thursday  evening  lecture,     En 


118     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

courage  him  to  write  you  a  weekly  account  of  the  studies,  how- 
ever repetitious.  I  think  there  will  prove  to  be  more  in  this  than 
appears.  I  hope  he  will  not  neglect  the  French  ;  almost  all  do. 
Wistar  Hodge  is  talked  of  for  Greek  Tutor ;  he  is  the  best 
Grecian  I  ever  saw  of  his  age.  Henry  has  learnt  more  in  a  few 
months  with  him,  than  I  could  have  thought  possible.  Dr.  DufF 
is  making  a  great  impression  in  Edinburgh.  I'll  try  to  send  you 
one  of  his  speeches.  Though  I  nauseate  a  little  at  their  mutual 
be-praising,  hoAV  much  better  it  is,  in  its  spirit,  than  our  Ameri- 
can sullenness,  as  to  one  another's  good  deeds,  in  our  public 
bodies  !  How  surprising,  if  A  should  laud  B,  or  C  descant  on 
D's  eloquence,  or  E  glorify  F,  or  G  magnify  H  !  Even  if  sham, 
this  overt  pulling-together  gives  strength  to  the  esprit  de  corps, 
and  explains  the  $10,000,000  which  the  Free  Church  has  raised. 
American  preachers  are  getting  to  stand  towards  one  another  as 
do  the  doctors.  Ross,  the  Cherokee,  says  they  are  trying  for  a 
Cherokee  college.  Foreman,  once  of  the  Seminary,  (a  native,)  is 
very  useful,  preaching  in  both  tongues,  publishing  Almanacs,  &C.1 

Princeton,  July  2,  1850. 
Some  people  say  the  temple  of  Janus  is  shut.  Connecticut  As- 
sociation affirm  unanimously  (Bushnell  and  all)  resolutions  made 
in  terms  of  catechism,  imputation  included.  Our  village  is 
empty.  You  now  have  the  new  experience  of  the  doctorate, 
and  can  agree  that  the  half  has  not  been  told  you.  Indeed,  the 
sentiments  engendered  by  this  addition  to  one's  title  are  such  as 
beggar  description.2  Finney  is  on  a  high  horse  in  London.  Dr. 
Campbell,  of  the  Banner,  puts  him  as  high  as  the  greatest 
preachers  ever  heard  in  the  Tabernacle.  Inquiry-meetings  num- 
ber 700.  Lectures  edited  anew  by  J.  A.  James.  Do  not  you 
find  the  grandeur  of  things  English,  as  such,  decreasing  in  your 
apprehension'?  In  theology  and  religion,  I  really  think  we 
get  hardly  any  thing  from  them  as  good  as  our  own ;  while  they 
republish  all  our  books.  What  can  they  show  alongside  of 
Stuart,  Barnes,  Robinson,  Nordheimer,  et  al.  ?  I  had  a  protracted 
meeting  with  V.,  in  respect  to  the  expected  Advent ;  learn  from 

him  that has  demolished  the  Repertory,  and  proved  N.  an 

Atheist ;  that  each  of  us  ought  to  teach  his  children  a  manual 
trade :    that  all  but  Millenarians   make   little   of  Bible ;    that 


1  Rev.  Stephen  Foreman,  now  at  Tahlequah,  Arkansas. 

3  Another  correspondent  on  this  occasion  communicated  the  following 
admonitory  anecdote  :  "  When  Mr.  C,  a  good  Irish  minister,  late  of  the 
Reformed  Presbytery,  received  his  degree,  and  was  admonished  by  one  of 
his  good  members  not  to  be  exalted  above  measure,  he  replied,  *  dear 
madam,  I  feel  that  I  need  a  great  deal  of  grace.' " 


1849—1851.  119 

other  books  are  pretty  much  superfluous ;  that  Melehizedek  is 
Christ,  (so  I  understood ;)  and  that  D.  had  settled  the  Advent 
question  when  he  was  in  the  Seminary.  P.'s  last,  anent  II.'s 
fury  against  old  school :  "  A  man  said,  '  My  wife  is  mighty 
zealous,  but  she  haint  got  no  religion.'  "  Richard  Rush  gradu- 
ated here  in  '97.  He  tells  me  he  saw  Witherspoon's  corpse.1 
I  am  in  heart  a  Quaker  as  to  mourning ;  I  see  no  harm  in  a 
simple  badge,  but  abominate  modern  "  mourning,"  above  all 
that  of  females — crape,  (the  smell  is  charnelly.) 

You  will  read  Duff's  speeches2  with  wonder  at  the  chilliness 
of  our  Assembly.  How  few  people  get  the  floor  in  the  Scotch 
Assembly  !  How  little  work  for  the  chair  !  How  few  points 
of  order  !  How  great  the  power  of  Cunningham  and  Candlish  ! 
How  warm  and  good  the  Moderator's  closing  speech  ! 

Princeton,  July  18,  1850. 

Anna  J.,  a  Sunday  School  child  and  catechumen  of  mine, 
[in  New  York,]  was  put  into  the  Rutgers  Institute  on  a  scholar- 
ship among  four  hundred.  She  has  just  graduated,  and  I  see  comes 
out  prima;  gold  medal  for  best  composition  ;  ditto  last  year  for 
French  ;  high  in  Mathematics.  I  see  by  Knox's  history,  that  he 
provided  liturgic  forms  for  ordination,  &c.,  with  prayers,  in  full, 
which  are  extant.3 

I  was  struck  with  Brougham's  saying,  that  one  may  buy  a 
newspaper  on  Sunday,  but  not  a  Bible.  How  hard  to  legislate 
about  points  of  conscience,  and  impossible  to  enforce  !  Our  dead- 
letter  laws  anent  Sunday-travel,  profaneness,  &c,  ought  to  be 
overhauled,  before  we  add  to  their  number. 

The  progress  of  Christianity  among  the  Nestorians  is  wonder- 
ful. The  imagination  is  struck  with  a  missionary  at  Nineveh, 
[Mosul.]  Gurley's  speech  gives  me  new  impressions  about 
Liberia.  Some  day  Australia  and  New  Zealand  will  break  on 
the  world  with  a  surprise  like  that  which  the  United  States  is 
causing  to  Europe.  A  German  writer,  long  resident  in  Russia, 
says  :  "  The  Russian  life,  moving  rapidly  eastward,  will  it  not 
one  day  join  with  the  Anglo-American  life,  moving  westward, 
on  a  stage  for  the  last  act  of  the  world's  drama  %  When  the 
old-world  vitality  shall  be  worn  out ;  when  Oregon  and  Cali- 
fornia shall  play  the  part  that  England  and  Trance  do  now ; 
when  the  American  nation,  in  which  the  best  blood  of  Western 

1  The  Hon.  Richard  Rush  died  at  Philadelphia  in  1859. 

3  In  the  Free  Church  General  Assembly  of  Scotland. 

*  In  1857  Mr.  Scribner  published  "A  Book  of  Public  Prayer,  compiled 
from  the  authorized  formularies  of  worship  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches, 
as  prepared  by  the  Reformers  Calvin,  Knox,  Bucer,  and  others." 


120     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

Europeans  mingled,  shall  have  asserted  the  power  of  science  and 
art  over  physical  nature ;  when  sail  and  steam-vessels  sweep 
through  the  isthmian  canal,  and  railways  connect  the  oceans  ;  and 
when  the  people  of  America  by  fleets  and  commerce  touch  the 
ancient  inhabiters  of  Asia  ;  then  the  circle  of  the  globe  will  be 
complete,  and  the  last  leaf  of  history  turned ;  and  then,  per- 
haps, will  the  battle  be  joined  between  the  political  and  religious 
despotism  of  Russia  and  the  principles  of  freedom  and  equal- 
ity. When  the  command  '  be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replen- 
ish the  earth '  is  fulfilled,  then  the  creation  is  at  an  end.  When 
the  command  '  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,'  &c,  is  accomplished, 
then  the  work  of  redemption  is  perfect,  and  the  Lord  comes  to 
judgment." 

The  negotiations  between  Lancaster  and  Mercersburg  will 
be  realized,  if  the  German  Reformers  can  raise  $15,000  to  buy 
out  the  Lutheran  share  in  Franklin  College,  and  the  people  of 
Lancaster  raise  $25,000  for  buildings.  There  seems  to  me  to  be 
great  wisdom  in  the  German  way  of  having  no  University  build- 
ings, except  for  libraries.  The  reasons  for  it,  in  a  fluctuating  or 
new  country,  are  greater  still.  True,  this  would  fix  colleges 
pretty  much  in  large  towns.  1  have  often  thought  we  could  not 
do  a  better  thing,  than  to  sell  out  our  pinched  seven  acres  in 
Princeton,  and  buy  a  hundred  for  the  same  money.  The  whole 
method  of  college  "  rooming  "  and  "  commons,"  dissatisfies  me. 
In  a  village,  however,  it  is  unavoidable.  Demme  declines  his 
Gettysburg  chair,  and  they  will  send  a  committee  to  Germany 
for  a  man.  Three  Germans  are  to  decide,  viz.,  Tholuck,  Hoffman, 
(the  Hebraistic  successor  of  Gesenius,)  and  Harless  of  Dresden, 
an  old-Lutheran  of  the  invariata  school,  and  a  pious,  eloquent 
man.  It  is  an  attempt  to  win  back  the  alienated  German- 
Lutherans  to  the  American-Lutheran  School  at  Gettysburg.1 

Assure  "  each  and  every  "  (law  forms  and  prayers  in  church 
are  my  authority)  of  my,  &c,  &c. 

Princeton,  July  26,  1850. 
2  It  would  be  odd,  indeed,  if  any  court  should  set  aside  as 
invalid  an  ordination  ratified  by  our  General  Assembly,  sitting 
not   only  as  our  highest  judicature,  but  as  our  highest   legis- 

1  The  Rev.  Dr.  Schaffer,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  elected  to  the  German 
Theological  Professorship  at  Gettysburg.  Lancaster  remained  the  seat  of 
the  College  Department,. 

2  In  the  General  Assembly  of  1850  an  attempt  was  made  to  obtain  the 
disapprobation  of  that  Court  of  an  act  of  a  Presbytery,  in  ordaining  a  licen- 
tiate, when  but  two  ministers  were  present — the  third  (requisite  for  a 
quorum)  having  approved  of  all  the  preliminary  proceedings,  but  being 


1849—1851.  121 

lature,  and  competent  even  in  the  latter  capacity  to  solve, 
any  informalities  in  declarative  acts.  As  to  the  ordination 
by  commission,  it  is  a  question  simply  of  fact.  Nobody  holds 
such  ordinations  allowable  under  our  constitution.  But  as 
to  what  has  been  done  by  Presbyterians,  in  all  the  Reformed 
Churches,  the  fact  of  ordination  by  committee  is  as  unde- 
niable as  the  fact  that  any  one  was  ever  ordained.  The 
Westminster  Directory  says. :  "  The  Presbytery  shall  come  to 
the  place,  or  at  least  three  or  four  ministers  of  the  word  shall 
be  sent  thither  from  the  Presbytery"  &c,  &c.  The  Repertory 
has  not  recommended  nor  endorsed  this  well  known  Presbyterian 
precedent.  The  laying  on  of  hands  is  only  a  part  of  ordination. 
The  other  and  greater  parts  took  place  in  an  acknowledged 
quorum.  If  the  moderator  had,  in  pursuance  of  direction,  laid 
on  his  hands,  it  would  have  been,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  the 
laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery.  Or  may  not  some 
one  take  exceptions,  if  (as  often)  one  of  a  Presbytery  of  twenty- 
five  is  crowded  out  from  the  circle,  and  fails  to  impose  his  hands  1 
You  refer  to  Webster,  and  so  will  I.  In  his  last  speech  on  the 
compromise,  he  says  admirably,  that  Congress  has.  by  its  sanc- 
tion, covered  and  supplied  all  informalities  in  the  admission  of 
Texas.  So  in  this  case.  Quod  non  debet  fieri,  valet  factum.  The 
Assembly  censures  the  irregularity,  and  constructively  forbids  it. 
What  more  can  any  large-minded  Presbyterian  ask  ?  Reordina- 
tion  ]     This  would  produce  endless  misapprehension. 

Imposition  of  hands  is  so  far  from  being  the  main  thing  to 
secure  valid  orders,  that  Presbyterians  have  from  the  very 
Reformation,  separated  from  papists  and  prelatists,  on  this  very 
point.  Surely  we  need  not  be  stiffer  than  John  Knox.  See 
the  "  Buke  of  Discipline,"  confirmed  by  General  Assembly  and 
by  Parliament,  1560  :  "  Other  ceremonie  than  the  publict  appro- 
batioun  of  the  peple,  and  declaration  of  the  chiefe  minister,  that 
the  persone  thair  presented  is  appoyntit  to  serve  that  Kirk,  we 
can  nott  approve ;  for  albeitt  the  Apostillis  used  the  impositioun 
of  handis,  yet  seeing  the  mirakle  is  ceasit,  the  using  of  the  cere- 
monie we  juge  is  nott  necessarie."  This,  indeed,  proves  nothing 
as  to  our  municipal  provisions ;  which,  when  censurably  neglected, 
may,  by  the  supreme  judicatory,  be  declared  valid,  though  ir- 

abscnt  at  the  act  of  ordination.  The  Assembly  refused  to  disturb  the  ordi- 
nation in  this  case,  on  account  of  a  formal  irregularity,  when  there  could 
be  no  doubt  of  the  validity.  The  remarks  of  the  letter  were  called  forth 
by  some  questions  as  to  the  admissibility  of  the  decision  in  a  court  of  com- 
mon law,  and  as  to  lawfulness  of  ordaining  by  commission.  The  reference 
to  the  Repertory  is  to  a  review  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly  in  the 
number  for  July,  1850. 

VOL.  II. — 6 


122     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINABY. 

regular ;  but  it  is  very  significant  as  to  what  the  Presbyterian 
spirit  is  respecting  this  declarative  formality  ;  which  formality 
is,  after  all,  present  in  the  act  as  now  presented. 

The  minister  was  ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of 
the  Presbytery,  though  some  of  the  Presbytery  were  away,  and 
though  some  present  did  not  lay  on  both  "  hands."  The  men 
ordained  in  Knox's  days  were  not  presbyterially  ordained  at  all. 
according  to  the  narrower  construction  of  Presbyterianism. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  objections  to  the  Assembly's  deci- 
sion have  not  proceeded  in  any  case  known  to  me  from  the  older 
and  more  rigid  ministers,  who  seem  all  satisfied.  And  it  should 
not  be  forgotten  that  the  Assembly  utters  no  declaration,  but 
simply  admits  the  given  acts  of  Synod  and  Presbytery,  without 
censure.     I  hold  the  Repertory's  reasons  to  be  unanswerable. 

If  the  preceding  parts  of  the  ordination  had  been  by  less 
than  a  quorum,  the  question  would  have  been  raised,  which  was 
touched  in  the  debate,  as  to  whether  three  or  a  mere  plurality  is 
necessary  to  valid  ordination.  Of  this  I  might  have  opinions 
of  my  own,  but  it  was  not  properly  before  the  body.  Strict 
construction  can  make  no  whit  more  out  of  Form  Gov.  Cap. 
xv.  §  14.  Every  Lutheran  or  Episcopalian  minister,  who  comes 
to  us,  is  presumed  to  have  a  valid,  though  an  irregular  ordina- 
tion ;  here  the  distinction  taken  by  Repertory  is  fundamental.  I 
think  there  are  sound  reasons  why  acts  performed  but  once,  such 
as  marriage,  ordination,  baptism,  &c,  should  admit  of  being 
ratified,  in  spite  of  informality,  even  though  some  other  acts, 
such  as  erecting  a  Presbytery,  &c,  should  be  annulled,  with 
orders  to  repeat  them  in  due  form.  This  is  clearly  accordant 
with  the  views  of  the  canonists,  even  as  to  Baptism. 

Princeton,  August  2,  1850. 

Torrey  shows  me  some  mirabilia  of  infusorial  shells,  invisible 
without  high  microscopes ;  their  beauty,  in  form  and  colour,  is 
inexpressibly  sui  generis.  Yet  they  have  passed  through  the  in- 
testines of  Pacific  fowl,  being  abstracted  from  washings  of  the 
guano.  A  man  named  Spencer,  in  an  out  of  the  way  place  in 
New  York,  has  beat  all  the  world  in  microscopes.  The  English 
ones  cannot,  like  his,  resolve  lines  56,000  in  an  inch.  I  am  sorry 
for  the  loss  of  the  Compromise  proposition  in  Congress.  1  hoped 
Clay  and  Webster  would  have  carried  it  over  the  freesoilers 
and  nullifiers.  It  seems  as  if  One  "  higher  than  the  highest  " 
would  keep  the  awful  slavery-question  among  matters  for  his 
own  hand. 

As  to  the  question  of  legal  ordination,  I  will  only  observe, 
that  "  ordained  minister  "  has  been  held  by  some  of  our  ablest 


1849—1851.  123 

lawyers  (Ch.  J.  Ewing  especially)  to  import  in  the  acceptation 
of  the  law  any  accredited  minister,  particularly  (in  the  case  when 
he  was  consulted)  a  probationer.  I  know  a  case  in  Virginia,  in 
which  the  same  was  held ;  and  though  hundreds  of  marriages 
have  been  solemnized  by  licentiates,  none  of  them  have  ever  been 
questioned  in  law,  though  often  forbidden  by  church-courts.  I 
have  never  talked  with  my  father  about  the  late  case,  but  I 
know  his  testimony  as  to  the  facts  above  stated.  Princeton 
census  =  — 2,000.     I  am  slowly  writing  "  Sermons  to  Boys." 

Princeton,  August  26,  1850. 

I  have  the  letters  of  twenty  years,  exceptis  excipiendis,  filed 
and  labelled :  I  cannot  remember  to  have  ever  looked  at  them 
ten  times.  In  no  one  instance  has  any  thing  of  importance  de- 
pended on  the  search.  My  father  and  Addison  burn  their  letters. 
I  was  at  the  sea  for  a  week,  with  less  enjoyment  than  common. 
I  preached  in  Fifth  Avenue.1  Mr.  Donaldson  drove  me  out  to 
Greenwood ;  my  first  visit.  The  locality  is  unsurpassed,  but 
_?_?_.  of  the  tombs  are  burlesques  or  blunders.  Cemeteries  do 
not  arride  me.  The  last  London  Yearly  Meeting  agreed  to  have 
plain  memorial  slabs,  like  those  of  the  Moravians.  Somewhat 
suddenly  I  have  entered  Henry  of  the  Freshman  class.  They 
say  the  Sophomore  class  is  a  fine  one.  The  signs  of  thorough 
drilling  by  the  tutors  are  very  pleasing  to  me  ;  short  lessons  and 
long  inquisition  on  them. 

I  am  told  the  Boston  and  Andover  folks  regard  P.  with  a 
sort  of  adoration.  His  last  great  discourse  gives  them  a  recipe 
for  holding  any  doctrine,  however  repulsive.  You  have  only  to 
declare  its  strong  expressions  "  the  language  of  emotion."  Since 
capital  punishment  is  so  nearly  extinct  in  Philadelphia,  it  is  a 
wonder  they  have  so  many  murders.  A  very  promising  Sunday 
School  and  preaching  have  been  started  in  the  very  focus  of  the 
Five  Points.  Children  from  8 — 10  years  old  come  to  school 
drunk.  Drunken  people  appear  at  the  meetings.  Mr.  Hall,  a 
worthy  Methodist,  owner  of  the  Commercial  Advertiser,  is  one 
of  the  leaders  in  the  enterprise. 

Princeton,  September  5,  1850. 

We  had  large  numbers  of  the  Black  Sons  of  Temperance 
here  to-day,  from  Trenton  and  elsewhere,  with  bands  and  para- 
phernalia ;  also  what  seemed  to  be  the  Daughters  and  Grand- 
sons, in  considerable  force.  Thus  far,  our  accession  to  the  Semi- 
nary is  about  46.  They  are  still  coming  in.  I  was  unable  to 
go  to  Dr.  Cuyler's  burial,2  as  my  first  exercise  with  the  new 

1  First  Church,  New  York,  August  18. 

3  The  Rev.  Dr.  C.  C.  Cuyler  died  at  Philadelphia,  August  31,  1850. 


124:    WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

class,  and  my  only  one  for  the  week,  occurred  at  the  hour.  Our 
situation  in  this  respect  is  more  confining  than  that  of  pastors, 
unless  where  we  have  good  long  notice.  We  hear  of  the  death 
of  a  valuable  student,  Culbertson,  brother  of  the  missionary. 
He  left  us,  somewhat  ailing,  for  a  tour  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  came  back  perfectly  restored,  as  it  seemed,  but  died  of  a 
dysentery,  at  his  father's  house  in  Chambersburg.  He  was  very 
assiduous  by  the  bedside  of  Candor,  [p.  108.]  We  have,  as 
usual,  [in  the  Seminary,]  several  Baptists,  and  expect  a  Metho- 
dist and  an  Episcopalian.  One  of  our  students  has  been  a  year 
under  Cunningham,  at  Edinburgh.  They  pretend  that  Castle 
Garden  will  hold  8,000  hearers  of  [Jenny]  Lind.  What  an 
organ  hers  must  be !  The  furore  in  New  York  is  quite  ridicu- 
lous ;  crowds  besieging  the  hotel,  and  gaping  at  the  windows. 
The  boys  tell  me  there  is  much  excitement  about  North  and 
South  in  college.  The  Whigs  have  elected  Venable  as  their 
J  une  orator.  We  have  a  student  who  will  not  sing  any  human 
compositions ;  Rouse's  being  perhaps  inhuman.  I  am  gratified 
to  hear  of  a  case  of  marked  seriousness  in  college  ;  I  fear,  how- 
ever, this  is  far  from  being  indicative  of  the  general  tone.  The 
London  papers  give  flaming  accounts  of  Finneyls  sermons  and 
audiences.  There  is  no  allusion  to  his  later  doctrines  of  per- 
fectionism. I  wonder  if  a  day  will  not  come,  when  the  immense 
increase  of  printed  matter  will  cause  a  reaction  in  favour  of 
old-time  methods,  oral  learning,  discoursing  sub  dio,  like  that  of 
the  Athenians  and  the  New  Testament.  Even  in  Plato's  day, 
he  was  led  to  fear  the  ill  consequences  to  human  powers  from 
overmuch  reading.  News  is  a  very  different  affair,  in  daily 
papers  and  in  word  of  mouth.  We  at  length  have  a  priest  here ; 
I  believe  they  have  mass  in  their  unfinished  house.  The  extract 
you  give,  respecting  our  fathers,  so  many  years  ago,  is  very 
interesting.1  My  good  old  father  has  not  been  less  than  60  years 
a  preacher  ;  but  I  have  never  heard  him  preach  any  autobiog- 
raphy, self-statistics,  or  census  of  successes.  If  fruit  was  un- 
wholesome, our  collegians  would  all  be  on  their  backs,  but  they 
seem  blessed  with  uncommon  health.  The  prevalence  of  dysen- 
tery in  some  parts  does  not  seem  to  have  had  the  slightest  con- 
nexion with  diet. 

Lisco,  on  the  Parables,  is  a  remarkably  sensible  book  to  have 
come  from  Germany,  and  very  full  of  sermonizing  suggestions, 
the  more  valuable  because  it  avoids  all  straining  of  the  parables. 
What  a  delightful  negligence  in  Hume's  style ;  it  is  the  least 
wearying  I  ever  read  ;  but  what  nefarious  perversion,  and  what 
meagerness  of  research ! 

1  It  has  since  been  printed  in  Dr.  Sprague's  "  Annals  of  the  Pulpit," 
vol.  Hi.,  p.  610. 


1849—1851.  125 

Princeton,  October  7,  1850. 

Your  note  was  a  little  delayed,  as  the  letter  lay  unopened  till 
my  return  from  New  York,  which  capital  I  found  much  in  the 
same  state  as  you  left  it.  I  preached  once  for  Dr.  Potts,  in  com- 
pliance with  a  Parthian  request  of  his.  He  was  last  heard  of  at 
St.  Petersburg.  Some  expect  him  to-day  in  the  Atlantic.  He 
has  a  noble  congregation.  Erskine  Mason  is  still  very  ill.1  A 
Norwegian  Methodist  missionary,  Brother  Willerup,  called  on 
me  on  his  way  to  Wisconsin.  I  heard  Dr.  Tyng  in  New  York, 
with  much  pleasure.  The  chanting  was  excellent.  Sermon  of 
the  most  extempore  sort. 

I  have  flattering  offers  to  write  for  the  North  British  Eeview. 
I  have  no  present  thought  of  compliance,  though  I  should  like 
the  £10  a  sheet.  Thompson,  of  the  Tabernacle,  is  preaching 
against  the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill,  (when  did  Bill  run  away  1) 
This,  and  the  play  of  Hamlet,  excite  much  attention  among  the 
people.  Old  Mr.  Johnstone,  of  Jersey  City,  has  gone  to  Britain, 
(as  the  Scotch  love  to  call  it.)  Five  Baptist  preachers  attended 
at  the  baptism  of  my  daughter.  Spencer  has  published  a  volume 
of  pastoral  anecdotes  and  conversations.2 

Washington  Irving's  Mahomet  is  a  whitewashing  of  his  hero ; 
"jejune  and  elegant."  Variety  in  sermons  might  be  helped  b;^ 
an  occasional  history,  with  free  bursts  of  remark,  whenever  sug- 
gested ;  it  is  remarkable  how  much  of  the  Bible  is  history.  I 
think  Elijah  and  Elisha  a  good  topic.  The  argument  of  the  book 
of  Job  would  make  a  good  sermon.  In  general,  the  argument 
of  a  Sunday  School  book  might  be  occasionally  preached  with 
advantage.  I  have  been  acquainting  myself  with  Luther's  ser- 
mons. Nothing  can  be  more  natural,  simple,  earnest,  downright, 
practical,  pungent,  or  affectionate.  They  are  models  of  the 
plainest,  liveliest  sort ;  the  very  opposite  of  modern  German 
sermons,  which  are  as  constrained  in  their  elegant  partition  as  a 
sonnet  or  an  acrostic.  I  have  had  to  look  into  some  of  these 
professionally  ;  and  I  declare  I  am  unable  to  find  one,  which  is 
worthy  of  reperusal,  except  some  of  Tholuck's,  which  are 
beautiful  warm  rhapsodies.  The  oldest  person  found  in  our 
three  townships  by  the  censor,  is  a  pauper  drunkard  in  East 
Windsor,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College,  set.  96.  The  number 
of  coloured  people  in  Princeton  is  about  500 ;  perhaps  as  large 
a  proportion  of  free  blacks  as  anywhere,  being  one-fourth.  How 
little  noise  is  made  by  the  death  of  the  greatest  monarch  of  our 
day  !     [Louis  Philippe.] 

The   Repertory's   review   of  Park   has  led  me  to  look  at 

1  Dr.  Mason  died  May  14,  1851. 

5"A  Pastor's  Sketches,"  by  Rev.  Dr.  Spencer,  of  Brooklyn. 


126     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

Morell.1  His  doctrine  is  much  the  same  as  Scherer's,  and  is 
very  formidably  presented.  I  have  nowhere  seen  so  artful  an 
assault  on  the  common  doctrine  of  Inspiration.  It  involves  the 
denial  not  merely  of  Inspiration  but  of  truth,  in  many  parts  of 
Scripture,  and  leaves  us  to  sever  the  errors  from  the  truth  by 
some  kind  of  divination  or  intuition.  Such  a  belief  would  make 
me  long  for  the  popish  assurances.  My  poor  Duane  Street 
folks  make  no  progress.  I  look  confidently  for  the  stronger 
portion  of  them  to  go  up-town,  at  whatever  loss  of  property  in 
the  present  building. 

Addison's  present  duties  keep  him  reading  the  text  of  the 
Bible,  with  versions,  &c,  from  morning  till  night.  The  applica- 
tions for  ministers,  from  Texas  alone,  would  absorb  all  the  young 
men  we  are  about  to  send  out.  The  openings  in  Wisconsin  are 
also  surprisingly  great. 

Princeton,  November  11,  1850. 
I  was  sorry  to  cross  you  on  Saturday,  but  I  was  on  my 
way  to  New  York,  where  I  had  not  preached  for  a  long  time. 
I  found  my  late  charge  much  dwindled,  though  communions 
are  seasons  in  which  they  try  to  make  a  rally.  They  have 
authorized  their  trustees  to  sell,  but  I  know  not  who  will  buy. 
When  old  Grant  Thorburn  (Laurie  Todd)  came  over  to  this 
country,  it  was  in  a  vessel  in  which  was  a  poor  Scotch  woman 
with  a  child.  Grant  helped  to  nurse  the  baby  ;  who  now,  after 
sixty  years,  as  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York,  gives  him  a 
place  in  the  Bonded  Warehouse.  Hereupon  Grant  quotes,  "  Cast 
thy  bread,  &c."  I  did  not  hear  Miss  Lind,  though  she  sang  on 
Saturday  night.  Kirkwood,  the  mathematician,  whose  newly- 
discovered  law  respecting  the  planetary  distances,  makes  so  much 
noise  among  the  astronomers,  as  ranking  with  Kepler's  and 
Newton's,  is  an  humble,  pious,  Presbyterian  elder.  Stephen 
Alexander  supposes  himself  to  have  demonstrated  mathematical- 
ly that  all  the  comets,  whose  periods  are  known,  were  once  one 
comet. 

Princeton,  December  13,  1850. 

I  did  not  mean  to  steal  a  march  on  you,  but  I  was  really  so 

overwhelmed  with  odds  and  ends  of  business,  before  getting  off 

for  Virginia,  that  I  went  away  almost  imperceptibly,  and  collo 

obtorio?     Now  that  I  have  returned,  safe  and  sound,  I  ought  to 

1  "  Philosophy  of  Religion." 

2  The  purpose  of  this  journey  was  to  fulfil  an  appointment  to  preach  one 
of  the  series  of  lectures  on  the  Evidences  of  Christianity,  in  the  University 


1849—1851.  127 

feel  thankful  for  exemption  from  all  delays  and  all  accidents.  I 
left  home  on  the  2d,  and  returned  on  the  12th.  I  never  made  so 
abrupt  a  plunge  into  Old  Virginia,  and  the  contrasts  struck  me 
mightily.  Albemarle  is  justly  reputed  the  best  specimen  of 
rural  Virginianism.  The  University  is  flourishing  ;  nearly  four 
hundred  students.  The  professors  (each)  have  houses,  but 
$3,000  is  the  maximum  of  their  emolument.  Staying  as  I  did 
within  the  precincts,  1  was  pleased  to  observe  that  there  was 
not  the  least  rowdyism  or  unmannerly  noise ;  and  I  was  told 
perfect  quiet  prevails  in  their  lecture-rooms.  The  audiences  at 
the  lectures  on  the  Evidences  are  large.  A  voluntary  meeting 
for  prayers,  by  morning  candle-light,  is  attended  by  about  fifty. 
As  you  might  suppose,  much  was  said  in  Virginia  about  the 
slavery  business.  With  one  remarkable  exception,  I  found, 
among  a  great  number  with  whom  I  conversed,  no  man  desiring 
disunion.  All  they  ask  is  the  carrying  out  of  the  Constitution, 
by  enforcing  the  late  law.  Such  is  unquestionably  the  temper 
of  the  masses.  Yet  there  are  some  terrible  "  fire-eaters"  at 
Richmond,  and  these  are  making  great  use  of  the  Vermont  nulli- 
fication. Combinations  to  use  no  northern  goods,  &c,  are  more 
rife  than  I  had  thought.  From  numbers,  however,  I  heard  the 
remark,  that  slavery  could  not  abide  safely  in  Virginia  as  a 
frontier  State — that  its  doom  was  fixed,  dec.     I  fell  in  with  South 

Carolina  people,  and  (at  Richmond)  with  B ,  on  return  from 

South  Carolina.  There  the  state  of  things  is  very  different,  for 
they  not  merely  look  on  secession  as  a  possible  evil,  but 
pray  for  it  as  a  real  good.  Northern  mechanics,  agents,  and 
operatives  are  rapidly  leaving  the  State.  The  fear  in  Virginia 
among  sober  people,  is,  that  South  Carolina  will  do  some  rash 
act  which  will  draw  forth  a  large  number  of  Southern  States  to 
sustain  or  shield  her.  I  am  convinced,  from  numerous  conversa- 
tions with  leading  men,  that  the  repeal  of  the  Territorial  Law 
would  throw  Eastern  Virginia  into  the  arms  of  the  South,  and 
furthermore  divide  the  State.  After  all  I  had  read  in  the  papers 
I  was  unprepared  for  the  solemn  views  taken  by  good  men  of  the 
crisis.  All  seem  to  regard  bloodshed  as  the  inevitable  result. 
I  stopped,  going  and  coming,  at  Richmond,  where  I  found  Judge 
Cabell  on  his  death-bed,  as  I  fear ;  he  is  an  old  friend  of  my 
father,  and  one  year  his  junior.  At  this  season  the  flow  of  old 
Virginia  good-fellowship  was  peculiarly  delightful  to  me.  I  was 
almost  surfeited  with  good  things,  and  almost  choked  with  end- 

of  Virginia,  during  the  session  of  1850-51.  Dr.  Alexander's  Discourse  was 
delivered  December  8.  Its  subject  was  "  The  Character  of  Christ,"  and  is 
printed  in  the  volume  embracing  the  whole  course,  published  by  Carters, 
New  York,  1852. 


128     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN   THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

less  parlance.  There  is  soon  to  be  a  railway  from  Alexandria  to 
Gordonsville,  by  which  I  should  be  able  to  reach  Charlottesville 
in  two  days.  Other  roads  are  in  construction.  The  travelling 
on  those  I  used  is  greatly  better  than  formerly.  From  Freder- 
icksburg to  Richmond  decidedly  more  comfortable  than  between 
Baltimore  and  Philadelphia.  The  scuffles  for  luggage  are  lessen- 
ed, and  the  ease  of  sitting  increased. 

I  find  all  as  well  as  usual.  I  am  struck  all  of  a  heap  by  the 
news  from  New  York.1  What  Providence  means  I  am  at  a  loss 
to  say.  Surely  I  have  done  nothing  I  know  of,  to  invite  a  re-call 
to  Duane  Street.  What  moves  me  somewhat  is,  (1,)  I  do  not 
feel  a  special  quality  for  teaching :  (2,)  I  greatly  miss  pulpit  and 
pastoral  work.  Yet  when  I  think  of  tearing  up  again — it 
seems  next  to  impossible.  I  am  much  concerned,  and  in  real 
trouble  of  mind,  and  shall  profit  by  any  unprejudiced  thoughts 
you  have. 

Princeton,  December  25,  1850. 
I  wish  you  as  many  Christmases  and  as.  happy,  for  you  and 
yours,  as  the  Divine  Disposer  shall  give  in  token  of  love ;  for 
as  1  grow  older,  I  trust  I  sometimes  look  forward  to  something 
better  than  the  years  of  this  world.  The  number  of  persons  sub- 
scribing for  the  new  church  is  rather  favourable.  The  place 
talked  of  is  Fifth  Avenue  and  Nineteenth  street.  I  am  puzzled 
and  darkened  by  conflicting  opinions.  There  are  some  who  will 
charge  me  with  great  fickleness,  if  I  leave  Princeton  so  soon. 
The  Philadelphia  men  will  generally  think  it  a  wild  and  wrong 
move.  My  father  and  family  think  I  had  better  go,  on  the  score  of 
health  ;  and  it  is  especially  my  father's  opinion,  that  the  measure 
of  talent  I  have  is  for  preaching.  It  would  not  be  exactly  like  a 
new  experiment.  The  people  calling  know  me,  and  are  known 
by  me.  The  recent  move  reveals  an  amount  of  influence  on  the 
New  York  mind,  which  (however  unmerited)  deserves  to  be 
considered.  I  was  very  happy  in  my  work,  and  (if  I  may  pre- 
sume to  say  so)  was  improving  in  it,  more  than  I  feel  myself  to 
Hbe  doing  in  my  teaching-function.  These  are  things  I  cannot  say 
abroad,  but  they  affect  my  mind  not  a  little.  Per  contra,  I  have 
the  New  York  hum  and  interruption  ;  New  York  summers ; 
leaving  a  delightful  home  and  rural  quietude,  and  academic  regu- 
larity, and  above  all  my  dear  old  father  and  mother,  whose 
decline  I  should  covet  to  wait  upon.    These,  however,  are,  for  the 

1  A  proposal  from  the  Duane  Street  congregation  to  build  a  new  church 
on  a  better  site,  provided  Dr.  Alexander  would  accept  a  call  to  be  the  pas- 
tor. Subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $38,000  were  already  made,  and 
$32,000  offered  for  the  Duane  Street  premises. 


1849—1851.  129 

most  part,  worldly  considerations  :  while  I  am  impressed  by  the 
thought,  that  many  of  the  reasons  for  return  are  spiritual  in 
their  nature.  People  say,  "  You  can  preach  every  Sunday  in 
Princeton."  So  I  can — but  what  a  different  thing  it  is  !  I  feel 
lifeless  in  comparison.  1  make  no  new  sermons.  Indeed,  I 
hardly  can  take  my  present  preaching  into  the  account.1  The 
true  comparison  must  be  between  teaching  here,  and  preaching 
there.  Looking  as  modestly  and  honestly  at  it  as  I  can,  I  feel 
(comparatively)  some  aptitude  for  preaching ;  at  least,  I  have  a 
most  undeserved  acceptance — and  that  particularly  in  New 
York  :  I  feel  no  special  aptitude  for  teaching.  In  the  city  I 
drew  young  men  around  me:  here,  all  my  efforts  have  failed 
with  the  students,  privately  and  socially :  the  difference  I  can- 
not express  to  you  ;  nor  is  it  a  matter  I  can  discuss  with  people 
generally.  I  know  the  matter  of  health  is  very  uncertain,  and 
the  causes  of  health  and  disease  are  obscure :  but  I  think  the  four 
to  five  years  in  New  York  were  of  as  much  health,  certainly  they 
were  of  as  much  working-strength,  as  any  similar  portion  of  my 
life.  As  you  might  suppose,  the  matter  is  constantly  in  my 
thoughts,  and  I  earnestly  seek  Divine  leading ;  for  I  know  that 
my  decision  must  be  reviewed  in  the  Judgment,  and  that  if  I 
determine  on  worldly  and  selfish  grounds,  I  must  expect  a  blight 
if  not  a  curse.  I  wish  to  settle  this  question  before  many  days. 
My  brother  Samuel  has  accepted  the  call  to  Freehold.  What 
a  happy  knack  at  speech-making  Sir  H.  Bulwer  has  !  Young 
Mr.  Beers  sent  me  some  water  from  the  Dead  Sea,  and  some 
olive-wood  from  Jerusalem  ;  I  previously  had  some  olive-leaves 
from  Gethsemane,  and  some  salts  from  Marah.  This  is  almost 
enough  to  fill  a  reliquarium. 

Princeton,  January  6,  1851. 
We  are  mercifully  preserved  ;  yet  I  am  scarcely  ever  without 
cough  this  winter.  Exposed  as  I  was  during  my  journey, 
[to  Virginia  in  December,]  I  had  a  respite  then.  They  talk  of 
sending  me  to  Europe.2  From  my  imo  pectore,  I  say,  I  have  no 
wish  to  go.  Perhaps  it  might  be  good  for  my  health.  The  im- 
pulse to  write  sermons  has  come  over  me  very  strong,  and  I  have 
two  half  done.  There  is  no  employment  I  ever  found  so  uniform- 
ly agreeable.  It  looks  as  if  we  never  should  have  a  cisalpine 
Assembly  again.3     How  different  from  the  days  when  we  used 

1  In  1849  he  preached  80  times ;  in  1850,  49  times. 

■  He  had  signified  his  willingness  to  accede  to  the  New  York  call,  and 
resigned  his  professorship  in  the  following  February,  but  continued  to  act 
until  April  30.  It  was  also  determined  that  he  should  take  a  voyage  before 
entering  upon  his  new  duties. 

8  The  Assembly  of  1851  met  in  St.  Louis,  that  of  1852  in  Charleston. 
VOL.  ii. — 6* 


130     WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

to  see  the  leaders  of  the  church  in  the  long  pulpit  of  old  "  Mar- 
ket Street."  '  If  they  set  up  a  cheap  paper,  they  will  doubtless 
centre  it  somewhere  in  the  West.  Dr.  Lindsly  is  about  remov- 
ing to  New  Albany.  I  have  peculiar  pleasure  in  A.  A.  Hodge's 
unanimous  call  to  Kirkwood,  [Maryland.]  [Rev.  "William  H.] 
Rtiffner  preached  yesterday  at  Penn  Square.2  Gough  is  less 
talked  of  than  formerly  ;  I  should  like  to  hear  him  again  ;  it  is 
a  great  treat.  I  should  have  had  no  scruple  about  hearing 
[Jenny]  Lind,  though  I  suffer  no  regrets,  and  my  appetency  was 
not  strong  ;  I  was  in  New  York  one  night  that  she  sang,  also  at 
Jones's  Hotel,  Philadelphia,  with  her,  and  again  in  Baltimore. 
I  believe  all  our  cloth  went  in  New  York.  A  happy  New  Year 
to  you  all  from  us  all. 

Princeton,  January  23,  1851. 

I  hardly  know  how  to  speak  of 's  death.     It  came  on  us 

like  a  thunderbolt.  The  agonizing  thought,  when  such  an  event 
occurs,  is,  Perhaps  I  might  have  saved  a  soul  from  death  !  What 
plainness,  labour,  and  earnestness  it  ought  to  give  us  in  preaching  ! 


Princeton,  March  7,  1851. 
I  think  if  I  am  favoured  with  a  safe  arrival  at  Paris,  I  shall 

prefer  Walsh  to ,  with  or  without  the  fasces.3     My  present 

hope  is  to  go  by  steamer,  about  May  15.  You  have  fair  notice 
to  have  your  trunk  packed,  your  supply  engaged,  your  French 
overhauled,  &c.  The  architects  begin  to  visit  me,  and  I  feel  my 
utter  impotency,  in  judging  of  plans  and  styles.  I  wish  a  lot 
could  be  used  to  settle  it.  You  express  just  my  views  of  biog- 
raphy. How  much  of  the  Bible  is  history ;  and  how  much  of 
the  history  is  biography.  No  other  reading  so  much  shows  me 
to  myself,  or  so  much  stimulates  me.  As  we  grow  older,  do  we 
not  find  a  pleasure  in  the  lesser  lines  of  character  ?  seeing  differ- 
ences which  formerly  did  not  strike  us ;  just  as  we  learn  to 
detect  handwritings,  which  to  children  are  all  alike,  and  to  idiota 
are  unmeaning.  If  a  botanist  loves  to  collate  flowers,  how  much 
more,  &c,  &c.  I  will  borrow  for  you  the  Life  of  good  old  Ben- 
gel,  which  will  much  please  you.  N.  B.  To  introduce  into  our 
sermons  more  biography  ;  I  mean  detailed  pictures  of  characters ; 
not  for  ornament,  but  for  searching — to  hold  the  mirror  up  to  na- 
ture. Models  in  Bible,  Prov.  xxxi.  The  Hireling.  Several  sketchy 

1  The  First  Church  of  Philadelphia. 

s  The  Seventh  Church,  Philadelphia,  of  which  he  was  afterwards  the 
pastor. 

*  Mr.  Walsh  had  been  superseded  in  the  American  Consulate. 


1849—1851.  131 

portraits  in  the  Psalter.  Some  nice  volumes  might  be  made  for 
our  Board,  by  collecting  a  number  of  Christian  biographies. 
Proudfit  is  on  a  History  of  the  Huguenots ;  also  is  about  to 
edit  some  specimens  of  St.  Basil  in  Greek.  Some  of  our  stu- 
dents take  down  all  the  lectures  in  short-hand.  I  tried  a  man 
to-day,  by  reading  aloud  from  a  book  to  him  ;  he  succeeded  well. 
What  an  ignoble  business  this  stopping  of  the  House  of  Refuge 
is,  which  is  attempted  in  our  [New  Jersey]  Assembly.  Dr. 
H.  brings  excellent  accounts  of  Ripley's  doings  in  Burling- 
ton. The  Quaker  body  there  seems  to  be  breaking  to  pieces. 
Burt  is  doing  admirably  well  in  Springfield,  Ohio ;  he  has  a 
Bible-class  of  sixty-five.  At  Williams  College  the  President 
preaches  one  evening  each  week,  and  Prof.  Hopkins  another. 
The  whole  Senior  class  learns  the  Shorter  Catechism,  which  Dr. 
Hopkins  expounds  ;  and  it  is  a  regular  part  of  examination  for 
degrees.  I  wish  I  could  see  a  school  in  which  the  Bible  should 
be  taught  every  day. 

Apropos  :  since  Watts's  Catechisms  went  out,  we  have  had  no 
syllabus  of  Bible  history  to  give  children  and  young  people. 
My  father  made  some  attempts,  but  the  way  is  still  open.  Such 
a  book,  going  over  the  whole  narrative,  without  much  remark, 
would  sell  by  thousands.  The  demand  for  such  a  book  would 
continue.  If  this  snow  comes,  which  I  feel  in  the  air,  perhaps  we 
may  have  some  sleighing  yet. 

Princeton,  March  28,  1851. 
If  you  hear  any  thing  about  Walsh,  let  me  know.  I  am  try- 
ing to  brush  up  my  French,  on  which  I  shall  have  to  rely,  upon 
the  Continent.  [Rev.  John]  Lord  begins  a  lecturing  here 
on  Monday.  [Mr.  David]  Lord  proposes  $1,000  in  three 
prizes,  to  be  raffled  for,  by  essays,  pro  and  con,  upon  the  great 
apocalyptic  question.  He  makes  the  rider  of  the  white  horse  to 
be  the  early  preachers ;  and  of  the  red  to  be  prelacy.  He  is 
very  severe  on  Brown's  late  anti-millenarian  book.  Bethune's 
new  church  [Brooklyn]  is  to  have  no  windows  in  the  sides.  The 
"  Union  Committee"  of  New  York  is  doing  a  harm  to  the  public 
conscience,  by  circulating  sermons  and  addresses,  denying  all 
right  of  private  judgment,  on  matters  adjudicated  by  Caesar. 
Dr.  L.  maintains  that  in  matters  properly  civil  we  have 
nothing  for  it  but  to  submit  passively.  Illinois  is  about  making 
all  contracts  with  negroes  void,  besides  forbidding  them  the 
State.  Gov.  Young  told  me,  last  week,  that  they  are  migrating 
in  vast  numbers  to  Canada,  for  fear  of  the  late  law.  It  is  a  won- 
der more  are  not  urged  to  Liberia.  I  will  try  to  send  you 
"  London  Poor  and  London  Labour,''  [by  Mayhew.]     It  is  rich. 


132    WHILE  PROFESSOR  IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY. 

The  modern  German  writers  agree  that  the  James  of  Jerusalem 
was  not  the  surviving  apostle,  but  a  third  of  the  name.  Look 
at  the  places ;  you  will  find  it  an  interesting  question.  SehafT 
thinks  he  was  the  son  of  Mary,  one  of  Christ's  "  brethren,"  who 
did  not  believe ;  who  continued  unbelieving  till  Christ's  resur- 
rection ;  so  explaining  what  is  certainly  a  strange  specification, 
1  Cor.  xv.  7,  "  after  that  he  was  seen  of  James."  He  gets  over 
Gal.  i.  19,  by  a  grammatical  turn,  analogous  to  John  xvii.  12, 
*  "  but  the  son  of  perdition."  Nevin  seems  to  incline  to  the 
opinion,  that  God  would  have  been  incarnate,  independently  of 
the  entrance  of  sin.  I  have  seen  circulars,  &c,  showing  that 
the  project  of  bringing  the  Great  Exhibition,  palace  and  all,  to 
Governor's  Island,  in  1852,  is  in  actual  preparation.  Some 
hotel-men  in  New  York  have  subscribed  $5,000  each  ;  and  the 
railroad  companies  are  invoked.  The  palace  and  its  freight  will 
cost  $300,000. 

Princeton,  April  15,  1851. 
A  telegraphic  despatch  carried  me,  on  ten  minutes'  warning,  to 
New  York  on  Saturday,  to  see  a  sick  and  bereaved  lady.  1  heard 
a  Methodist  sermon  on  Sunday  morning.  I  was  also  at  Trinity 
Church.  Dr.  Hodges,  on  the  organ,  and  their  choir  of  boys,  I 
found  transcendent.  The  Benedicite  was  chanted  so  as  to  meet 
every  demand  of  my  feelings.  The  service  was  read  by  a  drone. 
It  seems  to  be  their  plan  to  make  it  as  hum-drum  as  possible. 
After  having  submitted  a  number  of  plans  to  me,  my  subscribers 
have  chosen  one  (Draper's)  which  I  have  never  seen.  It  is  said 
to  be  handsome.  Dr.  George  Maclean  is  to  be  my  steamer- 
companion.  He  goes  abroad  for  health,  and  to  see  his  Scotch 
cousins.  Schaff  has  given  me  a  round-robin  to  about  twenty  of 
the  German  great  ones.  I  am  like  to  have  plenty  more  letters 
than  I  can  deliver.  Ruskin's  new  book  upon  "  Sheepfolds "  is 
really  an  attack  upon  Puseyism.  It  is  well  worth  reading. 
Schaff  has  published  the  first  volume  of  his  Church  History  in 
German.  It  is  an  enormous  book,  and  will  make  ten  volumes, 
8vo,  at  the  rate  he  has  begun.     It  is  learned  and  moderate. 

Princeton,  April  30,  1851. 
I  this  day  heard  my  last  recitation.  There  is  something  sad 
in  these  "  Last  Things."  The  African  items  in  the  last  Missionary 
Herald  are  very  exciting.  The  head  of  the  Nile  seems  to  be  in 
sight.  A  number  of  young  blacks  here  are  thinking  of  Liberia. 
A  hint  towards  sermons  :  make  a  sermon,  one  for  each,  on  the 
different  states  and  stages  of  mind  and  character  among  people 
not  converted,  yet  not  altogether  hardened.     E.  g.  1.  The  occa- 


1849—1851.  133 

sionally  awakened.  2.  Those  who  are  already  somewhat  thought- 
ful. 3.  Those  who  have  gone  back.  4.  Those  who  are  deeply 
concerned.  5.  Those  who  are  so  for  the  first  time.  6.  Those 
who  see  obstacles  to  coming  to- Christ.  7.  Those  who  occasion- 
ally hope.  8.  Those  who  are  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  sin, 
&c,  &c.  I  see  by  Samuel  Davies's  Journal  that  his  return  voy- 
age from  England  took  him  three  months.  Get  hold  of  a  paper, 
and  read  Sir  Henry  Bulwer's  speech  at  the  St.  George's  dinner 
in  New  York.  It  is  full  of  sparkle.  Hamilton  is  said  to  be  the 
writer  of  the  article  on  Doddridge  in  the  North  British  Review. 
I  wish  this  new  invention  about  spinning  flax  by  steam  could 
come  true ;  it  would  be  a  death-blow  to  cotton-slavery.  Our 
anomalous  political  state,  as  to  this  question,  seems  to  offer  no 
light  in  the  future.  I  pity  the  poor  free  negroes  from  my  heart ; 
and  wish  we  had  taken  a  more  generous  course  in  regard  to 
their  church  accommodation. 

Princeton,  May  16,  1851. 
The  time  is  fast  approaching,  when  I  must  again  cease  to 
begin  my  letters  with  the  formula  at  the  top  of  this  page.  For 
some  days  I  shall  be  a  good  deal  occupied,  and  not  much  in 
writing-humour.  With  a  blessing  on  my  ways,  I  will  write  as 
often  as  I  can  from  the  other  side.  Yesterday  I  went  on  board, 
and  surveyed  my  quarters.  The  affair  is  colossal.  I  do  not 
mean  the  state-room,  which,  nevertheless,  is  more  roomy  than  I 
had  imagined.  I  shall  probably  leave  this  place  on  Friday 
morning.  Dr.  George  Maclean,  my  chum,  has  arrived.  Dr. 
Potts  (who  is  a  judge)  says  he  never  knew  the  power  and  rich- 
ness of  the  human  voice,  till  he  heard  the  Greek  priests  chant  at 
Moscow.  I  am  recalling  my  "  twenty  pence  is  one  and  eight- 
pence,"  and  trying  to  compare  pounds  and  guineas,  &c.  After 
lucubrating  awhile  over  my  French,  I  resolved  to  go  on  the 
"  crescit  eundo  "  plan.  When  speaking  on  the  Paris  platform, 
I  must  endeavour  not,  like  a  great  preacher,  to  eulogize  earn  de  vie 
instead  of  Veau  de  la  vie.  Fearful  prognostications  have  I  of 
sea-sickness,  which  I  almost  had,  by  way  of  rehearsal,  on 
descending  into  "  the  sides  of  the  ship,"  and  sniffing  the  school- 
house  smell  of  the  snuggeries.  It  seems  a  sardonic  mockery  to 
have  such  spacious,  sumptuous  saloons,  all  plush,  gold,  panel, 
paintings,  mirror,  damask,  &c.  Let  your  thoughts  be  sometimes 
on  me  and  mine,  and  mine  will  on  you  and  yours.  I  get  more 
and  more  repugnant  to  my  voyage  as  the  time  approaches.  We 
are  likely  to  have  300  passengers. 


CHAPTEE   XI. 

LETTERS    DURING    HIS    FIRST    VISIT    TO    EUROPE. 

1851. 

Off  Cape  Clear,  June  3,  1851. l 
Through  God's  mercy  I  am  here  on  the  Irish  coast,  in  our 
eleventh  day.  It  has  been  a  perpetual  delight,  without  accident, 
hinderance,  or  "  evil  occurrent ;  "  without  pain,  alarm,  sea-sickness, 
languor,  low  spirits,  or  weariness  ;  with  as  delightful  a  company 
as  ever  was  thrown  together,  with  sumptuous  entertainment  in  a 
floating  palace.  Will  you  believe  it — our  141  passengers  have 
been  like  a  loving  family.  Since  the  25th  we  have  had  solemn 
and  delightful  worship  every  night,  and  services  both  Sabbaths. 
On  each  I  preached  once.  I  suppose  we  sang  forty  complete 
hymns  on  Sunday  night.  Mr.  Tupper  and  Dr.  Miitter2  have 
won  my  everlasting  thanks  and  regard  for  the  bold  and  noble 
manner  in  which  they  came  out  for  religion.  Tupper  sets  the 
tune  at  worship. 

All  my  anticipations  of  the  Atlantic  have  thus  far  been  more 
than  realized.  I  have  seen  a  whale  and  a  paper-nautilus,  and 
several  icebergs.  The  ship-people  =140,  of  whom  seventy  are 
connected  with  the  steam.  We  burn  seventy  tons  of  coal  a  day, 
and  sixteen  men  are  employed  feeding  our  fourteen  furnaces. 

1  Dr.  Alexander  embarked  in  the  steamer  Arctic,  Captain  Luce,  at  New- 
York,  on  the  24th  May,  1851.  In  filling  up  this  chapter  I  have  not  been 
limited  to  the  letters  addressed  to  myself,  but  have  also  had  the  use  of  those 
addressed  to  different  members  of  his  family.  It  was  indeed  the  plan  of  his 
correspondence,  that  what  he  wrote  to  one  of  his  friends  should  be  cir- 
culated among  the  rest,  and  then  collected  as  the  journal  of  his  tour. 
Several  other  letters  were  addressed  by  him,  during  his  journey,  to  the 
editors  of  "The  Presbyterian,"  Philadelphia.  I  should  add  that  what  is 
given  in  this  chapter  is  but  a  meagre  selection  from  the  materials. 

3  Mr.  Martin  F.  Tupper,  author  of  "  Proverbial  Philosophy,"  and  the 
late  Professor  Mutter,  of  the  Jefferson  Medical  School  of  Philadelphia. 


1851.  135 

Think  of  its  being  daylight  here  at  2  A.  M.  !  On  the  banks 
of  Newfoundland  we  had  fire,  and  slept  under  full  winter  cover 
ing.  Mr.  Tupper  is  the  most  merry,  open-hearted  creature  in 
the  world,  and  fraught  with  classical  learning.  I  have  his  auto- 
graph of  his  own  proverb  :  "  A  babe  in  the  house  is  a  well- 
spring  of  happiness." 

June  4. — I  just  now  had  the  first  glimpse  of  Britain ;  it  is 
Bardsey  Island,  in  Caernarvon.  Beautiful  clearness  of  atmos- 
phere. The  blue  sea  has  become  green  in  soundings,  but  we 
have  the  gray  heaven  of  England  and  not  an  American 
azure. 

I  have  had  frequent  opportunities  of  religious  exhortation, 
and  was  never  more  blessed,  than  on  this  voyage,  with  willing 
ears.  I  am  sorry  to  say  my  health  was  publicly  drunk  at  the 
closing  dinner  on  board,  "  for  his  services  as  chaplain."  Tupper 
made  a  speech,  and  various  poems  Avere  recited. 

Liverpool,  June  4,  1851. 

My  first  step  in  England  !  We  were  half  a  day  getting 
through  the  customs.  They  even  dutied  my  sermons.  The 
weather  is  smoky,  muggy,  and  cold,  about  like  our  March,  with- 
out any  keenness.  For  the  first  time  I  see  beautiful  hawthorn 
blooms,  both  white  and  red.  Liverpool  buildings  are  high,  solid, 
massive,  every  thing  on  a  scale  of  majestic  strength,  without 
beauty. 

On  the  6th  we  go  up  to  London  with  Dr.  Mutter,  who  has 
been  several  times  abroad,  and  is  acquainted  with  several  of 
the  chief  nobility  and  clergy.  Mr.  Tupper  has  given  me  some 
valuable  letters,  and  offers  to  present  me  to  the  Presbyterian 
Duke  of  Argyll.  The  beauty  of  the  rural  environs  surpasses 
all  my  imagination.  Every  charm  of  verdure,  birds,  flowers, 
and  luxurious  landscape-gardening,  appears  in  this  spring-like 
weather.  Americans  meet  us,  almost  literally,  at  every  corner. 
I  suppose  we  have  fifty  in  this  house,  (Adelphi.) 

London,  June  6,  1851. 
The  season  is  transcendent.  How  can  I  ever  describe  the 
fairy-land  we  have  come  through  this  day  !  I  had  fancied  much, 
but  it  is  nothing  to  the  reality.  Green,  green,  green  !  Such 
green  as  I  never  thought  of,  bathed  in  an  atmosphere  of  deli- 
cious moisture,  a  playful  mixture  of  tiny  rains  and  sunshine. 
Castles,  parks,  hedgerows,  rivers,  Trent  and  Avon,  Cowper's 
birthplace  and  scenes,  cottages,  rookeries,  larks.  Some  parts  of 
Warwick,  Herts,  and  Nottingham,  with  the  approaches  by 
Harrow,  are  like  one's  dreams  of  Eden.     We  were  ten  in  party, 


136  DURING   HIS    FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

all  friends,  Americans ;  and  all  day  no  foot  entered  our  (railway) 
carriage  but  our  own.  The  order,  the  ease,  the  respectfulness 
are  marvellous.  I  have  not  in  several  days  seen  a  moment  of 
hurry. 

•  The  climate  is  wet  but  lovely.  You  can  walk  all  day.  The 
sun  seems  to  be  under  a  fender.  I  have  walked  miles  to-day  in 
my  great  coat,  and  been  in  half  a  dozen  rains  ;  but  the  rain 
seems  to  be  playing,  and  sometimes  stops  before  you  raise  an 
umbrella. 

Loxdon,  June  8,  1851. 

Where  should  a  man  go  on  Whitsunday  but  to  St.  Paul's  1 
I  fancy  half  the  auditory  was  American.  The  nave  is  boxed  up 
for  approaching  fete  of  charity  children.  Service  in  the  choir. 
Every  thing  chanted.  I  place  it  clearly  at  the  top  of  all  music 
I  ever  heard.  The  voice  of  the  bassos  and  of  the  trained  boys, 
the  organ,  the  modulation,  and  the  universal  enunciation,  surpass 
my  highest  dream  of  church-music.  Milman  preached.  Large 
parts  of  antiphonal  song  from  invisibles  in  loft.  I  could  not, 
by  search,  see  one  man  or  boy  among  the  surplices  who  listened 
to  one  word  of  the  sermon.  After  singing  like  angels  (I  never 
heard  such  voices)  the  dogs  would  sit  in  their  high  oaken  stalls, 
and  play  all  manner  of  pranks. 

For  an  omnibus  had  to  go  down  to  Bank.  My  heart  went 
pit-a-pat  at  the  corner-names  :  Bread  street,  Poultry,  Cornhill, 
St.  Swithin's,  Eastcheap.  Chat  with  six  policemen,  seventeen 
yesterday  ;  all  the  same — polite,  even  benignant ;  4,000  now 
in  London.  I  have  never  failed  to  say  I  was  American.  Effect 
all  the  same — overflowing  kindness,  with  abject  ignorance  of  the 
United  States.  Birds  sing  by  hundreds  in  these  parks.  One  is 
always  near  a  friendly  guide  in  the  police.  They  never  tire,  and 
especially  aid  foreigners.  The  placards  show  a  great  prevalence 
of  religious  affairs.  Sermons  advertised  in  all  languages.  Old 
London  rises  before  me,  where  I  see  the  Tower,  Billingsgate, 
Lambeth,  Old  Jewry,  and  Upper  Thames  street.  I  love  to  lose 
myself  in  the  culs-de-sac  and  inn-yards  opening  in  Cheapside  and 
Aldersgate  street. 

Our  hotel  (Euston)  is  at  the  terminus  of  the  North- Western 
Kailway.  There  are  indeed  two  of  them,  quite  alike,  with  a 
place  between  them.  No  bar.  Large  coffee-rooms,  columns, 
curtains,  head- waiter  like  a  clergyman,  speaks  French  and  Span- 
ish ;  no  loud  syllable  spoken ;  tables  far  apart.  Sparrows 
numerous  in  our  court,  which  is  clean  as  a  parlour.  I  heard 
Dr.  Hamilton  at  6|  P.  M.  Mean,  large  church.  Like  every 
minister   here,   he   has   trimmed   whiskers.     Gown   and   band. 


1851.  137 

Subject :  Eternity  of  hell-torments.  Able,  faithful,  tender, 
original,  and  not  flowing.  Voice  gentle,  but  intonation  posi- 
tively shocking.  No  gesture  but  with  head  and  body.  Voice 
dropped  on  every  cadence,  several  notes  lower  than  the  expected 
one,  with  an  effect  that  is  horrible.  Deep  solemnity  in  people, 
as  much  as  in  any  revival.  Precentor.  All  sing,  but  hideously. 
People  all  sit  down  a  minute  after  blessing,  which  is  delightful. 
Alms  at  the  door. 

Nothing  so  amazes  me  as  the  order  of  the  streets.  Even  by 
the  river-stairs  and  in  Southwark,  no  fuss,  no  groups  of  b'hoys, 
nothing  like  loud  laughter.  Indeed  the  policemen,  with  their 
handsome  uniform,  are  everywhere  ;  as  grave  as  clergymen,  and 
constantly  helping  some  one.  Around  the  Crystal  Palace  for 
some  squares,  no  one  is  allowed  to  stop  and  chat,  but  the  notice 
is  given  thus :  "  Excuse  me,  Sir ;  I  have  indulged  you  as  long  as 
my  orders  allow  ;  you  will  find  it  agreeable  to  walk  on."  Com- 
mon people  all  say  cowld  for  cold.  Everybody  says  'oase, 
believin,  and  ''bus.  If  you  want  a  cabman  you  hollow  keb  !  In 
Liverpool  I  had  my  watch,  once  my  father's,  set  to  English  time 
at  the  shop  where  it  was  made,  as  the  number  (6,900)  showed, 
in  1804 ;  they  now  number  59,000  and  odd.  Everybody  ex- 
presses assent  by  "  quite  so,"  and  no  sentence  seems  complete 
without  "  you  know,"  (naow.)  All  words  like  "  member," 
"  waiter  "  are  almost  spondees,  "  wraitarr."  "  Hear  "  and  "  year  " 
are  "  hyurr  "  and  "  yurr."  The  favourite  drink  is  'alf-and-'alf,  or 
ale  and  porter.  The  bell  is  always  answered  by  a  chambermaid, 
a  comely  person  in  a  cap. 

On  the  7th  I  was  in  Westminster,  and  surveyed  the  courts  of 
law.  In  Chancery,  Lord  Truro,  sniffing  camphor  or  the  like,  as 
if  sick.  In  Vice  Chancellor's  court,  Sir  J.  Knight  Bruce  sitting. 
In  Queen's  Bench,  Lord  Campbell,  Sir  J.  T.  Coleridge,  &c. 
Lawyers  crowded  in  pews,  like  people  in  church.  The  wigs 
looked  like  making  fun.  The  gown  and  band  were  becoming. 
The  queues  of  the  barristers'  wigs  like  floured  rat-tails. 

London,  142  Strand;  June  10,  1851. 
This  is  in  Old  London,  the  only  London  that  I  care  for.  I 
have  had  a  couple  of  good  days,  one  at  Greenwich  Fair  and 
hospital,  and  one  at  Windsor  and  Eton.  My  whole  day-light  I 
spend,  rain  or  shine,  (mostly  rain,)  on  the  tops  of  omnibuses.  In 
my  opinion  a  lady  might  journey  all  over  rail-road-England,  with 
as  much  safety  as  she  could  go  from  Trenton  to  Princeton.  In 
the  carriages  all  is  exactly  as  if  you  were  in  your  private  coach. 
No  passing  through.  No  outcry ;  the  whole  mien  that  of 
genteel,  deferential  servants. 


138  DURING   HIS   FIRST  VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

I  attended  the  Crystal  Palace  Exhibition  for  the  first  time  to- 
day. I  was  chiefly  attracted  by  the  Fine  Art  department.  The 
sculptures  are  innumerable.  The  only  ones  which  greatly  im- 
pressed me,  were  Italian,  but  placed,  alas !  under  the  sign  of 
"  Austria."  A  number  of  fine  ladies,  perhaps  noble,  were  try- 
ing to  lift  a  little  boy  up  to  see  the  great  diamond.  I  gave  my 
place  and  offered  to  hold  him.  The  lady  looked  surprised — such 
things  are  not  done  here — but  when  I  said  "  I  have  such  another 
3,000  miles  from  here,"  she  complied  and  thanked  me  with  much 
grace.  No  respect  is  shown  to  sex.  No  one  gives  place  to  a 
lady  as  such.  There  is  great  respect,  however,  to  every  one  in 
public,  for  they  do  not  know  but  the  man  in  plain  dress  is  a  lord. 
The  beautiful  skin  and  teeth  of  all  classes,  except  artisans,  keeps 
me  admiring.  The  gray  hair,  even  of  quite  young  ladies,  is 
universally  exposed.  It  strikes  you,  when  you  see  it  repeated 
among  ten  thousand.  Whitsun  holidays  have  brought  the  pro- 
vincials in  by  shoals.  You  would  laugh  to  see  vans,  or  long  and 
wide  cars,  crammed  full  of  rosy  lads  and  lasses,  perhaps  thirty 
in  one,  riding  twenty  and  thirty  miles  for  sixpence.  My  Vir- 
ginia friends  agree  that  they  never  saw  such  horses  as  came  up 
to  London.  They  are  like  elephants  in  the  brewers'  drays.  I 
understand  better  now  what  Dickens  and  the  Earl  of  Carlisle 
mean  by  calling  the  Americans  a  grave  people.  At  these  fetes 
of  Whitsun-week  the  whole  bourgeoisie  seem  to  be  pleasuring, 
all  on  a  broad  grin,  all  gratified,  and  without  strong  drink  or  any 
rowdyism.  Nurses  and  young  mothers,  with  little  children,  go 
seven  miles  by  Mater,  and  stay  all  day  amidst  thousands.  Every 
time  I  lift  my  eyes  from  this  paper,  I  see  St.  Paul's.  I  blame 
myself  for  contemning  St.  Paul's.  How  gloriously  it  pre- 
dominates over  every  part  of  the  city  !  Temple  Bar  and  Char- 
ing Cross  are  pleasantly  near.  I  have  seen  the  paintings  at 
Hampton.  You  know  my  peculiarity  as  to  portraits  ;  but  these 
are  the  men  themselves,  as  they  lived  and  moved.  Corregio's 
enchanted  me  more  than  any  before  I  knew  they  were  his.  The 
very  clocks  and  furniture  of  1536  are  at  Hampton.  The  horse 
guards  passed  me  to  barracks,  in  Hyde  Park,  in  the  rain,  cloaked, 
and  each  leading  a  second  horse.  There  are  always  two  regi- 
ments on  duty,  picked  men,  six  feet  high.  They  are  just  as 
polite  as  the  police.  Every  common  man  I  have  talked  with, 
wishes  to  go  to  America,  The  last  cad  that  took  my  sixpence 
asked  me  "  is  not  New  York  in  Philadelphia  1 "  Another,  when 
I  said  I  was  a  foreigner,  said  :  "  Ay  !  you  must  be  talkin'  hyper- 
bolical. I  suppose  you  know  the  meaning  of  the  word  ;  you 
may  be  a  furriner  to  London,  but  you're  an  Englishman  born." 

Windsor   Castle   covers   thirty- two   acres.     The   park   (see 


1851.  139 

Midsummer  Night's  Dream)  looks  endless.  Green,  green,  green, 
velvet,  emerald,  no  break  in  the  verdure — a  prairie  covered  with 
trees,  such  as  you  have  often  heard  described.  One  broad  avenue 
of  oaks  and  elms  reaches  three  miles.  My  first  rapture  in  a 
Gothic  edifice  was  in  St.  George's  Chapel.  All  words  must  fail  to 
express  its  awful  beauty  ;  no  gloom,  no  sombre  colours,  all 
bright  from  the  cream-coloured  stone  columns  and  arches,  rising 
into  vaults  of  fearful  grace.  In  the  church  is  the  group  of  statu 
ary  forming  a  monument  to  the  Princess  Charlotte.  The  grief 
expressed  by  the  veiled,  prostrate,  dishevelled  creatures,  makes 
me  shudder  when  I  recall  it. 

I  next  went  across  to  Eton.  These  little  old  towns  are  in- 
describable. High  street  is  a  place  to  dream  of.  Nobody  ever 
told  me  how  pure  and  clear  and  wide  the  streets  were,  nor  how 
low  were  the  houses,  nor  how  nice,  quaint,  cheerful,  and  roguish- 
looking.  Some  breathe  the  very  spirit  of  Chaucer.  Then  the 
College  !  1  cannot  express  how  my  musings  went  back,  in  those 
cloisters.  The  trees,  the  pavements,  the  Master's  (Hawtrey's) 
house,  with  comical  gables  peeping  out  of  the  deep  green ;  the 
boats  in  great  numbers  on  the  sweet  narrow  Thames,  rowed  by 
the  boys,  the  cricketers  with  gowns  and  coats  thrown  off. 

England  is  a  more  flowery  country  than  I  thought.  The 
roadsides  are  besprinkled  with  endless  bloom,  often  as  much  so 
as  any  garden  walk.  The  green  is  so  dense  that  girls  at  work 
in  fields  sometimes  seem  as  if  in  waves  of  a  river.  Ancient 
footpaths  wind  far  away  where  there  is  no  high  road,  gravelled 
and  even  paved. 

London,  June  13,  1851. 

Last  night  I  went  to  the  House  of  Commons,  and  heard 
Cobden,  Hume,  Baring,  Admiral  Berkeley,  &c.  All  spoke 
alike:  all  had  a  stammer,  save  Cobden;  all  colloquial,  rapid 
and  sometimes  funny.  The  noise  was  tremendous.  I  had  no 
notion  before  of  the  ironical  cheers,  which  are  a  yaw-yawing  you 
would  hardly  distinguish  from  dogs.  I  am  not  desirous  to  go 
again, 

After  all  my  study  of  the  localities,  I  can  hardly  believe  my 
eyes.  Such  dark,  dim,  tall,  narrow,  winding  ways — plainly  just 
so  for  ages,  Here  is  Watling  street,  part  of  an  old  Celtic  road 
all  across  Britain,  The  places  are  redolent  of  Saxon  times. 
Buy  Cock  Robin  at  Newberry's  Corner.  Newberry  has  been 
dead  sixty  years.  Peep  into  yards  of  old  inns.  Heavy  carts 
of  country  carriers  and  broad  dialect.  I  pushed  into  Doctors' 
Commons,  and  had  a  dozen  touching  their  hats  and  offering  to 
find  a  proctor  for  me,  to  show  me  the  cells  of  the  wills,  &c. 


140  DURING  HIS   FIRST   VISIT  TO   EUROPE. 

Serjeant's  Inn  is  another  close.  But  the  most  awakening  is  the 
Temple,  Middle  and  Inner,  which  surprises  me  by  its  insulation, 
retirement,  and  sweetness.     Templars  here  in  1184  ! 

June  14. — [After  visiting  Covent  Garden  market,  St.  James' 
Park,  hearing  the  Queen's  band,  and  seeing  the  Queen  and 
Prince  Albert  pass,  he  spent  the  rest  of  the  day  at  the  Crystal 
Palace.]  I  was  about  to  retire  at  4,  when  I  saw  the  Duke  of 
Wellington.  Exceedingly  trim  in  dress,  new  hat,  white  stock 
with  broad  silver  buckle.  No  greatcoat.  A  handsome  woman 
was  on  his  arm — wife  of  one  of  the  Commissioners.  The  crowd 
stood  off  with  peculiar  delicacy.  The  Duke  turned  into  the 
American  department,  and  stood  half  an  hour,  within  six  feet  of 
me,  listening  to  a  detailed  description  of  Day  and  Newell's  (New 
York)  lock.  He  gave  fixed  attention,  and  asked  some  questions. 
He  is  evidently  the  idol  of  the  people.1 

I  have  three  tickets  to  a  Conversazione  on  the  16th,  signed 
by  the  archdeacon  of  Middlesex,  "  to  afford  foreign  pastors,  and 
other  religious  foreigners,  opportunity  to  become  acquainted 
with  the  clergy  and  such  lay  members  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, as  take  a  special  interest  in  its  affairs." 

I  had  my  shoes  blacked  in  the  Park  for  one  penny,  by  a  boy 
in  a  blouse,  marked  "Ragged  School  Society  of  Shoeblacks, 
No.  35." 

You  cannot  think  how  deeply  I  was  affected,  when  looking 
over  the  exhibition  in  the  French  department,  to  see  at  a  type- 
founder's platform  the  Chinese  types  of  the  "  Presbyterian 
Board  of  Missions,"  especially  as  four  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee are  here  this  moment. 2 

June  16. — I  found  Dr.  Hamilton  at  his  house  in  Gower 
street,  who  received  me  with  indescribable  cordiality.  I  am 
pained  to  think  how  few  there  are  whom  I  have  ever  received 
with  as  much.  He  is  a  tall,  thin,  American-looking  man,  with 
the  gentlest,  sweetest,  most  innocent  manners.  He  gave  me  the 
latest  "  Presbyterian,"  which  completes  my  news  anent  the  Pro- 
fessorship, [in  Princeton  Seminary.]     He  gave  me  two  books 

for ,  with  his  autograph.     Then  he  took  me  into  the  next 

room,  and  introduced  me  to  Dr.  Sandberg,  Professor  of  Church 
History  at  the  University  of  Lund,  in  Sweden. 

I  then  proceeded  through  a  maze  of  streets  to  Carlton  Ter- 
race. I  found  No.  9,  and  saw  the  arms  of  Prussia  on  the  house 
of  the  Chevalier  Bunsen,  and  entering  found  a  number  of  per- 
sons waiting  in  the  ante-chamber.     The  big-legged  footman,  in 

1  The  Duke  died  on  that  day  fifteen  months. 

8  Dr.  Jacobus,  Mr.  Lenox,  Mr.  Soutter, — I  do  not  know  who  was  the 
fourth. 


1851.  141 

blue  and  gold,  took  my  card  and  instantly  came  back,  taking  me 
in  precedence  of  all  the  rest.  He  received  me  in  a  long,  lofty 
library-office,  looking  out  on  the  corner  of  St.  James'  Park.  He 
is  a  noble-looking  man,  somewhat  corpulent,  with  a  blue  eye, 
temperate  but  ruddy  skin,  and  fine  teeth.  He  took  me  as  un- 
ceremoniously by  the  hand  as  you  would  have  done,  and  led  me 
rather  gaily  towards  a  sofa,  seating  himelf  at  one  end.  He 
began  at  once  with  great  fluency,  elegance,  and  heart,  in  excellent 
English.  He  had  read  a  letter  which  I  had  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Kennedy,  respecting  German  emigration.  After  hearing 
me  on  this  topic,  he  entered  on  religious  subjects,  spoke  of  the 
iron  extremes  of  Anglicanism,  and  of  hymnology,  and  presented 
me  with  a  copy  of  his  own  book  of  hymns  and  prayers,  with 
this  inscription,  "  To  Rev.  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander,  as  a  token 
of  Christian  regard.  J.  Bunsen.  Carlton  Terrace,  16  June, 
1851."  He  offered  me  letters  to  Germany,  which  I  declined, 
begged  me  to  come  again,  and  kept  me  there  till  a  German,  ap- 
parently of  rank,  came  in.  I  observed  open  at  his  standing  desk 
a  Greek  copy  of  Origen.1  There  is  no  trace  of  stiffness  in  his 
manner,  and  his  reception  of  me  was  not  only  affable  but  loving. 
Tears  stood  in  his  eyes  several  times  during  our  interview.  I 
suppose  he  felt  that  he  could  entirely  unbend  writh  a  foreign 
Christian. 

Going  at  random  into  Westminster  Abbey,  I  found  the 
Bishop  of  London  preaching  before  the  famous  old  Society  for 
Propagating  the  Gospel.  Among  the  first  words  I  heard  were, 
"  the  United  States  of  America."  It  has  been  so  everywhere. 
Our  republic  seems  to  be  perpetually  in  the  mind  of  England. 
I  went  a  second  time  to  Westminster  Hall.  The  speeches  are 
eminently  condensed,  scholarly,  and  colloquial ;  more  of  a  dia- 
logue than  any  thing  known  among  us.  The  barrister  or  solicitor 
is  not  allowed  to  deviate  an  instant.  All  the  English  speak 
alike,  and  almost  all  affect  a  stammer  wThich  gives  an  odd  em- 
phasis. On  my  return  I  looked  in  at  the  old  Savoy  church,  with 
respectful  remembrance. 

I  am  now  convinced  that  I  must  leave  this  most  noble  of 
cities,  not  only  unlearnt,  but  unvisited  in  a  score  of  most  im- 
portant places.  1  could  this  minute  name  thirty  which  it  would 
take  a  week  barely  to  go  to. 

1  It  was  about  this  time  that  Mr.  Bunsen  was  preparing  his  Letters  to 
Archdeacon  Hare  on  Hippolytus,  author  of  the  recently  discovered  book 
asciibed  to  Origen.  The  first  volume  of  his  large  work  on  Hippolytus  did 
not  appear  till  1853. 


142  DURING   HIS    FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

Paris,  June  19,  1851. 

We  left  London  at  9-J-  this  morning,  and  here  we  are  (at 
midnight)  in  Paris,  after  a  journey  of  345  miles.  Feel  the 
climate  to  be  like  that  of  America ;  it  is  from  winter  to  sum- 
mer. The  delightfulness  of  seeing  the  sun  and  feeling  the 
warmth  is  indescribable.  The  ride  through  Picardy  is  flat  and 
monotonous,  but  verdant,  cultivated,  and  delightful.  Sometimes 
thirty  windmills  at  once.  No  fences,  few  hedges,  many  ditches. 
All  roads  and  ditches  lined  with  pollard  trees.  Almost  always 
in  sight  of  a  Norman  church  predominating  over  the  flat  but 
cosy  hamlet.  I  never  saw  any  thing  more  lovely  than  the 
groups  of  villagers  in  the  summer  evening.  Immense  herds  of 
cattle  and  flocks  of  sheep.  Our  way  was  through  forty-six  towns 
and  villages. 

2 1st.— Hotel  Meurice.  Eight  across  is  the  Garden  of  the 
Tuileries.  The  shade  is  beyond  all  I  ever  dreamt  of:  it  is 
almost  like  night.  There  is  not  a  blade  of  grass,  but  the  ground 
is  baked  and  trodden  hard.  Children  in  any  quantity  in  the 
garden,  with  their  bonnes ;  not  so  chubby  and  cherubic  as  the 
English,  of  whom  also  there  are  many.  I  saw  30,000  men  re- 
viewed by  the  President  [now  Emperor]  in  the  Champ  de 
Mars.  I  was  in  an  open  caleche,  with  Mr.  R.  L.  Stuart.  Louis 
is  not  great-looking,  but  modest  and  soldierly,  and  "  un  bon  cava- 
lier," as  our  driver  said  again  and  again.  Jerome  was  on  his 
left.  The  troops  of  Paris  are  100,000.  There  were  180  drums. 
The  soldiers  singly  look  mean,  but  in  mass  are  incomparably 
fine.  We  drove  back  along  the  quays,  and  so  across  by  the 
Ely  sees  and  Place  de  la  Concorde.  This  is  probably  unequalled 
on  earth.  On  one  side  the  Madeleine,  on  the  other  the  Chamber 
of  Deputies.  There  is  no  longer  any  aristocratic  wealth  in 
Prance.  One-quarter  of  an  hour  in  Hyde  Park  reveals  more 
grandeur  than  all  Prance  can  show.  The  women  of  Paris  are 
the  ugliest  and  the  prettiest  I  ever  saw.  The  general  impres- 
sion on  me  is,  that  England  is  the  cleanest  and  France  the 
dirtiest  nation  in  the  world. 

June  22. — -Lord's  Day,  but  no  Sabbath  in  Paris.  They  were 
painting  this  very  house,  and  tearing  down  buildings  not  far  off. 
All  the  shops  are  open.  It  is  a  great  Romish  feast,  the  Fete- 
Dieu.  As  time  allowed,  I  went  into  the  church  of  St.  Mary  of 
Loretto  before  Protestant  service.  It  was  full,  each  paying  two 
sous  for  a  chair.  High  mass.  Various  bands  of  singers,  boys 
and  men.  Processions  round  and  round  with  the  host.  Perhaps 
fifty  priests,  arrayed  in  purple  and  gold.  Two  beautiful  young 
priests,  in  graceful  white  robes,  with  pink  sashes,  carried  the 
censers.     Four  little  children,  in  same  apparel,  scattered  rose- 


1851.  143 

leaves.  Twenty-four  novices,  girls,  all  in  white,  veiled,  carried 
candles  six  feet  high.  An  orchestra  of  perhaps  fifty  instruments 
on  the  north  side  of  the  choir,  the  leader  making  all  the 
motions,  just  as  in  a  theatre.  The  pyramidal  band  of  priests  at 
the  high-altar,  moved  and  changed  and  turned  and  parted  with 
all  the  complication,  but  with  all  the  regularity  of  a  cotillon. 
The  Gregorian  chant  by  voices  like  Russell's,  [deep  bass,]  all 
like  one  voice.  I  never  in  all  my  life  felt  such  grief  and  indigna- 
tion at  the  "  man  of  sin."  Architecture,  painting,  and  music, 
here  combine  in  their  highest  point  to  make  Christ's  cross 
nothing  but  a  stupendous  plaything.  The  hundreds  of  tapers, 
and  the  indescribable  gorgeousness  of  the  chasubles,  &c,  and 
the  wailing,  soul-entrancing  music,  all  belong  to  the  wine  of 
incantation  of  the  scarlet  woman.  May  God  destroy  this  Baby- 
lon with  the  brightness  of  his  coming ! 

Thence  to  the  Oratoire.  I  hoped  to  hear  Mr.  Adolphe 
Monod,  but  found  Mr.  Coquerel  in  the  pulpit.  He  is  an 
eloquent  Socinian,  and  a  fine-looking  man.  Text :  "  Who  gave 
himself  for  us."  Doctrine :  Unity  of  belief  is  impossible ; 
unity  of  morals  is  what  Christ  died  for.  He  is  a  consummate 
orator.  No  notes.  Large,  respectable  assembly.  They  sang 
the  old  Beza-Marot  psalms  to  the  old  tunes.  People  all  stood 
most  reverently  during  prayer. 

June  23. — To  the  National  Assembly.  Saw  Lamartine, 
Cavaignac,  Coquerel,  Leroux,  Berryer,  Odillon  Barrat,  Girardin, 
Lamennais,  and  some  others.  I  never  heard  such  a  noise.  A 
hundred  would  be  talking  as  loud  as  the  orator.  Coming  away 
I  joined  company  with  a  priest.  Told  him  I  was  a  Protestant. 
He  said,  "  N'importe,  monsieur,  vous  etes  Chretien."  He  was 
polite,  as  every  one  is.  No  one  enters  a  cafe  or  an  omnibus 
without  salutation. 

June  24. — One  month  from  home.  It  seems  a  year,  but  a  year 
of  delight.  For  the  first  time  .1  can  say  my  cold  is  better. 
Soldiers  have  now  become  as  familiar  as  flies.  Paris  is  more 
like  an  American  city  than  London.  It  is  filthy  and  has  abomi- 
nable stenches.  But  there  are  thousands  of  flowers  and  birds 
here,  which  cannot  be  said  of  any  American  city.  O  what  a 
meeting,  Sunday  evening,  in  the  little  chapel  Oratoire  !  Adolphe 
Monod — "  God  is  Love."  Huguenot  women  in  caps.  Old 
Psalm  (103d) — old  tunes.  It  was  an  hour  to  be  remembered 
for  life. 

Mr.  Rives  gave  me  a  distinguished  reception,  called  in 
person,  and  has  written  me  two  notes,  and  given  me  entrance  to 
the  diplomatic  box  at  the  National  Assembly.  Tea  at  Dr. 
Monod's,  with  Bridel,  and  several  others.     Good  Christian  even- 


144:  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

ing.  I  conducted  prayers  and  expounded.  I  had  previously 
spent  an  hour  with  Adolphe  Monod.  We  ran  together  like  two 
drops.  I  am  to  be  at  his  soiree  on  26th,  where  perhaps  I  meet 
Lady  Trotter,  sister  of  the  Marchioness  Normanby.  All  ranks 
of  evangelical  people  meet  here  like  brothers.  All  ranks  are 
equally  polite.  I  never  hear  or  see  any  thing  in  the  streets 
which  would  be  rude  in  our  parlour.  The  persuasive,  deferential, 
affectionate  tone  of  their  voices,  especially  the  women,  is  sur- 
prising. But  every  one  dreads  an  outbreak,  and  then  they  be- 
come tigers.  Such  flowers  and  fruits  I  never  beheld.  The 
flower-market  near  Madeleine,  beats  Covent  Garden  hollow. 
The  poorest,  meanest  things  in  Paris,  are  arranged  with  taste.  A 
fruit-window  is  a  perfect  still-life  picture.  A  half  sous  stick  of 
cherries  is  pretty  enough  to  take  home.  You  must  imagine 
what  it  must  be  when  they  lay  themselves  out  to  be  ornamental. 
June  27. — My  days  are  spent  in  rambling, :  for  the  things  I 
want  to  see  differ  from  the  common  sights.  I  have  been  in  the 
principal  churches,  have  heard  masses  enough  to  keep  my  soul 
in  repose  (if  they  have  any  such  virtue)  a  thousand  years,  have 
seen  paintings  till  1  weary  of  them,  have  sought  out  the  burial- 
places  of  some  great  men,  some  Protestant  antiquities  not  com- 
monly visited,  and  have  learned  to  hate  Popery  more  intensely 
than  ever.  At  two  soirees  I  have  good  opportunity  to  scan  the 
customs  of  Parisian  Christians.  I  have  never  seen  any  thing 
more  simply  elegant  or  affectionate.  In  both  instances  we  had 
prayers  before  tea.  Last  evening  a  company  of  about  thirty 
united  in  singing  a  hymn,  hearing  chapter,  and  offering  a  prayer 
— all  in  French.  I  have  passed  much  time  in  the  Pays  Latin, 
or  region  of  the  old  colleges  and  convents,  and  in  rummaging  the 
antiquities  of  Paris.  When  I  plunge  into  the  oldest,  narrowest 
streets,  &c,  of  the  Seine,  I  have  most  that  attracts  me.  My 
uniform  method  is  to  hire  a  coupe  and  sit  with  the  driver.  This 
teaches  me  more  French  than  a  week  of  solitary  walking.  Then 
I  make  an  excuse  to  sit  half  an  hour  in  some  cool  shop  and  chat 
in  my  bad  French  with  the  smooth-tongued  Parisians.  I  have 
to-day  visited  with  great  curiosity  the  markets  which  had  escaped 
me.  Strawberries  as  large  as  English  walnuts  are  abundant  for 
money.  Both  in  England  and  Paris  the  most  beautiful  butter 
is  universally  set  before  us  in  pats  about  as  large  as  two  dollars 
laid  together.  No  spot  has  attracted  me  so  much  as  the  Louvre. 
If  it  were  Christian  so  to  do  I  could  spend  hours  there  daily  for 
a  year.  Yet  I  do  not  enjoy  Paris  as  much  as  London.  One  I 
admire,  the  other  I  love.  Except  their  poor,  ignorant  nonsense 
about  slavery,  I  saw  hardly  any  thing  in  England  which  I  did 
not  like. 


1851.  145 

Paris,  June  30,  1851. 

Yesterday  was  the  Lord's  day,  the  octave  of  Fete  Dieu,  (Cor- 
pus Christi,)  a  day  specially  devoted  to  the  idolatry  of  the  wafer. 
I  felt  it  my  duty  to  go  to  the  Madeleine  before  worship.  How 
can  I  make  you  conceive  the  worldly  grandeur  and  beauty  !  It 
is  the  greatest  of  modern  churches.  It  is  more  beautiful  outside 
than  St.  Peter's.  Conceive  of  a  Greek  temple  of  massy  marble  : 
images  on  images  by  the  greatest  sculptors,  many  times  as  large 
as  life,  all  outside.  Hangings  of  velvet,  purple,  and  gold  be- 
tween the  columns.  Ancient  tapestries  hung  outside  the  walls, 
within  the  vast  pillars.  Inside,  the  smell  of  millions  of  flowers. 
It  is  called  the  fete  des  fleurs.  If  I  saw  one  bouquet  I  saw  ten 
thousand.  You  cannot  imagine  the  art  in  their  disposition. 
The  high  altar  was  so  backed  by  a  forest  of  flowers,  that  the 
singers  were  perfectly  concealed.  Scores  of  priests,  deacons, 
boys  in  graceful  albs  with  pink  girdles ;  scores  of  girls  all  veil- 
ed, all  white  for  their  first  communion,  as  they  went  in  proces- 
sion, and  carried  a  rich  bouquet.  The  nuns  and  girls  had 
bouquets  wholly  of  lilies  and  other  white  buds  of  flowers.  The 
music  was  such  as  I  am  sure  I  shall  never  hear  the  like  of  in  this 
world.     The  vast  area  within  was  filled  with  people. 

From  this  I  went  to  the  poor  little  English  Wesleyan  chapel. 
About  one  hundred  and  fifty  :  about  seventeen  men  :  generally 
servants  and  governesses  of  English  residents  and  visiters.  Ser- 
mon by  Dr.  Ritchie,  a  Wesleyan  of  Canada.  Good  sermon  on 
"  Behold  the  Lamb."  The  application  of  it  was  such  gospel, 
gospel,  gospel,  that  I  laid  my  head  down  and  almost  dissolved. 
These  things  which  are  daily  bread  in  blessed  America,  are  here 
like  God's  manna.  The  beauty,  the  grace,  the  extent,  the  glory 
of  these  illuminated  forests,  these  spacious  places,  these  statues, 
buildings,  orderly  crowds,  this  music — a  hundred  orchestras  and 
concerts  every  night  in  open  air — these  things  pass  description, 
and  steal  the  soul  of  the  people  from  God.  Since  the  cities  of 
the  plain,  vice  has  never  had  such  blandishment.  Most,  even  of 
religious  Americans,  forget  all  restraint.  Not  that  I  have  seen 
drunkenness  or  heard  one  profane  word.  All  is  courtesy  and 
bietiseance.  The  common  people  have  a  grace  which  reproves 
me  every  instant.  Around  a  puppet-show  or  dancing  dogs,  the 
folk  in  blouses  are  so  polite  and  still ;  they  do  not  even  rub 
against  you  without  a  "  Pardon,  monsieur,"  the  tone  of  which  is 
more  than  the  words.  But  they  are  Godless,  and  at  one  rap  of 
the  drum  (especially  just  now)  are  ready  to  become  simiotigres. 

Mr.  Walsh  has  gone  out  to  St.  Germain-en-Laze.  He  sent 
me  a  most  warm  and  characteristic  letter,  mistaking  me  for 
Addison,  and  went  to  the  Director  of  the  National  (once  Royal) 

VOL.  II. — 7 


146  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

Library,  and  requested  that  I  might  be  introduced  to  the  princi- 
pal Orientalists  of  Paris. 

All  the  time  I  write  I  hear  from  the  large  courts  a  perpetual 
sound  of  French  chat  among  the  servants,  with  that  Parisian 
tune  to  the  words  which  no  foreigner  can  ever  obtain,  but  which  is 
so  cunning  and  musical  and  insinuating,  as  to  reconcile  me  to 
the  sound  of  French. 

Mr.  A.  Monod  is  the  most  remarkable  mixture  of  sweetness 
with  intense  solemnity  I  ever  saw.  Three  months  ago  his 
mother  died  leaving  twelve  living  sons.  All  the  connexion  seem 
to  be  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

•  Paris,  July  3,  1851. 

My  first  opening  of  the  lips  was  last  evening  at  the  Wesleyan 
Chapel.  Though  it  rained  I  suppose  a  hundred  and  fifty  were 
out.  Spies  of  this  free  government  are  always  there.  One  of 
the  most  interesting  of  all  my  hours  abroad  I  had  yesterday 
morning  with  l'Abbe  de  Moligny.  Mr.  Walsh  gave  me  a  note 
to  the  Abbe  evidently  as  a  specimen  of  the  most  cultivated 
French  clergyman.  Every  thing  in  his  apartments  was  in  the 
highest  bachelor  taste,  like  a  boudoir.  He  was  all  attention  and 
cleverness ;  showed  me  specimens  of  binding ;  offered  to  take 
me  to  his  bookseller  and  buy  for  me,  which  he  could  do  to  ad- 
vantage. He  alluded  several  times  to  my  being  a  Protestant 
with  much  gracefulness  and  sobriety.  We  talked  of  German 
emigration  and  of  politics. 

I  greatly  wished  to  see  a  religious  house,  and  the  greatest 
Romish  theological  seminary  of  France ;  both  coincide  in  St. 
Sulpice.  Mr.  Walsh  gave  me  a  note  to  Dr.  L.  R.  Delual  at  the 
Seminary,  and  sent  me  a  kind  letter  inviting  me  to-day.  The 
Seminary  has  about  three  hundred  religious,  of  whom  a  hundred 
and  fifty  are  students.  -I  was  conducted  to  the  room  of  Father 
Delual  in  the  third  story.  He  began  to  talk  rapidly  in  English, 
and  did  so  for  three  hours.  He  soon  told  me  he  had  lived  thirty- 
two  years  in  Baltimore,  and  was  twenty  years  President  of  St. 
Mary's  College.  He  knew  much  about  Princeton,  Dr.  Miller, 
my  father,  and  Addison.  He  had  a  vivid  recollection  of  meeting 
Dr.  Hodge  on  the  Delaware  when  he  was  accompanying  the 
archbishop  of  Baltimore  to  embark  for  Rome.  There  are  nearly 
twenty  other  Sulpitian  seminaries  in  France,  all  affiliated  under 
this.  I  was  placed  in  rapport  with  a  number  of  students  in 
different  parts  of  the  cloisters,  and  of  a  beautiful  and  spacious 
terraced  garden  within  the  wall.  I  visited  the  small  lecture- 
rooms,  which  are  plain  but  full  of  pictures.  There  is  a  series  in 
?>il  of  all  the  Popes,  as  he  said,  "  from  St.  Peter  to  Pio  Nono." 


1851.  147 

I  saw  numerous  younger  students  carrying  light  desks  on  their 
heads  to  the  recitations.  They  study  in  their  cells.  They  look 
unhealthy  and  meager.  The  refectory  is  divided  into  two  parts ; 
to  the  right  go  the  valid  ones,  to  the  left  the  invalid.  The 
covers  for  the  latter  must  have  been  thirty.  Each,  as  he  enters 
the  dividing  passage,  takes  from  a  great  pannier  as  much  bread, 
wheat,  or  rye  as  he  needs.  Each  has  his  half  bottle  of  vin  ordi- 
naire at  each  meal.  The  fragments  are  dispersed  to  the  poor  at 
a  side-gate.  The  garden  is  full  of  trees,  gravelled  and  beautiful, 
with  covered  sheds.  The  old  man  joked  paternally  with  those 
he  met.  He  pointed  out  two  who  had  been  "  Presbyterian  min- 
isters in  Scotland."  He  encircled  us  in  his  arms,  saying,  "  All 
three  Presbyterians."  I  replied,  "My  reception  here  is  too 
courteous  for  me  to  engage  in  controversy."  One  of  the  two 
said  to  me,  "  We  must  pray  for  you  at  Notre  Dame  des  Victoircs." 
I  have  no  belief  that  either  of  the  two  was  ever  a  minister.  We 
went  into  the  chapel.  It  is  a  beautiful  building,  the  whole  area 
being  clear.  Oaken  stalls  in  two  rows  along  the  walls  accommo- 
date the  worshippers.  They  never  fairly  sit  except  during  the  epis- 
tle ;  the  rest  of  the  time  they  either  kneel,  or  (turning  the  thick 
oaken  seat  up  by  a  hinge)  rest  on  a  ledge  which  is  called  a 
misericorde.  There  are  seven  large  paintings,  some  very  fine, 
by  Lebrun.  One  of  the  Scots  had  a  little  Latin  Testament  in 
his  hand,  and  was  going  to  the  "  Scripture  lesson."  They  are 
mostly  young,  with  much  appearance  of  austerity.  Their  courses 
of  studies  seem  low,  puerile,  and  generally  memoriter.  Dialec- 
tics and  casuistry  form  the  chief  part.  The  surveillance  and 
separation  are  perfect.  All  the  youth  have  tonsure.  Dr.  Delual 
answered  all  my  questions  with  great  promptness,  and  constantly 
presented  me  as  a  Protestant  and  a  Presbyterian.  He  talked 
much  about  revolutionary  atheism,  and  said  the  days  of  Marat 
would  return  if  the  red-republicans  gained  power.  He  added, 
what  I  believe,  that  there  is  a  great  revival  of  ceremony  and  mass- 
going,  even  among  men.  He  is  a  very  venerable  and  even 
elegant  man,  with  a  fresh  complexion,  and  chirping  merriment. 
He  often  quoted  Latin,  but  never  said  any  thing  against  Prot- 
estantism. 

Yesterday  I  was  at  the  College  of  France,  and  had  several 
hours  with  the  celebrated  mathematician  Biot,  who  intrusted  me 
with  several  things  for  America.  He  is  in  his  80th  year  :  yet  I 
have  some  of  his  writing,  done  without  spectacles,  smaller  and 
firmer  than  mine.  He  spoke  of  Peirce,  Henry,  Gould,  Wilkes, 
and  Bache.1 

1  On  the  10th  July  Dr.  Alexander  left  Paris  and  reached  Dijon  that  even-  - 
ing.     On  the  12th  to  Geneva. 


148  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

Geneva,  July  12,  1851. 

All  this  day  we  have  been  in  mountain-raptures;  but  when 
suddenly,  through  a  near  gap,  the  Alps  burst  on  us,  it  was  so 
different  from  any  forethought  of  mine  that  I  was  relieved  from 
swooning  only  by  tears.  I  am  thankful  to  say  all  my  thought  at 
the  moment  was  of  God,  of  Christ,  and  of  heaven.  Though  a 
hundred  miles  off  in  many  parts,  they  were  clear  as  diamond.  I 
was  absolutely  speechless.  I  had  dreamed  of  vast  dimensions, 
and  of  big  mountains  and  chains,  but  this  was  mother-of-pearl, 
azure,  agate,  all  colours,  more  solid  than  granite,  and  looking 
among  the  clouds,  heavenly.  We  all  sank  under  the  religious 
impressions.  The  impression  of  death,  heaven,  and  eternity  is 
unavoidable.  It  has  been  a  means  of  grace  on  the  blessed,  quiet 
Sabbath  in  the  city  of  Bernard,  Calvin,  Farel,  Vinet,  Knox,  Beza, 
and  the  Turretines.  Yet  around  this  lake  lived  Voltaire,  Rous- 
seau, and  Gibbon.     "  The  entrance  of  thy  words  giveth  light." 

July  15. — On  Sunday  I  went  to  the  cool  retreat  of  Dr.  Malan's 
chapel.  Neat  but  plain  :  oaken  pulpit  and  unpainted  galleries. 
About  thirty-five  present.  The  Doctor  preached ;  very  short  and 
affectionate.  Two  members,  perhaps  elders,  were  called  on  to 
pray.  Afterwards  I  went  to  his  house,  and  had  a  hearty,  loving 
welcome. 

This  is  the  greatest  day  I  could  have  in  Geneva.  The  na- 
tional shooting-match,  the  Tir  Federal,  has  been  going  on  for  ten 
days,  and  people  from  all  the  cantons,  to  the  number  of  30,000, 
have  been  here.  The  prizes  ==  $37,000.  The  targets  are  by 
hundreds  in  a  row.  Every  man  who  makes  a  good  shot  carries 
a  card  in  his  hat,  and  1  have  seen  some  with  more  than  fifty.  I 
never  saw  a  more  healthy,  brave,  honest,  orderly  people.  But 
they  are  becoming  corrupted  by  French  infidel  democracy. 

We  went  to  the  St.  Antoine  quarter,  where  there  are  seats 
and  walks,  near  the  wire  bridge,  by  the  ramparts.  We  visited 
the  Cathedral ;  a  very  old  church,  like  St.  Denis  in  some  points. 
Here  the  Byzantine  arch  is  seen  growing  into  the  early  Gothic. 
The  old  stalls  from  before  the  Reformation  remain,  with  figures 
of  apostles  and  prophets  in  wood,  and  blazonry  indicating  the 
alliance  between  Geneva  and  Florence,  as  republics.  The  pulpit 
is  modern,  but  the  sounding-board  is  the  same  as  when  Calvin 
preached  here  ;  this  was  his  favourite  place. 

The  flora  of  the  Alpine  valleys  is  prodigious.  The  emerald 
hill-sides  are  a  mosaic  of  hues  more  brilliant  than  any  greenhouse. 
The  air,  or  some  luxuriance  of  growth,  makes  the  grass  and 
flowers  appear  brilliant  beyond  telling.  Every  great  rock,  on 
its  warmer  side,  has  a  perfect  garden  of  plants  and  flowers.  The 
people  are  very  loving.  Every  heifer  and  every  goat  is  petted 
like  a  cat. 


1851.  149 

Chamonix,  foot  of  Mont  Blanc,  July  17,  1851. 
From  the  very  point  of  leaving  Geneva,  there  was  one  pano- 
rama of  gardens  and  beauty ;  but  as  we  came  up  and  up  nearer 
to  the  "  monarch  of  mountains,"  the  views  became  so  amazing 
and  so  unlike  all  ever  seen  before,  that  I  felt  almost  in  a  new 
planet.  You  are  sufficiently  familiar  with  the  description  of 
such  valleys  as  those  through  which  we  came.  You  have  seen 
models  of  Swiss  houses,  but  oh  !  you  must  magnify  and  roughen 
them  ;  you  must  make  them  dark  and  smoky  and  filthy ;  you 
must  turn  stable  and  dwelling  into  one ;  you  must  people  them 
with  the  most  homely,  rude,  bundled  creatures  ;  you  must  cause 
to  issue  from  them  disfigured  idiots,  maimed  and  livid  beggars, 
and  objects  with  goitres  from  the  size  of  an  apple  to  the  size  of 
their  own  heads.  I  never  beheld  such  an  appearance  of  ill 
health,  as  in  the  lower  valley  of  the  Arne.  When  we  began  to 
rise  yet  higher  at  St.  Martin,  the  people  looked  better,  but  still 
our  carriage  was  beset  with  horrible  lazars.  Occasionally  a  fat 
priest  might  be  seen.  The  women  work  like  oxen,  and  have  no 
trace  of  comeliness.  The  men  are  sometimes  well-looking. 
Crosses  and  roadside  chapels  abound  in  the  passes  of  the  Alps. 
But  "  only  man  is  vile."  These  very  objects,  seen  in  a  landscape 
a  little  way  off,  are  picturesque  in  a  high  degree.  To  describe 
the  valleys,  heights,  precipices,  grottos,  perpendicular  rocks,  and 
passages  along  edges  or  shelves,  where  heaven  was  darkened  by 
the  barrier  of  awful  rock  on  one  side,  and  the  pit  yawned  on  the 
other,  is  more  than  I  dare  attempt.  In  one  place  a  cannon  was 
fired  (by  a  woman)  and  its  echoes  were  undistinguishable  from 
severe  thunder.  Nothing  more  surprised  me  than  the  luxuriance 
of  vegetation.  You  never  saw,  even  in  a  favoured  meadow,  such 
green  as  clothes  these  depths  and  heights,  from  bottom  to  top, 
wherever  any  soil  can  stick.  Even  here,  where  I  seem  almost 
to  touch  Mt.  Blanc,  where  its  tremendous  slope  comes  down  to 
the  very  Arne,  which  sounds  in  my  ears,  as  it  rushes  from 
masses  of  ice  ;  where  the  weather  demands  greatcoats  and  fires  ; 
and  where  I  see  two  glaciers  and  a  world  of  snow  above  me  on 
the  South,  and  overhanging  as  if  in  reach,  glistening  in  the  sun, 
even  here  the  pastures  are  indescribably  rich.  The  velvet  green 
goes  up  to  the  very  fields  of  snow,  and  beyond  it.  This  moment 
the  echoes  of  bells  on  the  home-coming  cattle,  are  in  my  ears. 
The  flowers  are  more  numerous,  beautiful,  and  fragrant  than  I 
ever  saw  at  home.  We  have  abundance  of  strawberries,  cream 
which  is  almost  too  rich,  and  honey  which  is  famous  all  over 
Europe.  The  Alp-horn  was  sounded  for  us  and  we  listened  to 
its  echoes.  I  did  not  properly  understand  a  glacier,  before  I 
?ame  here.     It  is  most  like  a  mighty  river,  tossed  into  fury,  and 


150  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO    EUROPE. 

then  turned  to  ice.  Glaciers  have  a  constant,  though  imper- 
ceptible motion.  They  look  like  frozen  cataracts,  coming  down 
the  hollows  of  the  mountain-sides.  They  give  origin  to  rivers. 
The  air  is  very  rare,  cool,  and  clear,  so  that  objects  seem  greatly 
nearer  than  the  reality.  The  clouds,  and  fogs,  and  snows,  which 
play  fantastically  about  the  mountains,  keep  the  great  peaks  most 
of  the  time  concealed  ;  but  enough  is  visible  to  make  us  adore 
Him  "  who  setteth  fast  the  mountains." 

Cologne,  August  2,  1851.1 
The  revolutionary  spirit  [through  Germany]  connects  itself 
with  a  hideous  levelling  jacobinism.  1  bless  God,  from  my  soul, 
that  I  am  an  American,  and  that  America  is  a  quiet  land. 
The  evils  of  over-population  and  iron  prescription  look  incurable. 
Yet  such  labour,  such  lands,  and  such  plenty,  I  never  dreamed 
of.  The  amount  of  soil  in  vineyards  shocks  me.  They  could 
exist  without  wine.  Yet  I  have  never  seen  anyone  drinking 
mere  water  at  table.  Add  coffee  and  tobacco,  (now  largely 
raised  in  Baden,)  and  the  waste  of  soil  and  labour  is  alarming. 
Even  yet  every  plough  has  a  wheel,  and  very  little  horse  or 
mule  power  is  used.  Indeed,  women  and  children  take  their 
place.  To-day  I  counted  seven  baskets  on  one  woman's  head, 
and  eight  on  another.  At  Heidelberg  I  saw  two  fine  girls  remove 
a  load  of  cut  wood  on  their  heads,  carrying  almost  a  small 
wheel-barrow-full  each  time.  Every  inch  of  soil  and  every  odd 
chance  of  labour  are  subsidized.  Hedges,  and  even  paths,  are 
unknown  in  many  parts,  to  save  room ;  and  along  the  crags  of 
the  Rhine  some  of  the  most  famous  vines  are  set  in  baskets,  and 
dressed  from  suspended  boards  or  ladders.  You  will  often  see 
a  patch  of  wheat  no  larger  than  a  bed-quilt ;  and,  wherever  the 
reapers  have  removed  the  sheaves,  plowers  and  harrowers  tread 
on  their  heels.  Fields  of  poppies  for  oil.  Fruits  go  from  here- 
abouts to  London,  especially  cherries.  The  great  staple,  how- 
ever, is  wine.  The  tip-top  sorts  reach  none  but  princes.  The 
common  wines  are  in  my  humble  opinion  little  better  than  rasp- 
berry-vinegar, and  far  below  their  own  beer.  The  Ehine-wines, 
which  everybody  drinks,  are  acid  though  lively,  and  require  a 
training  to  endure.  I  confess,  the  peasantry  look  happy,  dwell 
cosily,  and  enjoy  a  merriment  unknown  with  us.  The  instances 
of  personal  and  table  filthiness,  common  in  German  inns,  would 
nauseate  you  if  described.  At  Basel,  a  German  gentleman,  at 
the  table  d'hote,  dinner   going   on,  cleaned   his  teeth  with  his 

1  The  places  since  Chamonix  were  Vevay,  Lausanne,  Lucerne,  Zurich, 
(where  he  "could  not  find  a  man  who  had  ever  heard  of  Zuingle,  till  I  met 
an  American,")  Basel,  Baden,  Freiburg,  Strasburg,  Carlsruhe,  Heidelberg. 


1851.  151 

brush,  and  spat  into  a  glass.  The  female  sex,  generally,  tends 
to  a  masculine  coarseness.  I  have  learned  to  prize  an  American 
woman.  Of  Cathedrals,  I  have  now  seen  the  greatest,  Frei- 
burg, Strasburg,  and  Cologne.  Next  to  God's  works,  no  work 
has  ever  so  amazed  me.  In  the  gorgeous  temple,  amidst  painted 
windows  and  music  that  made  me  tremble  and  sink,  my  soul  was 
oppressed  at  the  heathenism  to  which  Christianity  is  here  re- 
duced. And  then  to  think  what  the  Protestantism  is,  which  is  to 
oppose  it !  I  deeply  fear  some  judicial  dealing  with  this  whole 
continent.  Unless  Christ  work  some  pentecostal  miracle,  where 
is  the  hope  1 

The  scenery  of  the  Rhine  was  very  beautiful,  yet  I  felt  how 
inferior  in  mere  natural  points  it  is  to  the  Hudson.  The  vine- 
yards, harvests,  towns,  and  ruins,  however,  give  it  a  character 
all  its  own. 

Steamboat  "  Rubens,"  on  the  Riiine,  between  ) 
Cologne  and  Arniiem,  August  4,  1851.         ) 

There  is  nothing  more  curious  here  than  the  rapid  change  of 
languages.  An  hour  ago,  it  was  all  German.  Now,  having  got 
on  a  boat  for  Holland,  it  is  all  Dutch.  When  I  came  aboard,  I 
really  thought  everybody  was  talking  English,  the  sound  is  so 
different  from  the  jawr-breaking  German.  The  look  is  American. 
I  write  on  deck  at  a  mahogany  table.  A  little  forward  is  a  com- 
pany of  six,  three  men  and  three  young  women.  They  have 
just  had  their  lunch.  So  gentle,  so  home-like,  so  Protestant- 
looking,  I  am  soothed  and  comforted  after  filthy,  wicked  Cologne. 
The  river  is  just  like  the  Delaware  about  Tacony.  We  are  just 
passing  Dusseldorf,  which  I  am  sorry  to  leave  unseen.  How 
glad  I  am  I  did  not  stop !  Dr.  E.  Robinson  just  got  on  at  D. 
You  cannot  understand  my  thankfulness :  how  my  pent-up  Eng- 
lish rolled  out  in  a  flood !  He  is  from  Halle  and  Berlin,  and 
goes  wifch  me  to  Holland. 

The  Rhine-wine  is  cheap  here.  The  true  Johannisberger  is 
produced  by  one  vineyard  only,  which  belongs  to  Metternich,  and 
which  I  saw.  The  people  all  drink  wine,  and  always  dilute  it. 
Undiluted  it  is  weaker  than  cider,  and  just  the  colour. 

Utrecht,  9h  P.  M. — In  Holland  my  first  landing  was  at  Arn- 
hem,  then  hither  by  rails.  I  longed  for  English  cleanliness,  but 
Dutch  is  more  marvellous.  It  seems  as  if  dirt  could  not  stick. 
Entered  this  Venice-like  city  by  moonlight.  It  is  the  poetry  of 
niceness.  The  canals  are  shadowy  with  trees.  The  best  idea  I 
can  give,  is  to  refer  to  old  Philadelphia  half  a  century  ago.  Noth- 
ing in  England  so  resembles  it.  The  squat  houses,  gables,  glazed 
brick,  trim  doorways,  shade,  absence  of  glare,  in  a  word  a  wealth 


152  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

too  proud  to  be  fine.  Every  house,  door,  chair,  and  tea-cup,  is 
new  to  me.  Surely  this  is  the  China  of  Europe.  Population 
50,000  ;  30,000  are  Protestants.  The  University  is  the  aristo- 
cratic one  ;  between  400  and  500  students.  The  Jansenists  are 
here  in  force — nowhere  else.  I  am  surprised  that  I  see  nothing 
as  yet  that  strikes  me  as  funny.  I  am  so  overcome  with  the 
purity  and  peacefulness.  The  Germans  and  French  are  ten  times 
droller.  The  Dutch  children  are  just  little  Philadelphians,  only 
with  a  cunning  rig  of  their  own.  I  have  just  been  shaved.  No 
brush,  box,  &c,  own  soap  and  towel.  This  is  German  also. 
The  hydraulic  power  between  the  Dollart  and  Scheldt  is  esti- 
mated at  $1,500,000,000 ;  the  value  of  windmills  is  $3,600,000. 
I  observed  signs  of  strong:  drink  in  Holland.  Schiedam  has 
300  gin  distilleries.  The  house  in  which  Erasmus  was  born,  is 
a  gin-place.  I  observed,  for  the  first  time  in  Europe,  pallor 
among  the  children ;  yet  the  people  look  healthy.  The  working- 
women  are  as  neat  at  their  work,  as  ours  on  Sundays.  The 
churches  are  full.  My  general  conclusion  is,  that  the  impulse 
of  the  Reformation,  and  its  traditionary  customs,  abide  very 
strong,  and  that,  while  they  are  on  the  descent  towards  Ger- 
man rationalism,  they  are  not  so  far  down  as  we  think  in 
America.  They  are  dead  and  formal,  but  not  universally  erro- 
neous. In  the  country  places,  I  am  assured,  people  read  the  old 
books  and  cling  to  the  old  doctrine.  Catechizing  and  pastoral 
visiting  are  kept  up.  Country  pastors  are  "  orthodox,"  but  I 
failed  to  learn  precisely  what  that  term  imports  in  Holland. 
Two  educated  and  sensible  men  agreed  in  declaring  that  Utrecht 
is  still  orthodox,  and  that  the  body  of  the  churches  hold  the 
divinity  of  our  Lord  and  the  atonement. 

London,  August  12,  1851.1 
I  dare  say  you  think  I  am  in  Belgrave  Square.  Not  a  bit  of 
it.  I  am  at  the  George  Inn,  Aldernianbury,  opening  into  Milk 
street,  and  so,  southwardly,  into  Cheapside.  You  need  not  fear 
my  lavishing  all  my  admiration  on 'England.  I  have  been  ad- 
miring all  the  way.  If  my  geese  are  all  swans — "  at  mihi 
plaudo."  It  is  so  much  in  my  pocket.  But  I  have  not  failed 
to  go,  perhaps  too  largely,  into  the  Mayhew-places.2  I  continue 
to  think  the  English  of  Englishmen,  the  ugliest  language  I 
ever  heard.  It  is  a  tin-pan  throat  with  the  nose  held.  Every 
Englishman  I  have  heard  (and  it  has  been  many  every  day) 

2 

says   knowledge,   nlther,  wroth,  vaws,    (vase,)    'ow,   sovereign, 

1  The  intervening  dates  are  Amsterdam,  Leyden,  Hague,  Rotterdam. 

2  Mayhew's  articles,  first  in  the  Times,  describing  the  condition  of  the 
London  poor. 


1851.  153 

(a  word  of  every  minute.)  But  they  are  by  odds  the  best  people 
to  meet  with  I  have  seen. 

August  14. — This  morning  I  surveyed  Billingsgate,  the  oyster- 
sloops,  Coal  Exchange,  Old  and  New  Corn  Exchange,  Leaden- 
hall  Market,  and  the  India  House.  At  the  last  I  inquired  of  the 
doorkeeper  about  Charles  Lamb.  He  said  "  I  have  been  here 
since  I  was  sixteen  years  old,  but  I  never  heard  of  any  Mr. 
Lamb."  1  But  the  door-keeper  of  the  Museum  remembered  him 
well :  "  Oh  yes,  Sir ;  he  was  a  very  little  man,  with  such  small 
legs,  and  wore  knee-breeches."  He  directed  me  to  a  private 
stair,  which  would  take  me  down  to  the  Accounts.  I  went  into 
a  place  below,  like  a  bank,  and  was  shown  to  a  principal  person, 
Mr.  W.  It  was  the  room  in  which  Lamb  wrote  many  years, 
but  had  been  altered.  Mr.  W.  showed  me  his  window  and 
where  his  desk  was.  I  looked  out  at  the  high  blank  wall,  not 
five  feet  beyond,  and  understood  Lamb's  "  India  House."  Mr. 
W.  showed  me  a  4to  volume  of  Interest  Tables,  with  such  re- 
marks as  these,  in  Lamb's  fine  round  hand,  on  the  fly-leaf :  "  A 
book  of  much  interest. — Ed.  Review"  "  A  work  in  which  the 
interest  never  flags. —  Quar.  Review."  "We  may  say  of  this 
volume  that  the  interest  increases  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end. — Monthly  Review^  Mr.  W.  knew  Lamb  well.  "  He 
was  a  small  man — smaller  than  you,  and  always  wore  shorts  and 
black  gaiters.  Sometimes  his  puns  were  poor.  He  often  came 
late,  and  then  he  would  say,  "  Well,  I'll  make  up  for  it,  by  going 
away  early." 

As  I  was  prowling  about,  I  saw  over  a  dark  entrance  "  Little 
Britain"  It  was  not  in  human  nature  to  overpass  Little  Britain, 
and  glad  am  I  that  I  did  not.  A  great  monastic  walled  court 
with  quadrangle  after  quadrangle,  cloisters  along  the  sides,  and 
lofty  ancient  piles  of  the  Elizabethan  style,  surrounding  the 
paved  areas — black,  dingy,  and  quiet,  with  statues,  pumps,  and 
double  iron  fences  in  parts.  It  was  Christ- Church  Hospital ! 
There  are  the  dear  little  fellows,  in  the  ancient  dress.  No  hat, 
black  velvet  small  clothes,  yellow  worsted  hose,  a  long  coat  or 
frock  of  blue,  a  girdle  of  red  leather,  and  bands  like  a  preacher. 
There  are  about  a  thousand,  but  only  eighty  are  here  in  vacation. 
The  great  Hall  is  modern  and  cost  £30,000  ;  all  in  one  room. 
Here  they  eat,  at  tables  which  seem  two  centuries  old.  I  went 
into  the  Mathematical  school.  The  forms  are  very  long  and 
narrow,  with  the  merest  strip  of  a  desk.  The  little  scholar,  who 
was  my  cicerone,  said  he  was  learning  Greek  and  French. 
Wherever  they  go,  in  the  remotest  part  of  England,  they  have 

1  "Elia"  died  in  1834. 

vni      TT T* 


154  DURING   HIS    FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

to  wear  this  garb.  Coleridge  and  Lamb  were  blue-coat  boys 
All  round  the  cloisters,  or  covered  walks,  marbles  are  set  into 
the  wall  commemorative  of  teachers,  benefactors,  &c.  One 
runs  thus : 

"  HEEE  LYETH 

A     BENEFACTOR, 

MOVE   NOT   HIS   BONES." 

I  wondered  at  this  antique  silence  in  the  heart  of  London,  and 
came  away  with  regret.  1  find  myself  to  be  an  undeniable  an- 
tiquary. My  portrait  ought  to  be  taken,  as  Savigny  is  cari- 
catured in  Germany,  with  eyes  at  the  back  of  the  head.  I  have 
been  such  a  miserable  book-worm  for  forty  years,  that  I  live 
almost  in  the  past. 

When  I  say  I  like  the  English  hugely,  more  by  far  than  any 
people  I  have  seen,  I  certainly  do  not  mean  that  I  like  the  fire 
and  fury  of  the  movement  party.  Religion  is  with  them  made 
up  of  politics  and  aggression,  just  as  in  some  parts  of  America,  of 
abstinence  and  abolition.  There  is  less  known  of  us  in  England 
than  on  the  continent.  Here  the  papers  cull  chiefly  what  is  laugh- 
able, discreditable,  or  capable  of  turning  to  their  own  account. 
You  cannot  get  through  an  Englishman's  hair  the  first  notion  of 
our  confederation.  They  all  have  the  grossest  views  of  our 
slavery,  and  lose  temper  when  spoken  to.  The  people  here  press 
me  to  stay  to  the  Evangelical  Alliance,  which  has  a  great  demon- 
stration beginning  on  the  19th;  but  their  programme  contains 
some  phrases  which  move  my  American  spunk,  and  show  they 
still  have  the  same  spirit  they  had  last  year. 

I  think  the  British  Museum  worth  my  whole  voyage,  and 
journey,  and  expense.  It  is  just  by  my  lodging.  At  last,  after 
years  of  wishing,  my  highest  desires  are  accomplished,  by  sight 
of  the  greatest  MSS.  and  antiques.  To-day,  on  a  third  visit,  I 
came  away,  worn  out,  after  superficially  seeing  about  the  hun- 
dredth part.  If  anybody  asks  you  whether  I  have  been  to  the 
cemetery  of  Pere  la  Chaise,  at  Paris,  say  No :  but  I  have  been 
to  Bunhill  Fields,  where  are  the  ashes  of  Isaac  Watts  and  John 
Bunyan. 

London,  August  20,  1851. 
I  spent  last  evening  in  company  of  Dr.  Dacosta  and  Dr. 
Capadose,  of  Holland,  both  celebrated  as  converted  Jews,  and 
promoters  of  evangelical  piety.  Capadose  is  full  of  Christian 
warmth  and  love,  but  he  speaks  English  very  judaically.  Da- 
costa cannot  open  his  lips  without  your  perceiving  that  he  is  an 
original.  It  has  been  said  that  he  is  the  greatest  mind  in  the 
Low  Countries. 


1851.  155 

At  the  Evangelical  Alliance  I  heard  Noel  speak.  His  pro- 
nunciation is  precisely  that  of  an  educated  South  Carolinian, 
except  a  few  words.  Mr.  James  presided,  with  great  empresse- 
ment  of  manner,  and  great  voice  and  rhetoric.  The  great  house 
(Freemason's  Hall)  was  thronged,  and  they  sit  from  ten  till  six. 
I  must  admire  the  temper  of  the  Assembly.  They  are  full  of 
heartiness,  and  every  one  speaks  to  his  neighbour.  They  re- 
ceive the  poorest,  stammering  speakers,  with  perfect  forbearance. 
Indeed,  it  is  all  free  and  easy  as  a  dinner.  I  have  had  an  explana- 
tion with  Dr.  Hamilton  about  the  Alliance,  and  declared  to  him 
that  I  would  not  submit  to  any  queries  about  my  opinions  on 
slavery. 

When  I  saw  the  sculptures  from  Italy,  on  my  first  visit  to 
the  Crystal  Palace,  1  had  never  seen  any  thing  so  lovely  in  art. 
But  when  I  visited  it  lately  the  charm  was  gone,  for  I  had  seen 
hundreds  of  ancient  works  in  the  Louvre.  Yet,  nothing  equals 
the  Elgin  marbles. 

Seeing  Gothic  churches  has  gone  far  to  make  me  a  convert  to 
the  Greek,  in  regard  to  exterior.  As  to  interior,  the  Greek 
temple  had  none,  for  the  cella  cannot  be  so  named.  Inside  I 
admit  the  sublimity  of  the  structure.  Henry  the  Vllth's  chapel 
is  marvellous.  Yet  sitting  there  in  one  of  the  antique  stalls,  I 
owned  in  the  very  place  that  Gothic  architecture  is  not  the  high- 
est ideal  of  Bildkunst.  So  much  is  grotesque,  so  much  is 
reducible  to  no  canon,  so  much  excites  wonder,  like  over-learned 
music  for  its  seeming  impracticability,  that  I  go  back  to  the 
perfect  beauty  of  Pactum  and  the  Parthenon  for  repose. 


Cambridge,  August  24,  1851.1 
Yesterday  we  left  London,  and  got  here  in  two  hours.  In 
our  railway  carriage  was  Mr.  R.  H.  Wilkinson,  a  Senior 
Fellow  of  King's  College,  and  Bursar,  (which  is  only  fifth  in 
rank,  and  in  certain  things  only  second,)  who  insisted  we  should 
put  ourselves  under  his  care.  His  elegant  apartments  are  the 
same  which  good  Mr.  Simeon  occupied.  We  (Dr.  Robinson 
and  I)  dined  one  day  in  the  Hall.  The  service  was  solid  silver, 
with  the  College  arms.  All  the  china  had  the  same.  Rising, 
we  went  across  the  passage  to  the  combination  room,  really  a 
very  sumptuous  parlour,  opening  into  one  larger  still.  Here 
they  sit  at  wine.  Great  reverence  to  "  Mr.  Vice  Provost,"  who 
Is   always   so   addressed.     Here  we   had   six  added,  only    one 

1  On  the  23d  of  August  Dr.  Alexander's  youngest  child,  and  only  daugh- 
ter, died  at  Princeton.  Her  age  was  about  fourteen  months.  The  afflictive 
tidings  reached  him  at  Glasgow. 


156  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUEOPE. 

clergyman.     The   conversation  was   perfectly  easy,  without   a 
word  about  learning. 

On  Sunday  attended  service  in  the  famous  chapel  of  King's 
College.  Service  chanted  ;  all  in  surplices.  Wilkinson  looked 
grand  in  his  white  robes  and  master's  hood.  I  admired  the 
manners  of  these  learned  Sybarites,  especially  the  absence  of  all 
interrogations  about  America.  I  heard  Scholefield,  the  Greek 
Professor,  preach  in  St.  Michael's  an  admirable  extempore  ser- 
mon. We  saw  every  thing,  visited  all  the  Colleges.  It  was  as 
if  we  had  been  old  chums  come  back  on  a  visit.  The  kingdom 
rings  with  the  victory  of  the  American  yacht.  They  are  very 
open  and  manly,  in  expressing  their  chagrin.  I  have  never  seen 
or  dreamed  of  any  persons  so  full  of  real,  though  peculiar  kind- 
ness, as  the  educated  English.  I  like  America  best,  though  lost 
in  admiration  of  England.1 


Edinburgh,  August  27,  1851. 

This  is  the  ninety-seventh  day  of  my  absence,  yet  the  first 
in  which  I  expect  to  lie  down  in  a  private  house.  You  cannot 
imagine  how  I  felt  to  get  into  a  sweet,  happy,  elegant  Christian 
house,  [Mr.  Wm.  Dickson's,  an  Elder  of  the  Free  Church,]  and 
have  family-worship  and  sing  the  old  psalms.  Then,  oh  how 
delightful  to  be  among  Presbyterians !  To-day  for  the  first 
time  have  I  seen  the  hills  covered  with  heather,  and  beautiful  it 
is.  We  visited  Melrose  Abbey  and  Abbotsford,  and  saw  Dry- 
burgh  Abbey,  where  Scott  lies. 

August  29. — I  saw  the  Queen  come  in  yesterday  afternoon, 
and  stood  so  near  as  to  have  a  perfect  view  of  her  Majesty  and 
Prince  Albert,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and  the  Princess  Royal. 

September  1. — I  preached  yesterday  for  the  Rev.  C.  J.  Brown, 
in  the  Free  New  North  Church.  I  will  only  say  I  was  never  so 
helped  by  a  congregation.  Imagine  me  in  the  Geneva  cloak ; 
five  hundred  Bibles  rustling  at  once ;  such  deep,  penetrative,  ani- 
mated looks  from  whole  rows  of  people,  all  seeming  fired  with 
zeal,  and  all  singing  without  an  exception  that  I  could  note. 
I  thought  it  far  better  than  the  Madeleine  or  Cologne.  Mr. 
Dickson  edits  a  youth's  paper.  He  teaches  two  Bible  classes. 
I  preached  to  one  of  them.  It  contains  70 — 80  girls.  An  hour 
was  spent  studying  rather  than  saying  the  lesson.  I  should  have 
thought  the  examination  a  good  one  for  the  first  [the  youngest] 
class  in  the  Seminary.     They  answered   the  questions  with  a 

1  On  the  26th  left  Cambridge,  and  to  Ely,  Peterborough,  Lincoln,  York, 
Alnwick,  Berwick-upon-Tweed. 


1851.  157 

pertinence,  knowledge  of  Scripture,  and  exactness  which  amazed 
me.1 

Glasgow,  September  9,  1851. 

That  my  journeying  has  done  any  good  to  my  body,  I  am  not 
sure.  I  am  sure  it  has  been  good  for  my  soul.  And  especially 
these  few  days  in  Scotland  have  shown  me  a  permanent  revival 
of  religion,  such  as  proves  to  me  that  God  has  a  favour  to  his 
covenanting  people.  The  preciousness  of  it  is,  that  religion  is 
founded  on  chapter  and  verse ;  free  from  outcry  and  sanctimony, 
and  even  talk  about  personal  feelings,  but  is  so  courageous, 
active,  and  tender,  that  I  am  as  certain  as  that  I  am  writing  these 
lines,  that  I  am  among  the  best  people  on  earth.  A  thousand 
times  have  I  said  to  myself,  "  O  if  my  father  could  just  for  one 
hour  hear  these  prayers,  and  observe  these  fruits  of  unadulter- 
ated Calvinistic  seed  !  "  Here  is  the  fruit  of  prayers  sent  up  by 
Rutherfords  and  Bostons.  Don't  think  all  are  such,  or  that  these 
people  are  faultless.  Their  faults  are  as  prominent  as  their  good 
qualities.  They  have  the  bad  points  belonging  to  strong,  sanguine- 
ous, choleric,  fearless,  outspoken  people.  Their  quarrels  about 
hairsbreadths  (for  they  are  all  agreed  about  doctrine  and  order) 
are  inexplicable. 

In  Glasgow  there  are  more  hideous,  half-naked  people,  than  I 
ever  saw  anywhere  on  the  continent.  I  own  they  generally  look 
hearty,  but  the  public  charities  are  kept  in  full  operation. 
Thousands  of  Irish  are  here.  While  a  low,  radical  infidelity  is 
doing  its  work,  and  whisky  is  slaying  its  thousands,  there  are 
tokens  that  Presbyterian  institutions  are  acting  vigorously.  Our 
system  is  more  than  a  theory.  Church  power  makes  itself  felt. 
Elders  are  more  numerous  than  with  us  ;  sometimes  twenty 
and  even  thirty.  The  Kirk  has  no  Deacons,  but  some  Free 
Churches  have  twenty  each,  who  do  every  thing  that  is  done 
among  us  by  voluntary  collections.  The  sums  raised  are  almost 
incredible.  Indeed,  religious  arrangements  take  the  place  in 
..public  conversation  which  politics  do  with  us  ;  and  I  scarcely 
meet  two  men  without  hearing  them  talk  about  some  scheme  of 
church-operation.     All  the  piety  is  not  in  the  Free  Church. 

Dr.  Robinson  left  me  on  the  4th,  to  go  to  Southampton. 
We  have  been  just  a  month  together,  and  have  had  many  mer- 
cies in  common.     I  have  cause  to  be  thankful  for  the  lessons  I 

1  I  have  to  omit  the  details  of  the  visits  to  the  institutions,  libraries, 
historical  localities,  churches,  eminent  ministers,  &c,  of  Edinburgh.  He 
said,  "  I  find  it  utterly  vain  to  try  to  journalize  here."  "  Particulars  would 
fill  fifty  sheets."  On  the  1st  September  he  left  the  hospitable  city — to 
Stirling — by  the  lakes — to  Dunbarton,  where  he  took  steamer  for  Glasgow. 


158  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

have  learned  from  him.  Truly  he  has  been  "  eyes  "  to  me  all 
the  way,  by  reason  of  his  stupendous  topical  penetration. 

I  spent  some  days  at  Helensburgh  opposite  Greenock  on  the 
Clyde,  at  Mr.  Mitchell's.  On  the  Sabbath  I  preached  once  for 
Mr.  McEwen.  The  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  ministers  spend 
more  time  in  summering  and  in  excursions,  than  those  of  the 
United  States,  while  their  climate  gives  less  reason  for  it.  The 
colleges  and  theological  halls  have  a  vacation  of  at  least  six 
entire  months.     But  the  places  of  worship  are  never  shut  up. 

It  is  altogether  impossible  for  me  to  describe  the  kindness  I 
received  at  Glasgow.  The  M.'s  are  a  generation  even  beyond 
their  own  countrymen. 

Belfast,  September  1/7,  1851. 
I  arrived  here  on  the  12th.  There  are  seventeen  Presby- 
terian churches  in  Belfast.  I  heard  Dr.  Cook  at  his  church,  on 
fellowship  with  God ;  I  regard  him  as  the  nearest  perfection  as 
an  elegant  orator,  of  all  1  have  met  with.  His  hospitalities  were 
Irish  and  Christian.  We  mounted  a  jaunting-car,  and  rode  by 
Carrickfergus,  Ballygelly,  and  Ballycastle  to  the  Giant's  Cause- 
way. All  along  the  incomparable  coast  of  Glenarm  Bay,  people 
were  bathing.  The  world  can  scarcely  offer  a  more  delightful 
place,  and  the  day  was  mildly  warm,  with  a  golden  haze.  Fair 
Head  is  a  lofty  sea-mark,  a  promontory  of  majestic  loveliness. 
Bengore  Head  is  second  only  to  this ;  and  the  intervening  long 
sweep  of  bay,  shut  in  by  the  isle  of  Kathlin,  with  its  blue  pearly 
heights,  almost  sickened  me  with  its  fairy-like  softness.  We 
reached  the  excellent  inn  at  the  Giant's  Causeway  about  the  end 
of  the  long  northern  twilight.  In  all  my  journey ings,  there  is 
no  day  I  would  more  gladly  repeat.  The  people  interest  me 
more  than  any  thing  else.  How  sharp  and  how  merry !  The 
mixture  of  Scots  and  Irish  here,  is  very  obvious.  In  the  oats- 
field  they  show  finely.  Here  only  among  their  own  scenes  can 
Irish  beauty  be  seen.  I  have  seen  many  faces,  which  had  the 
beauty  of  expression,  among  the  poor  women  and  girls.  Tues- 
day was  given  to  the  Causeway  and  accessories.  Description  is 
unnecessary.  From  the  Causeway  in  a  jaunting-car  through  the 
county  Antrim.  There  are  no  barns.  The  grain  is  stacked,  and 
hereabouts  in  beautiful  English-looking  ricks.  The  land  is  very 
fertile,  and  wherever  an  owner  has  it  in  hand  presents  a  noble 
appearance  ;  but  in  the  poor,  little  patches  of  the  cotters,  even 
here  in  Antrim,  it  is  a  chance  agriculture,  like  the  slovenly 
patches  about  a  negro-quarter.  They  live  from  hand  to  mouth, 
You  pass  single  cottages,  and  groups  of  cottages,  all  in  ruins,  as 
after  a  fire.     These  are  of  people  who,  ruined  by  the  rot,  have 


1851.  ,    159 

been  swept  into  the  fine  spacious  poor-houses.  The  cottages  are 
all  of  rough  stone  and  thatched.  Their  general  average  look 
is  thus  :  [Here  is  a  pen  and  ink  sketch  of  a  hovel.]  Out  of 
such  houses  I  have  again  and  again  seen  handsome  and  joyous 
families  pouring,  with  here  and  there  a  pallid,  fever-looking 
creature.  So  open  and  welcoming  a  smile  I  never  saw  prevail 
in  any  human  faces.  Calves  walk  in  and  out  of  many  cottages 
as  freely  as  the  yellow-haired  children.  About  Antrim  and 
especially  the  Moravian  settlement,  Grace  Hill,  we  see  what  care 
and  taste  may  do.  Such  vales,  such  hills,  such  gateways,  bleach- 
ing grounds  like  fields  of  snow,  such  hedges,  and  such  green  and 
gold,  as  even  Devonshire  might  own.  Such  might  all  Ireland 
be,  if  the  priests  had  chosen  to  instruct  their  slaves. 

Dublin,  September  IT,  1851. 

From  Belfast  we  crossed  the  county  Armagh  to  Castle 
Blayney  and  Dublin.  Thus  far,  there  is  no  part  of  my  travels 
which  I  would  so  readily  repeat,  as  my  Irish  trip.  The  mode 
of  travelling,  the  roads,  the  access  to  the  people,  the  awakening 
of  human  sympathies,  the  physical  geography,  the  rapid  com- 
parison of  races,  must  make  me  ever  mindful  of  it.  I  have 
seen  grander  scenes,  and  a  few  more  beautiful,  but  none  more 
lovely  than  all  Ulster  and  a  part  of  Leinster.  True  I  see  much 
misery,  but  compassion  is  a  healthful  feeling ;  and  while  I  admire 
some  nations,  I  can  truly  add  I  love  the  Irish.  For  surface  I 
believe  there  is  no  such  country  in  the  world.  I  have  seen  no 
part,  out  of  towns,  where  there  is  any  level.  The  roads  are  as 
smooth  as  this  table.  You  have  no  idea  of  the  demigods  the 
priests  have  become.  They  might  this  day  make  Ireland  happy, 
by  teaching  their  wretched  worshippers  to  read,  to  build,  to  till, 
and  to  keep  clean.  The  Protestant  regions  are  like  Scotland ; 
you  can  instantly  tell  the  difference  by  rags,  stench,  and  merry 
ignorance. 

Dublin  shows  extremes  of  magnificence  and  squalid  woe, 
such  as  seldom  meet.  .  The  better  sort  of  people  strike  me  as 
the  handsomest  I  ever  saw.  There  is  one  type  of  face  which 
predominates  and  is  peculiarly  Irish — black  hair  and  eye-lashes, 
large  clear  blue  eyes,  red  and  white  skin  of  unusual  delicacy,  and 
a  joyous,  arch  expression  playing  through  all.  Happy  Dublin, 
if  it  were  not  the  capital  of  a  ruined  land.1 

1  Leaving  Dublin  the  19th  September,  the  traveller  passed  through  Kil- 
dare,  Thurles,  Inch,  Limerick.  Thence  by  Ennis,  (County  Clare),  Gort, 
(County  Galway,)  to  Galway,  the  fifth  city  of  Ireland,  but  "far,  far  beyond 
all  I  ever  dreamed  of  for  squalor,  filth,  and  poverty."     On  the  22d  left  Gal- 


160  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

Oxford,  September  26,  1851. 

I  came  here  to  dinner  yesterday  from  Liverpool,  176  miles. 
We  touched  Rugby  village,  about  a  mile  from  the  school.  It  is 
vacation  here,  which  is  bad ;  but  the  claustral  silence,  and  venera- 
ble solitude,  and  regal-ecclesiastical  state  of  this  monastic  city  of 
palaces  is  surely  unique.  The  impression  is  that  of  an  awful 
dream.  You  have  read  so  long  and  so  much  about  Oxford  that 
I  should  think  it  idle  to  repeat  what  is  in  a  score  of  books.  I 
will  set  down  some  incoherencies  not  in  print. 

Oxford  is  larger,  greater,  and  lordlier  than  Cambridge.  It 
has  more  colleges,  more  large  colleges,  and  an  aggregate  of  archi- 
tectural glories,  beyond  Cambridge  ;  but  Oxford  has  nothing  like 
King's  College,  Cambridge,  and  little  like  Trinity,  and  no  grounds 
like  those  of  the  last  named.  There  is  a  family-likeness  in  the 
two  towns,  but  Oxford  is  more  antique,  civic,  mediaeval,  and 
proud.  Cambridge  has  incomparably  the  more  beautiful  site. 
There  is  no  chapel  in  Oxford,  or  the  world,  like  King's  at  Cam- 
bridge. There  is  no  Hall  at  Cambridge  like  Christ  Church  here. 
The  turf  is  close-shaven,  cut  every  few  days,  rolled  and  swept,  and 
is  unlike  any  thing  known  among  us,  the  moist  climate  favouring 
grass.  Flowers  abound,  not  only  in  the  landscape-gardening  of 
the  immense  college-greens,  but  in  the  windows  of  fellows. 
Some  of  the  quadrangles  here  are  not  green,  but  gravelled. 
Christ  Church  meadow  is  surrounded  by  a  walk  of  a  mile,  and 
elms  three  centuries  old.  You  may  lose  yourself  in  the  groves 
and  thickets  of  some  of  these  river-gardens.  I  learn  that  the 
"  men  "  seldom  prefer  them  to  the  streets.  The  halls  or  refecto- 
ries, are,  as  a  whole,  less  regal  than  at  Cambridge,  except  only 
Christ  Church,  where  they  daily  provide  for  three  hundred  in 
term.  Around  these  are  portraits,  generally  full-length,  of  great 
members.  The  painted  glass  windows  in  the  chapels  are  by  far 
the  best  I  have  met  with,  especially  five  Flemish  windows  in  New 
college  chapel,  (William  of  Wyckham's.)  The  feeling  in  these 
cloisters, "  quods,"  and  parks,  (where  deer  come  to  your  hand,)  is 
that  of  absolute  sequestration  from  the  world.  Pusey's  house, 
in  one  of  the  inner  corners  of  Christ  Church,  is  just  the  spot  to 
generate  such  fancies  as  his. 

The  system  here,  though  inexpressibly  fascinating,  is  out  of 
harmony  with  the  age.  In  every  buttery-entrance,  where  you 
look  to  espy  a  monk  under  the  black  honey-combed  arches,  you 
see  the  placards  of  "  Time  Tables  of  N.  W.  Railway."  The 
present    Warden   of    All-Souls    (where   there    are    none    but 

way  and  crossed  the  country  by  Athlone  and  Maynooth  to  Dublin.     On  the 
23d  to  Holyhead  and  Liverpool. 


1851.  161 

fellows,)  is  the  first  married  warden.  The  pressure  of  the  age 
will  certainly  bring  collapse  on  these  outworn  cenobitic  shells. 
I  feel  it  every  moment  in  a  country  where  steam  affects  every 
inch,  and  trains  thunder  by  some  places  twenty  in  a  day.  The 
agitation  about  exclusive  privileges  and  overgrown  foundations 
every  year  shakes  down  part  of  the  old  pile,  as  in  regard  to  the 
income  of  Bishops,  by  the  late  Act.  A  clergyman  here  is  re- 
garded everywhere  with  a  deference  unknown  anywhere  else. 
But  as  a  class  they  evidently  feel  very  fully  that  they  are  on  their 
good  behaviour,  and  that  public  opinion  cannot  be  disregarded. 
Some,  I  believe  many,  are  labouring  to  gain  good  will  to  the 
church,  in  the  best  of  all  ways. 

It  would  consume  pages,  and  emulate  guide-books,  to  tell  of 
college  after  college,  chapel  after  chapel,  halls,  gardens,  portraits, 
statu'es,  libraries,  and  cloisters.  Books  of  great  size  are  taken  up 
with  this.  Dr.  Routh,  author  of  the  Reliquiae  Sacrse,  Master  of 
Magdalen  College,  has  his  portrait  in  the  Bodleian,  aet.  96.  He 
is  the  oldest  living  Oxonian.1 

The  general  effect  produced  by  Oxford  is  soothing  to  my 
mind  in  a  high  degree.  Such  self-contained  wealth  of  learning, 
such  seclusion  from  the  stir  of  life,  such  yielding  of  every  thing 
to  learned  honours,  such  architectural  glory,  such  libraries,  such 
lawns,  such  trees,  such  prizes  held  out  to  studious  ambition,  such 
histories  of  past  genius,  such  mighty  and  beloved  names,  such 
costly  display  of  taste,  such  approaches  to  what  Rome  was  and 
would  fain  be,  exist  here  only  and  at  Cambridge,  and  more  here 
than  there.  But  it  all  strikes  me  as  a  tree  whose  root  is  dead  in 
the  earth,  vast,  green,  and  lovely,  but  destined  to  die  presently. 
I  doubt  whether  the  glory  has  not  already  passed  away.  The 
true  Oxonian  spirit  is  that  of  Newman  and  Pusey  ;  but  it  is  not 
of  the  age.  Such  a  chapel  as  Christ  College,  which  has  lately 
been  repaired  at  an  expense  of  $90,000,  is  fitted  to  absorb  a 
young  man  in  reveries,  but  they  are  of  an  age  which  cannot  live 
again.  My  hopes  rise  beyond  what  I  am  able  to  report  during 
this  rapid  tour,  that  God  is  working  by  new  agencies,  and  a  new 
Zeitgeist,  and  our  new  world,  to  bring  in  a  new  kingdom.  So  far 
from  letting  my  intense  and  scarce  excusable  fondness  for  the 
relics  of  darker  ages  tempt  me  to  wish  them  back  again,  or  try 
to  imitate  them,  I  am  even  more  filled  with  a  sense  of  the  gigan- 
tic progress  of  the  modern  arts  and  civilization.  One  day  at  the 
Exhibition,  one  day  at  Birmingham  and  Manchester,  or  one  day 
on  any  one  trunk  of  English  railways,  is  worth  volumes  to 
awaken  expectation.2     I  have  meditated,  I  trust  not  unusefully, 

1  Dr.  Routh  nearly  completed  his  century,  dying  December  22,  1854. 
%  Dr.  Alexander  left  Oxford  September  26th,  arrived  the  same  day  at 


162  DURING   HIS   FIRST   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

amidst  objects  which  have  the  odour  of  past  ages.  My  reigning 
sentiment,  after  hurrying  and  exciting  travel  among  the  thou- 
sands of  this  unspeakably  teeming  population  of  Europe,  is  an 
impression  that  men  and  generations  pass  away  like  the  herb  of 
the  field,  but  the  Word  of  the  Lord  abideth  forever  ;  his  kingdom 
is  coming ;  his  house  is  going  up ;  his  plan  is  unfolding  ;  old 
traditionary  things  which  vain  man  calls  eternal,  are  crumbling; 
new  things  predicted,  but  not  expected,  are  rolling  in  like  a  flood  ; 
our  life  and  that  of  our  children,  is  but  a  link  in  the  great  chain. 
I  trust  I  can  sometimes  add,  "  Thy  kingdom  come :  Thy  will  be 
done." 

Birmingham — on  the  2*7th  passed  on  to  Liverpool.  Here  he  heard  Mr.  Mc- 
Neile,whom  he  places  with  Dr.  Cook,  of  Belfast,  as  "by  a  long  way  the 
most  eloquent  men  I  have  heard  in  these  climates."  On  the  first  of  October 
he  embarked  on  the  steamer  Atlantic,  Captain  West.  On  the  12th  (Sunday) 
he  and  Bishop  Otey  preached  in  the  saloon.  After  a  stormy  run,  the 
steamer  reached  New  York  October  15th,  and  the  same  evening  Dr.  Alex- 
ander joined  his  family  at  Princeton. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

LETTERS    WHILE    PASTOR     OF    FIFTH    AVENUE 
CHURCH,    NEW    YORK. 

1851—1857. 

Princeton,  October  18,  1851. 

I  write  more  to  stay  my  mind  during  hours  of  waiting  than 
to  communicate  much.  My  father  seems  to  grow  weaker.  He 
believes  himself  to  be  on  his  death-bed,  and  this  more  than  any 
symptoms  of  a  grave  character  makes  us  apprehend  the  same. 
I  think  his  perception  and  judgment  greater  than  in  any  moment 
of  his  life.  An  endless  train  of  minute  arrangements  have  occu- 
pied his  mind,  each  of  which  he  has  settled  in  the  most  summary 
way.  He  says  his  views  are  what  they  have  always  been  ;  that 
he  has  never  feared  to  die ;  that  he  has  never  seen  so  proper  a 
time  to  die ;  that  all  his  prayers  have  been  answered  ;  that  he 
has  no  ecstasy  but  assured  belief;  and  that  no  one  should  pray 
for  his  recovery.  He  says  his  views  of  God's  goodness  are  ex- 
pressed by  "  How  marvellous  is  thy  loving-kindness,  &c."  Every 
one  of  us,  even  my  dear  mother,  feels  most  calm  when  nearest  to 
the  scene  of  suffering.  The  affairs  of  the  Church  employ  far 
more  of  my  father's  words  than  any  family  concerns.  He  talked 
an  hour  with  me  on  the  prospects  of  the  truth  in  Scotland.  The 
whole  tone  of  his  discourse  is  free  from  what  John  Livingston 
calls  "  shows,"  being  precisely  what  it  always  was — passing  with 
childlike  ease  from  the  settling  of  a  bill  to  the  grace  and  glory  of 
the  gospel.  He  said,  "  I  have  this  morning  been  reviewing  the 
plan  of  salvation,  and  assuring  myself  of  my  acceptance  of  it.  I 
am  in  peace.  The  transition  from  this  world  to  another,  so 
utterly  unknown,  is  certainly  awful,  and  would  be  destructive, 
were  it  not  guarded  by  Christ ;  I  know  he  will  do  all  well." 

My  father,  with  an  authority  which  no  one  could  parley  with, 


164:  WHILE  PASTOK  OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHTTKCH. 

forbade  the  calling  in  of  any  city  physician,  declaring  his  view  of 
his  case,  and  his  perfect  satisfaction  at  what  was  done.  In  every 
sentence,  there  is  a  surprising  conciseness,  clearness,  and  weight 
of  command,  unlike  his  manner  in  latter  years ;  and  when  he 
has  given  orders,  he  adds,  "  Enough  for  that  point ;  let  me  speak 
of  another."  And  then,  "  I  have  done ;  you  must  leave  me." 
There  is  not  a  trifle  *respecting  coal,  supplies,  &c,  which  he  has 
not  settled.  He  yesterday  ordered  a  ten-dollar  library  to  be 
sent  to  a  minister  in  the  West.  My  father's  last  publication,  we 
suppose,  is  "  A  Disciple  "  in  the  November  American  Messenger. 
I  am  naturally  led  to  think  of  unseen  things,  and  am  strangely 
beset  with  mercies,  chastenings,  and  lessons.1 

New  York,  November  26,  1851. 
We  have  got  into  our  new  house,  (22  West  Nineteenth  street,) 
but  are  not  yet  in  any  order.  What  they  will  do  at  Princeton  I 
know  not.  Whatever  changes  may  supervene,  I  earnestly  hope 
there  will  be  none  to  lower  the  general  standard  of  our  theologi- 
cal training.  There  is  a  view  of  it  in  which  one  minister  might 
teach  every  thing  ;  but  if  we  would  maintain  that  high  ground 
which  I  solemnly  believe  American  ministers  now  have  in  com- 
parison with  those  of  other  countries,  we  must  have  at  least  one 
well-sustained  Seminary.  This  was  my  father's  great  desire, 
which  gained  strength  in  his  more  sober  hours,  and  formed  part 
of  his  dying  conversations  with  me.  I  am  troubled  in  my  mind 
at  the  sort  of  church  I  am  coming  to.  I  certainly  should  never 
have  accepted  the  call  if  I  had  dreamt  of  such  outlay.  I  fear  the 
total  exclusion  of  the  poor,  and  the  insufficiency  of  my  voice.  As 
I  had  no  hand  in  it,  and  know  myself  to  be  crossed  rather  than 
gratified  by  it,  I  hope  God  will  turn  it  to  some  good.  On  Sun 
day  I  urged  the  destitutions  of  New  York,  and  proposed  the 
erection  of  a  free  church  down  town.  On  Monday  a  man  whom 
I  never  knew  before  came  and  offered  me  $1,000  towards  it. 
We  cannot  hope  to  get  even  into  our  lecture-room  before  May.2 
Even  since  I  went  over  the  water  the  changes  here  are 
surprising.  Sabbath-traffic  and  grog-drinking  have  increased. 
The  whole  talk  now  is  about  Kossuth.  The  newpaper,  the 
*  Times,"  is  going  full  sail.  It  already  has  16,000  subscribers 
in  two  months.  Greeley  ["Tribune"]  writes  powerfully, 
when    he  lays   himself  out.     His  late  articles  on  Hughes  are 

1  Dr.  A.  Alexander  lingered  until  the  22d  day  of  the  month. 

2  While  the  church  was  building  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and 
Nineteenth  Street,  the  congregation  worshipped  in  the  chapel  of  the  Univer- 
sity. The  first  sermon  of  the  pastor,  after  his  return  from  Europe,  was 
preached  there  on  the  26th  October. 


1851—1857.  165 

tremendous  batteries.  But  he  goes  full-length  with  the  Chap- 
man-Foxton- Westminster  Review  party.     His  book  on  Europe 

is  worth  reading,  though  sour.      P sends   me   the   proofs 

of  an  embryo  book  on  Charity.1     It  is raised  to  the  nth. 

power  ;  abuse  of  clergy  ;  abuse  of  churches  ;  abuse  of  theology  ; 
everybody  wrong  but  moi ;  sneers  at  societies,  creeds,  cate- 
chisms, &c,  &c. ;  yet,  after  all,  a  book  that  no  one  can  read 
without  deep  and  anxious  reflection.  The  mixture  of  truth  is 
great  and  suggestive,  and  the  style  is  tip-top,  sometimes  as  keen 
as  Pascal. 

Note  any  thing  you  can  remember  or  hear,  about  my  father's 
Philadelphia  labours.  Do  try  to  see  any  old  people  who  know. 
Could  not  you  find  old  Mr.  Nassau  1  Addison  and  I,  or  one  of 
us,  will,  Deo  adjuvante,  write  a  life.  The  MS.  autobiography  is 
voluminous,  but  only  for  material.  How  strangely  we  mis- 
judge often.     Dr.  Miller  left  not  one  line  of  diary  ! 

New  York,  December  2,  1851. 

Surely  there  are  divine  uses  of  pain  which  we  cannot  fully 
understand.  Nor  can  we  reason  much  about  the  rules  of  its 
mission  to  individuals.     The  amount  of  suffering  such  persons 

as and have  endured  often  amazes  and  puzzles  me. 

Yet  in 's  case  the  spiritual  joy  resulting  is  almost  as  specific 

as  of  a  medicine.  I  have  thought  much  of  this  as  a  point  in 
divinity.  The  Papists  have  missed  the  right  doctrine  of  pain ; 
but  have  we  made  enough  of  it  1  Some  day  we  shall  see  what 
it  was  sent  on  good  people  for.  I  have  known  moments  whf»n 
it  has  seemed  to  me  a  great  boon  to  have  the  will  broken,  and 
self-pleasing  mortified. 

We  are  among  a  good  many  open  lots  and  much  rubbish  ; 
and  to  feeling,  as  far  from  the  New  York  1  knew,  as  if  in  an- 
other city.  I  find  a  good  smart  walk  from  here  to  Trinity 
Church  quite  tonical.  My  mind  works  incessantly  on  such 
themes  as  these: — the  abounding  misery;  the  unreached  masses; 
the  waste  of  church  energy  on  the  rich  ;  its  small  operation  on 
the  poor  ;  emigrant  wretchedness  ;  our  boy -population  ;  our 
hopeless  prostitutes ;  our  4,000  grog-shops ;  the  absence  of  poor 
from  Presbyterian  churches  ;  the  farce  of  our  church-alms  ;  con- 
finement of  our  church-efforts  to  pew-holders ;  the  do-nothing 
life  of  our  Christian  professors,  in  regard  to  the  masses ;  our 
copying  the  Priest  and  Levite  in  the  parable  ;  our  need  of  a 
Christian  Lord  Bacon,  to  produce  a  Novum  Organon  of  philan- 
thropy ;    our  dread  of  innovation ;    our  luxury   and  pride.     J 

x"  New  Themes  for  the  Protestant  Clergy."  Philadelphia  :  Lippincott 
&  Co. 


166  WHILE  PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

preached  twice  on  some  of  these  things  ;  but  I  work  at  the  lever 
very  feebly.  Since  I  saw  the  drinking-customs  of  Britain,  I  am 
almost  a  tee-totaller,  and  half-disposed  to  go  for  a  Maine  law 
against  venders  of  drink. 

After  settling  a  little  from  the  shocks  of  late  events,  and 
looking  back  on  my  tour,  I  find  my  judgment  of  differences 
among  Christians  somewhat  modified.  Surely  our  battle  is  too 
momentous,  to  leave  much  time  or  zeal  to  spend  on  niceties  of 
old  school  and  new.  Ah  !  how  I  daily  feel  "  I  have  lost  my 
adviser  !  "  How  often,  "  I  must  tell  this  to  my  father,"  and  then 
I  awake  to  the  reality.  But  there  is  no  bitterness  in  the  reflec- 
tion. If  it  please  God  to  touch  our  sons,  our  work  will  seem 
more  clearly  less  needed  here. 

New  York,  December  20,  1851. 
This  morning,  being  on  an  errand,  I  saw  a  black-garbed  white- 
necked  procession  going  into  the  Irving  House.  It  was  the 
"  Evangelical  Clergy."  I  followed,  and  saw  Kossuth  again.  He 
looked  commoner  and  worn.  Spencer  sermonized  him,  with 
specs  and  MS.  The  following  is  a  correct  report  of  the  Gover- 
nor's speech,  as  I  heard  it:  "m — m — m— (sh — sh — -sh— )  'coun- 
try' (sh — sh)  f the  most  free  country,' — (sh,)  'Gentlemen,' — (sh) 
m — m — m — ." 

I  heard  every  word  of  Spencer's.  I  believe  K.  was  say- 
ing he  could  not  make  a  harangue,  but  would  answer  in  writing. 
He  declares  himself  a  Lutheran.  I  greatly  admire  his  frankness. 
He  loses  no  chance  of  showing  it.  He  is  getting  to  think  him- 
self a  messenger  of  God.  Some  of  his  expressions  smack  of  the 
Hegel  doctrine  of  God's  voice  being  the  voice  of  humanity. 
Colwell,  in  his  episoopo-mastix,  ["  New  Themes,"]  seems  to  be  in 
favour  of  a  plan  which  shall  dissolve  all  churches,  charities,  and 
associations,  and  solve  the  great  social  problem  by  this  formula, 
"  Let  every  man  be  perfectly  good."  This  is  the  avowed  conclu- 
sion of  his  strange  book.  The  reason  why  people  go  to  Cardinal 
Hughes  is,  I  think,  to  be  found  in  one  character  of  the  Church  of 
Rome,  its  matchless  organization.  Me  judice,  we  shall  as  little 
counteract  it  by  the  dissolving  plan,  as  we  should  benefit  warfare 
by  disbanding  troops,  and  setting  each  warrior  on  his  own  hook. 
B comes  out  quite  a  war-man  ;  so  suddenly  do  the  move- 
ment-people change  to  any  tune  which  will  make  the  mob  dance. 
Furnaces,  gas,  and  Croton  pipes  have  almost  literally  employed 
every  day  since  our  "  flitting,"  with  amendments.  Pipes  frozen, 
gasometer  ditto.  My  rent  is  $900,  in  a  very  narrow,  tawdry, 
shelly,  ambitious,  half-done  house.  The  neighbourhood,  how- 
ever, is  as  quiet  as  a  country  village. 


1851— 1857.  167 

New  York,  December  31,  1851. 
Christmas  Day  saw  me  in  nine  churches,  St.  Francis 
Xavier's,  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  St.  Joseph's,  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul,  St.  somebody's,  (German,)  Bellows's,  Grace  Church,  Cal- 
vary, and  Muhlenberg's  little  Gothic  free-seat  chapel,  where  there 
was  at  7  and  8  communion,  and  at  9  a  baptism.  I  never  heard 
a  Unitarian  sermon  before  in  English.  B said  the  Unita- 
rians were  endeavouring  to  resume  the  "  feasts  and  fasts."  He 
is  a  scholarly  writer,  and  a  theatrical  though  Yankee  speaker. 
Progress,  no  matter  what  Jesus  held;  theology  rising ;  let  every 
man  believe  as  much  as  he  can  ;  inspiration  untenable  ;  all  men 
are  Christians;  Jesus  the  Head  of  the  Church,  i.  e.  of  humanity; 
the  great  matter  is  the  truth,  which  is  not  dogma,  but  being 
conscientious,  kind,  fond  of  freedom.  All  Christians  in  three 
classes,  church-men,  creeds-men,  and  life-men.  All  through  he 
essayed  a  sort  of  mysticism,  and  wrought  himself  into  a  factitious 
peroration-heat  about  coming  days,  fight  of  freedom,  martyr 
spirit,  &c.  It  was  fearful  to  see  genteel  and  moneyed  sons  of 
New  England  trying  to  take  in  his  Emersonian  rhetoric  and 
ultra-liberality.  There  was  nothing  redeeming  but  the  style, 
which  was  elegant,  novel,  startling,  and  a  little  affected.  Voice 
very  rich  in  low  notes ;  but  he  plays  with  it,  and  lapses  when 
earnest  into  a  Yankee  tune.  I  feel  a  great  admiration  of  Kos- 
suth, especially  since  reading  Madame  Pulsky's  Memoirs,  and 
History  of  the  War.  But  the  tide  already  ebbs  here.  Stocks 
would  fall  if  the  Hungarian  tricolour  should  rise  ;  and  our  canny 
capitalists  go  by  that.  Young  men  and  workies  take  on  the 
natural  enthusiasm.  The  ministers  who  preached  against  the 
slave-law,  preach  for  Kossuth.  As  you  will  see  by  my  "Travels," 
I  was  quite  prepared  to  hear  of  the  coup  d'etat.  The  great  quality 
which  it  needs  is  yet  to  be  revealed — military  genius  ;  this  made 
Caesar,  Cromwell,  and  "  mon  oncle."  I  do  not  believe  any  true 
news  gets  to  us  yet  by  newspapers.  The  Canada  brings  three 
days  later,  but  no  change. 

New  York,  January  19,  1852. 
My  young  men  are  about  to  employ  a  man  who  speaks 
the  Irish,  and  has  laboured  twenty  years  in  Connaught,  to 
look  up  the  "  strangers  scattered  abroad "  in  this  city.  My 
late  church  is  occupied  by  several  hundred  emigrant  families. 
What  a  pathos  there  is  in  every  thing  connected  with  Mr.  Clay's 
last  days  !  There  seems  to  be  some  good  reason  to  view  him  as 
a  converted  man.  At  no  time  have  wre  had  a  greater  concurrence 
of  good  news  from  our  Foreign  Missions  :  accessions  of  converts 
in  almost  all.     The  China  men  are  an  extraordinary  corps,  and 


168  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

their  work  is  going  on  with  great  energy.  We  to-day  appro- 
priated $1,000  for  another  chapel  at  Ningpo  ;  and  had  notice  of 
an  equal  gift  from  an  individual  for  the  same  purpose.  After 
years  of  defeat  our  Foreign  Board  is  at  length  incorporated,  un- 
der the  recent  law  of  this  State.  Broadway  is  a  carnival  of 
sleighs.  The  noise,  glee,  turn-outs,  and  throngs  are  quite  a  Rus- 
sian spectacle.  Schaff  has  a  vehement  and  very  able  article 
against  Kossuth's  notions.  Dr.  Spring  told  me  he  lately  sat  at 
his  sermon-desk  from  9  A.  M.  to  7  P.  M.  without  dinner  ;  but 
felt  worse  for  it.  His  morning  services  are  over-crowded, 
which  can  be  said  of  no  other  Presbyterian  assembly  here.  One 
can't  help  feeling  an  admiration  for  Louis  Napoleon's  quiet  force 
in  his  coup  d'etat.  Several  priests  said  to  me  in  Paris,  that  the 
only  hope  for  religion  was  the  putting  down  of  the  rouges,  (sc. 
rogues.)  They  talked  of  this  much  as  we  should  have  done,  but 
I  dare  say  with  an  eye  to  their  own  power.  Father  Delual, 
once  principal  of  St.  Mary's  College,  Baltimore,  but  now  retired 
at  the  great  College  de  St.  Sulpice,  [page  146,]  spoke  to  me  in 
his  nice  little  chamber  with  high  admiration  of  Sibour,  the  arch- 
bishop of  Paris,  who  was  also  a  Sulpician,  and  his  coeval.  The 
adhesion  of  Louis  Napoleon  to  a  church  very  much  in  the 
ascendant  in  France  gives  a  basis  to  his  power  which  was  want- 
ing to  "  mon  oncle"  at  the  eighteenth  Brumaire.    M reports 

the  Popish  churches  as  unfrequented.  I  spent  much  of  my  days 
in  them  at  Paris,  and  saw  a  very  different  sight.  Not  women 
only,  but  men  in  great  numbers.  I  was  particularly  struck 
with  the  great  numbers  of  children  and  youth  under  drill,  often 
hundreds  together,  preparing  the  motions,  &c,  for  processions. 
At  Dijon,  I  was  present  at  a  catechizing,  in  an  ancient  church  ; 
the  cure  sat,  and  was  lecturing  a  host  of  boys  on  a  point  of 
Christian  morals.  I  spent  my  time  on  the  pictures,  but  Maj. 
Preston  heard  it  for  some  time  and  pronounced  it  very  sound. 
When  we  consider  that  France  was  all  but  atheistic,  we  must 
regard  even  the  acquisitions  of  Popery  as  conversions  to  a  sort 
of  Christianity.  I  find  it  very  hard  to  swallow  the  tenet,  that 
the  existing  church  of  Rome  is  incapable  of  being  improved,  and 
is  to  be  looked  at  only  as  for  hell-fire.  My  prophetic  specs  are 
very  dim.  When  Louis  XVIII.  was  restored,  Bernadotte  said  to 
him  at  a  dinner  of  the  sovereigns  :  "  Faites-vous  craindre,  Sire, 
et  ils  vous  aimeront :  sauvez  seulement  avec  eux  l'honneur  et  les 
apparences  :  ayez  un  gant  de  velours  sur  une  main  de  ferT  He 
knew  the  French,  and  Louis  Napoleon  seems  to  adopt  his  maxim.1 

1  While  this  is  in  the  printer's  hands,  "  the  eldest  son  of  the  Church  "  is 
giving  a  new  exemplification  of  the  velvet  glove  on  the  iron  hand,  in  his 
■Doliey  with  the  Pope. 


1851—1857.  169 

I  am  pleased  that  our  collections  are  increased,  notwithstand- 
ing church-building.  I  never  had  so  many  volunteer  offerings 
for  poor.  One  man  has  offered  $1,000  now,  and  $500  a  year 
towards  a  Ragged  School,  and  another  $1,000  towards  a  free 
church.  Another  promises  to  keep  me  in  books  for  the  poor  as 
long  as  I  live.  The  Irvingite  Prayer  Book  is  very  good,  being 
compiled  with  much  taste  from  the  ancient  liturgies.  They  have 
"  seven  churches  in  London,"  as  headquarters,  with  their  respec- 
tive angels.  But  there  are  angels  in  other  churches.  The  twelve 
"  apostles  "  are  for  great  countries.     Ours  is  Woodhouse,  who 

is  not  here  at  present.     We  are  served  by  F and  M , 

probably  prophet  and  angel.  It  is  a  consistent  Puseyism.  The 
Advent  is  not  made  so  prominent  as  unity,  real  presence,  prayer 
for  dead  and  extraordinary  xaPL(TfJLaTa-  They  profess  great 
peaceableness,  and  ask  no  one  to  their  meetings.  Daily  prayers 
at  6  and  5.  Several  University  men  are  among  their  speakers. 
They  have  ample  vestments,  and  no  metrical  psalmody.  Their 
Psalter  has  some  odd  things,  e.  g.  : 

"  He  that  docth  these  things 
Sha  . .  .  II  never  be  ?noved.n 
—  "Mj/k.  .])S  shall  praise  thee?     Et  sic  passim. 

New  York,  February  13,  1852. 

I  don't  know  whether  it  is  so  elsewhere,  but  here  the  Valen- 
tines have  become  a  plague.  As  the  day  approaches,  whole  rows 
of  shops  of  every  sort  fill  their  windows  with  valentines,  from  a 
penny  up,  which  from  having  been  amatory  have  become  cynical 
and  opprobrious,  affording  boobies  and  snobs  an  opportunity  of 
venting  cheap  gall  on  a  neighbour.  For  the  first  I  find  some 
tending  to  irreligion.  You  have  seen  the  account  of  the  perfec- 
tionism and  promiscuous  abomination.1  How  few  cards  after 
all  the  devil  has  in  his  pack  ;  this  is  only  the  "  Brethren  and 
Sisters  of  the  Free  Spirit  "  over  again.  It  more  than  fulfils  pre- 
dictions made  by  Nettleton,  which  at  the  time  I  thought  absurd. 

A  youth  died  the  other  day,  at  19,  who  said  he  had  used 
every  day  for  eleven  years  a  prayer  I  gave  him  on  a  card,  when 
my  catechumen. 

I  am  getting  to  think  professing  religion  much  less  pre- 
sumptive of  grace,  than  once  I  did.  Nor  do  1  see  that  any 
strictness  at  the  door  helps  the  matter.  Have  we  not  added  to 
the  New  Testament  notion  of  communicating  in  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per ?     The  anabaptist  essays   at  a  church  of  pure  regenerate 

1  Public  assemblies  held  in  Broadway  of  the  advocates  of  "  Free  Love  " — 
eventually  suppressed  by  the  police. 

VOL.  II. 8 


170  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

believers  have  not  worked  well.  I  used  the  word  "  catechumen  " 
in  the  vulgar  sense  ;  but  the  Karr)xov[xcvo<i  was  as  such  unbap- 
tized — under  schooling — long  watched — slowly  indoctrinated. 
The  Church  as  a  school  has  declined ;  hence  the  Sunday  School 
has  been  built  up  alongside. 

New  York,  February  25,  1852. 

The  meeting  for  prayer  this  morning  at  St.  George's  [Epis 
copal  church]  is  one  of  the  most  hopeful  things  I  have  seen  for 
a  long  time.  Dr.  Spring  made  an  address  and  a  prayer  such  as 
few  but  he  can  utter.  Dr.  Potts  was  in  a  tender  melting  frame, 
and  prayed  so  as  to  carry  a  large  assembly  up  with  him.  I  had 
not  heard  of  Mrs.  L.'s  death.  Brooklyn  is,  as  to  any  visits, 
about  as  far  as  Trenton.  I  was  this  very  day  meditating  a  journey 
thither  to  see  her  ;  but  daily  visits  of  three  to  four  hours  have  by 
no  means  allowed  me  to  "  overtake  "  my  pressing  parochialia.  I 
agree  anent  Webster,  and  was  going  to  write  so.  Moreover,  his 
estimates  of  Livy,  &c,  are  equal  to  the  Sophomore  class.  His 
comparison  of  Sallust  to  Dr.  Johnson  is  absurd.1  I  don't  yet 
believe  in  the  Maine  law.  The  radical  principles  of  the  whole 
scheme  are  rotten.  1.  The  Bible  speaks  well  of  wine,  even 
as  exhilarant.  2.  Christ  chose,  for  a  sempiternal  ordinance, 
that  thing,  which  of  all  others  is  (according  to  Maine)  what  ought 
to  be  everlastingly  absent.  3.  Islam  (according  to  Maine) 
is  ahead  of  Christianity.  4.  The  Decalogue  is  defective, 
for  the  first  command  ought  to  be,  "  Thou  shalt  not  drink."  5. 
If  what  they  say  is  true,  pledging  is  not  the  way  ;  else,  why  not 
pledge  never  to  touch  that,  the  love  of  which  is  a  root  of  all 
evil  1  or  never  to  lie  ?  6.  It  is  questionable  whether  the  true 
ethical  principle  is  to  remove  all  material  of  sin.  7.  We  have 
too  many  laws  already  which  can't  be  enforced. 

I  can't  help  seeing  that  the  apostolic  preaching  could  never 
have  been  conformable  to  prophecies  in  John  xiv.-xvii.,  unless 
greatly  different  from  our  Lord's.  Progress  and  development 
mark  all  the  teachings  through  his  and  theirs  to  the  end.  I  look 
on  a  system  as  a  mere  report  of  progress  in  understanding  Scrip- 
ture, at  a  given  point  in  history.  Our  preached  system  differs 
from  the  Confession  of  Faith,  both  by  addition  and  subtraction. 

I  have  heard  [R.  W.  ]  Emerson.  There  is  a  singular  fascina- 
tion in  his  delivery  of  his  sentences.  These  end  in  a  surprise, 
almost  always,  and  he  artfully  stammers  and  halts,  so  as  to 
make  expectation  extreme.  No  gesture.  No  outlay  of  voice. 
Yet  he  keeps  you  intensely  anxious  to  hear  his  soft,  hesitating 

1  The  allusion  is  to  Mr.  "Webster's  unfortunate  selection  of  a  classical 
subject  for  a  discourse  before  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 


1851—1857.  171 

tones.  A  disjointed  series  of"  good  things."  Audiences  not  large ; 
apparently  New  England  residents,  ladies,  uppish  clerks,  &c. 

Carlyle's  Life  of  Sterling  is  a  dreadful  book,  to  popularize 
Pantheism,  warm  up  the  swelling  germs  of  doubt  in  young 
minds,  and  prepare  the  soil  for  every  extreme.  I  nowhere  find 
in  Euglish,  except  in  Th.  Parker,  such  dark  menaces.  It  is 
evident  C.  converted  S.  from  a  mere  nominal  Christian  into  a 
black  despairing  skeptic.  The  Irvingites  have  a  great  propor- 
tion of  persons  out  of  the  most  indoctrinated  circles ;  most  of 
their  prophets,  &c,  having  Episcopal  orders,  and  several  privates 
known  to  me  being  Presbyterian,  and  even  Seeeder-bred.  Six 
scribes  take  down  the  dicta  of  the  prophets.  Judge  Story  was 
a  great  man  ;  but  as  to  enthusiasm  in  professional  studies,  I 
have  no  doubt  a  hundred  American  clergymen  have  as  much. 
In  this  one  point  I  do  not  see  him  to  surpass  Stuart,  Robinson, 
Hodge,  or  Barnes.  In  extra-professional  literature  he  seems  to. 
me  inferior  to  any  one  of  these.  I  admit  that  our  period  is  sin- 
gularly barren  of  great  divines  and  great  preachers.  Yet  the 
average  working  talent,  I  apprehend,  was  never  greater.  As  to 
what  is  called  pulpit  eloquence,  I  grow  in  disbelief  of  its  impor- 
tance. The  gaping  multitudes  who  fill  churches  are  little  reached, 
as  to  the  main  matter.  Worship  is  certainly  overshadowed  by 
our  sermons.  How  few  quoters  of  our  Directory  ever  quote  p. 
497,  where  the  sermon  is  compared  with  "  the  more  important 
duties  of  prayer  and  praise." — Quere :  Whether  we  do  not 
err  in  ciphering  so  much  about  the  time,  men,  and  money  it  will 
take  to  convert  the  world  ?  Whether  God's  plan  is  not  to  work 
upon,  in,  and  by  a  peculiar  people,  elect  and  called ;  ckXcktolI 
Whether  his  plan  may  not  be  doing  well,  even  though  in  a 
"  little  flock "  ?  Whether  the  other  world  is  not  the  great  collection 
of  saints  1  Whether  God  is  not  taking  out  of  this  world  a  con- 
stant select  addition  to  that  1  And  whether,  consequently,  both 
hopes  and  fears  do  not  mislead  us,  as  to  the  extensiveness  of 
visible  success  ? 

Absurd  as  it  sounds,  the  spiritual-knocking  business  is  like 
to  be  really  alarming.  If  Satan  ever  interferes,  one  might  think 
it  would  be  in  such  mesmeric  and  analogous  delusions.  I  am 
told  there  are  scores  of  distinct  and  stated  meetings  in  town,  for 
these  spiritual  investigations.  Miss  Martineau,  in  her  late  book, 
avows  high-mesmerism  and  utter  atheism. 

New  York,  April  3,  1852. 
I  attended  the  funeral  of  M.   R.,  on  the  1st  inst,,  a3t.   13. 
She  had  been  of  my  catechizing  class,  and  was,  I  trust,  a  renewed 
child.     I  am  expecting  soon  to  go  to  the  grave  of  M.  S.,  who  is 


172  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

sinking  fast,  but  with  the  loveliest  aspect  I  ever  saw  death  put 
on.  Her  sayings  are  as  worthy  of  record,  as  those  of  any 
woman  I  have  read  of.  Her  mother  and  sister,  who  both  died 
of  consumption,  had  just  such  blessings  in  their  decline.  Mr. 
Lowrie  is  going  to  visit  our  Western  Indians.  The  death  of  Dr. 
Wm.  S.  rotts,  of  St.  Louis,  is  truly  a  solemn  event.  He  had 
attained  great  eminence  and  influence,  without  the  employment 
of  any  arts,  or  the  perpetration  of  oddities.1 

Grote's  Greece  is  a  wonderful  book.  He  is  a  hot  radical, 
but  a  great  scholar  and  historian.  His  style  is  true  English  ;  no 
balance,  rhythm,  or  expected  cadence ;  his  mind  is  John  Bull-ish, 
as  much  as  Giffbrd's,  (they  say  t/ifford  in  England,)  and  there  is 
no  flummery  or  fog  of  any  sort.  You  read  his  account  of 
debates  at  Athens,  with  the  same  matter-o'-fact  feeling,  as  when 
you  read  about  a  debate  in  Parliament.  All  is  made  to  uphold 
democracy. 

New  Orleans  seems  to  be  the  small  end  of  Kossuth's  horn. 
What  a  pity,  to  see  the  noblest  fellow  living  kill  himself  by 
"  power  of  slack-jaw,"  as  Yellowplush  has  it.  What  extremity  of 
asinine  folly,  to  prefer  a  Parisian  education !  Except  for  the 
name  of  it,  French  is  of  no  more  use  to  women  than  Cherokee. 

I  think  with  all  its  airiness  and  sweetness  the  up-town  is  less 
agreeable  to  me  than  the  old  parts.  I  feel  more  at  home  among 
the  noise  and  kennels.  A  wealthy,  zealous  Norwegian,  is  here  ; 
he  lent  the  American  Bible  Society  $50,000,  unasked,  without 
security,  for  their  new  edifice.  We  are  near  the  moving  season. 
A  number  of  my  people  are  coming  up.  I  think  not  five  fami- 
lies of  my  old  charge  are  below. 

We  have  not  the  least  stir  in  our  congregation ;  but  at  no 
time  have  I  known  so  many  persons  under  a  deep  religious  con- 
cern. I  have  perceived  something  unusual  in  the  manner  of 
hearers,  for  some  Aveeks.  The  proportion  of  non-professors  in 
our  assembly  is  small.  In  every  place  where  I  have  been,  I 
have  observed  that  I  never  have  marked  increase  of  hearers,  but 
always  a  striking  adhesiveness  in  those  who  come.  We  are  suf- 
fering greatly  for  want  of  a  good  place  for  meeting ;  it  is  most 
obvious  in  our  weekly  lecture.  A  lady  came  to  me  under  great 
convictions,  produced  by  the  funeral  services  of  E.  B. 

Think  of  3,000  Chinese  in  California  !  One  of  our  Canton 
missionaries  writes,  that  there  were  forty  vessels  in  that  port 
preparing  for  California.  I  am  looking  to  the  printing  of  a  few 
hymns  in  Hungarian,  for  a  little  congregation  of  Mr.  Acs,  (pro- 
nounced something  like  our  old  school-phrase   Ouch  /)     More 

1  There  is  a  memoir  of  Dr.  Potts  in  Dr.  Sprague's  Annals,  vol.  4. 


1851—1857.  173 

than  $20,000  have  been  raised  here  within  a  few  weeks,  towards 
the  endowment  of  the  still  unendowed  chair  at  Princeton. 

My  health  has  not  been  improving  lately.  Constant  pas- 
toral visits  and  anxieties,  and  mental  work  without  relaxation, 
have  run  me  down  exceedingly,  so  that  I  am  sleepless  in  a  good 
many  nights,  and  quite  nervous  by  day. 

I  have  my  father's  little  book  on  Moral  Philosophy  very  near 
publication.  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  throw  in  a  Preface.  It 
will  rank  with  his  Evidences,  but  will  awaken  more  opposition. 
He  wrote  nothing  more  simple,  clear,  or  convincing.  It  is  the 
only  work  which  he  left  ready.  Among  his  papers,  the  only 
diaries  are  a  few,  (chiefly  in  cipher,)  of  which  the  earliest  goes 
back  to  set.  17. 

Does  any  one  properly  estimate  the  approaching  certain 
influence  of  the  Germans,  as  a  power  in  our  country  1  I  often 
hear  as  much  German  as  English  in  my  day's  walk.  Of  all  the 
Protestant  portion,  nine-tenths  are  infidel.  All  I  meet  with  are 
radical.  Most  of  the  German  newspapers  are  infidel,  and  some 
blasphemous.  A  friend  of  mine  heard  some  talking  yesterday ; 
one  said,  "  Our  grand  error  in  Germany  was  not  using  the 
guillotine ;  let  them  employ  it  freely,  and  let  them  begin  with 
the  Pietistenr  The  second  Psalm  comes  to  my  mind  as  afford- 
ing the  only  hope. 

New  York,  May  4,  1852. 

I  almost  envy  you  your  chance  of  going  to  Charleston.1  I 
have  always  wanted  to  see  that  proudest  specimen  of  sumptuous 
slaveholding  hospitality.  Try  to  see  I)r.  Smyth's  library.2 
Perhaps  I  will  enclose  a  letter  to  my  classmate,  W.  P.  Finley, 
President  of  the  Charleston  College. 

When  elected  Moderator,  the  properest  speech  may  be  from 
these  heads  :  "  Unexpected — seldom  in  the  chair — most  will 
depend  on  members — good  intention  will  atone  for  inexperi- 
ence— will  know  no  section  or  party,"  &c. 

I  wish  I  could  see  my  way  clear  to  promise  you  pulpit  aid. 
But  I  am  so  sure  to  have  to  flee  myself,  when  it  grows  hot,  that 
appearances  demand  pretty  full  labor  from  me  as  long  as  I  can. 
Something  may  indeed  turn  up  to  make  the  thing  practicable  ; 
and  it  would  be  very  pleasant  to  me.  Yesterday  it  was  a 
French  minister  seeking  a  place,  to-day  it  is  an  Irish  one.  These 
Irish  think  "  vacancies  "  are  gaping  for  them  as  soon  as  they 
disembark.     They  have  no  drawings  towards  the  bush.     I  ob- 

1  Where  the  General  Assembly  was  to  hold  its  meeting. 
'J  Now  the  property  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Columbia,  South 
Carolina. 


174  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

serve  an  absence  of  all  "  onction "  in  all  Irish  Presbyterian 
preachers.  It  is  very  different  with  the  modern  Scotch  school. 
Guthrie  of  Edinburgh  talks  of  coming  hither  for  a  jaunt. 
Guthrie  draws  more  crowds  than  anybody  since  Chalmers.  He 
has  both  poetry  and  wit,  with  plenty  of  fire.  I  hope  to  receive 
next  Sunday  about  twenty  on  certificate,  and  seven  on  examina- 
tion. I  hope  you  mean  to  go  by  sea.  The  change  is  so  entire, 
and  so  breaks  the  home-thread,  that  I  know  nothing  like  it. 
Don't  forget  summer  clothes.  Verify  the  rumour,  that  the  com- 
mon Charlestonians  say  wen  for  when,  wail  for  whale,  peer  for 
pear,  fare  for  fear,  and  steers  for  stairs.  Find  out  whether 
South  Carolina  extempore  preaching  is  the  best  a-going.  I  wish 
for  you  that  protection  and  happiness,  which  were  vouchsafed  to 
me  so  largely  by  sea  and  land.1 

1 1  throw  into  the  margin  a  piece  of  playful  satire  on  style  and  sentiment 
which  he  addressed  to  me  at  this  time. 

Hakd  Shell  Bottom,  S.  C,  May  3,  1852. 
Rev.  dear  Brother, — On  yesterday  I  was  first  aware  of  your  being  a 
commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly.  Sentimentally  accordant  with  you, 
though  differing  perhaps  in  my  verbage,  I  would  have  defined  my  position 
in  regard  to  true  blue  Presbyterianism,  if  I  hadn't  have  gotten  an  impression 
that  you  were  tinctured  with  Princetonism.  I  didn't  have  any  test,  till 
going  to  dinner  yesterday  evening,  I  received  a  statement  tantamount  to  a 
denial  of  the  above.  No  unreliableness  of  my  informant  will  prevent  my 
approbating  his  sentiments  on  the  issue  about  to  be  made,  since  a  crisis  has 
arrived  in  the  affairs  of  our  beloved  Church.  Talented  men  in  our  Southern 
country  think  I  would  have  done  better  if  I  would  have  consented  to  have 
given  you  my  views  on  Boards.  If  we  do  not  return  to  the  basis  of  Scotch 
testimony,  we  will  go  to  the  gulf  of  Erastianism,  and  we  will  become  a  bye- 
word  in  the  camp  of  the  Philistines.  It  is  mighty  easy  to  talk  of  the  Boards 
of  the  Church  as  doing  a  great  work.  Unless  arrested  in  their  nefarious 
derelictions,  they  will  stultify  us,  by  bringing  in  a  class  of  ministers  who  are 
merely  literary  men,  ready  to  fall  a  prey  to  the  demons  of  choirs  and  organs. 
It  is  high  time  to  testify  against  carpets  in  churches  ;  a  rag  of  the  scarlet 
woman  which  has  been  privily  brought  in.  As  I  lately  said  to  brother  Mc- 
Rouse,  "show  me  the  pattern  of  the  carpet  which  Paul  and  Silas  were  on, 
at  Philippi,  and  I  will  use  it  in  the  Hard  Shell  Church."  Note-books  are 
against  the  second  commandment,  and  also  the  fourth.  They  were  unknown 
to  the  primitive  age.  Sol,  fa,  me,  &c,  are  clearly  from  the  man  of  sin,  and 
are  nearly  as  bad  as  cruciform  churches,  being  taken  by  a  rank  massmonger, 
Guido  Aretini,  from  an  idolatrous  hymn, 

"  Vt  queant  laxis  resonarc  fibris,"  &c 

The  practice  of  tokens  and  of  lining  hymns  went  out  when  reading  sup- 
planted preaching.  Who  knows  but  our  sons  may  see  the  day  when  the 
paternoster  may  be  used  in  public  prayer! 

Rev.  dear  Brother,  contend  for  the  faith  against  all  new  light  and  North- 
ern innovations.     I  am  yours  in  bonds,  &c. 

Duncan  McKillikrankie. 


1851—1857.  175 

New  York,  May  24,  1852. 

Ask  President  Finley,  with  my  regards,  after  any  of  our 
college  friends.  I  have  my  father's  little  "  Outlines  of  Moral 
Philosophy  "  in  press,  as  well  as  an  8vo  of  my  own,  intituled 
"  Consolation,"  &c. ;  a  rifaccimento  of  about  eighteen  sermons. 
Do  any  thing  you  deem  discreet,  even  by  placard  or  advertise- 
ment, to  get  tellers  of  my  father ;  this  is  like  to  be  the  desidera- 
tum ;  especially  letters  before  1812.  "  Use  a  little  (port)  wine 
for  thy  stomach's  sake  "  while  in  the  tropics,  and  follow  the  in- 
stinct of  all  hot  countries,  by  increasing  your  spicery.  A  rum- 
bling betokens  new  troubles  with  Mexico.  Have  we  not  whip- 
ped them  enough  1  Wicked  as  it  is,  I  believe  the  manifest  destiny 
will  annex  Cuba,  and,  as  Punch  says,  promote  free  trade  to 
Japan  by  opening  our  ports  on  the  Japanese.  God  reigns,  even 
in  wars,  and  truth  has  made  its  way  very  often  through  the 
breaches  opened  by  conquest.  M.'s  new  book  is  very  little 
talked  about,  while  50,000  copies  of  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  are 
sold,  and  100,000  will  be.  Yet  the  nigger-talk  of  the  book  is 
often  pure  Yankee.  Dogwoods  and  lilacs  are  the  blossoms 
which  denote  our  time  of  year.  This  day  last  year  I  embarked. 
Time  was  when  I  would  have  attempted  to  give  you  some  public 
news,  but  newspapers  and  telegraphing  have  taken  this  pleasure 
clean  away  from  us  poor  epistlers.  M.'s  case  is  not  yet  de- 
cided in  court,  though  it  can  go  only  in  his  favours  (as  the  Scots 
say  ;)  they  also  say  severals.  Not  one  descendant  of  Scotchmen 
in  a  hundred  ever  gets  his  shoulds  right.  Dr.  C.  would  be  sure 
to  say,  <;  I  would  think  he  ought  to  accept,"  or  even,  "  if  the 
mail  would  come,"  &c.  No  Englishman  or  New  Englandman 
ever  goes  wrong  here.  Hence  the  prevalence  of  the  ivoulds 
among  southern  Presbyterians.  S.  is  one  of  the  few  who  more 
Anglicano  writes,  "  The  Assembly,  it  should  seem,  has  a  modera- 
tor." Here  endeth  the  first  lesson  in  subjunctives.  American 
lawyers  are  much  honoured  in  Westminster  Hall.  I  see  what  I 
said  as  my  hearing  confirmed  by  an  English  paper,  which  speaks 
of  My  luds  and  my  lud  as  universal  at  the  bar.  I  heard  Earl 
Derby  say  so  repeatedly  in  the  House  of  Lords.  And  every 
Englishmen  I  heard  said  cort  for  court,  and  morning  for  mourn- 
ing, &c.  The  only  Walkerian  pronunciation  I  heard  was  from 
Irishmen,  gyard,  kyarnal,  skyie,  Jcyined,  &c. 

The  Directors  in  Princeton  joined  Polemic  to  Didactic 
Theology  again,  but  did  nothing  anent  the  vacant  chair.  They 
rescinded  their  former  recommendation  about  a  fifth  chair. 

You  are  now  in  the  focus  of  light  and  heat,  while  I  have 
nothing  to  say.  I  am  glad  you  like  Charleston ;  the  city  and 
people,  I  am  led  to  think,  have  as  much  a  character  of  their 


176  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE    CHURCH. 

own,  as.  Philadelphia  and  Boston  once  had,  and  as  New  York 
never  will  have. 

If  any  one's  thoughts  turn  toward  the  Germans  in  America, 
do  give  it  a  serious  consideration.  1.  The  immigration  thence 
is  enormous.  2.  Famine,  &c,  will  increase  it.  3.  They  will 
soon  be  "  a  power  "  in  State  and  Church.  4.  The  Protestant 
part  (a  full  moiety)  is  largely  infidel.  5.  The  existing  German 
Christians  in  the  United  States  are  either  poor,  or  devoid  of 
missionary  zeal  and  tact.  Nothing  is  to  be  hoped  from  them. 
6.  The  German  Eeformed  Church  is  mad  after  a  delusive  tran- 
scendentalism, and  has  endorsed  it.  7.  The  call  on  us  is  greater 
than  that  of  any  white  portion  of  the  world. 

A  common  man  said  to-day  down-town  :  "  The  New  School 
Men  do  not  discover  that  the  secret  of  Old  School  efficiency  and 
increase  lies  in  tenacity  of  doctrine,  and  liberality  of  sentiment.'''' 


New  York,  June  21,  1852. 
I  am  in  a  very  false  position  as  to  my  edifice,  [its  costliness ;] 
while  I  never  saw  a  congregation  so  suited  to  me.  They  are  all 
drawn  around  me,  by  partiality  for  my  explanatory  and  un- 
coloured  ministrations.  For  years  I  have  seen  people  who  want 
to  hear  oratory,  &c,  come  once  or  twice,  and  then  depart. 
Elderly  and  afflicted  persons,  of  the  plainer  sort,  are  chiefly  those 
who  drop  in.  Once  1  scuffled  to  be  other  than  I  am ;  now  I  see 
a  providence  in  it,  and  even  rejoice.  I  look  back,  and  see  that  I 
have  often  erred  by  trying  to  be  (1)  more  original  than  I  am, 
(2)  more  animated  ;  especially  No.  2.  No  man  can  be  any- 
body else.     Don't  you,  as  you  go  on,  feel  increasing  complacency 

in  variety  of  gifts  1     We  could  not  miss  a ,  or  a ,  little 

as  you  or  I  fancy  them.  I  was  pleased,  when  a  friend  of 
McNeiie's  said  :  "  He  is  a  teacher.''''  That  we  can  all  be.  If 
tears  break  out — well ;  but  the  teaching  is  effective,  sans  halloo 
and  spasm.  I  have  lately  had  unusual  comfort  in  my  lectures, 
by  omitting  my  little  notes  of  one  or  two  pages  ;  and,  after  hard 
study  of  the  context  and  more  of  the  words,  going  on  without 
any  sort  of  MS.  The  briefest  notes  ripple  and  detain  the 
current.  This  method  I  seldom  venture  on,  on  Sundays ;  for  in 
the  morning  I  read  every  word — usually.  The  past  winter  has 
been  one  of  too  unremitted  labour ;  I  am  conscious  of  having 
had  a  pride  which  made  me  do  double  duty,  to  prepare  for  the 
incapacities  of  summer.  The  consequence  is,  that  my  nervous 
system  is  very  much  shattered.  I  do  not  feel  it  inter  loquendum, 
but  afterwards  and  in  any  excitement  which  unmans  me.  God 
rules — but  I  have  serious   apprehensions  about  being  able  to 


1851—1857.  177 

bear  up.     I  find  my  four-mile  heat,  walking  to  the  University, 
quite  disabling. 

The  German  singing-bands  from  all  parts,  are  to  be  here  in 
tremendous  force.  They  do  the  thing  German-fashion,  for  several 
days,  with  garlands,  torch-processions,  picnics,  choruses,  and 
wine.  I  was  at  a  German  (Presbyterian)  meeting  t'other  night, 
where  about  150  made  as  much  hymn-noise,  as  any  ten  of  our 
assemblies.     I  think  to  go  to  Newport  about  the  2d. 


Newport,  July  31,  1852. 
After  four  weeks  at  the  Bellevue,  I  came  to  lodging  in  Broad 
street,  where  we  have  a  good  table  and  good  rooms.     Nothing 
delights  me  more  in  Newport  than  the  oldness  of  its  old  parts. 
I  know  nothing  so  English  ;    the  narrow  streets  and  trottoirs, 
street-gables,  overhanging  eaves  and  even  stories,  square  case- 
ments, vines,  &c,  every  thing  but  the  material  of  the  houses. 
Generally  the  temperature  has  been  such,  that  any  more  coolness 
would  have  been  unpleasant.     I  was  out  fifteen  hours  in  a  sail 
boat ;  having  two  calms  and  a  small  gale.     These  waters  are 
singularly  varied  and  beautiful.     The  healthiness  of  Newport  is 
vouched  by  the  extraordinary  number  of  very  old  people.     The 
boys  and  girls  play  in  the  streets  of  the  old  parts,  almost  as 
freely  as  in  France.     The  talk  among  squads  at  the  corners  is 
not   horse-talk,  as  with  us,  but   always   sea-talk.     I   have  not 
developed  any  taste  for  fishing,  of  the  kind  here  practised.     1 
should   almost  as   soon  think  of  taking  a  day  at  butchering. 
Neither  do  I  admire  the  sea-fish  as  food.     My  boys  have,  how 
ever,  made  up   in   both  ways  for  any  delinquencies  of  mine. 
What  a  charming  writer  Hawthorne  is !     I  greatly  prefer  him 
to  Irving.     His  sea-side  descriptions  (in  "  Twice  told  Tales  ") 
smack  of  the  very   beach  and  surf.     I  have  been  to  Bristol, 
which  is  just  a  smaller  Newport;  on  a  very  beautiful  bay,  not 
far  from  Mt.  Hope,  the  home  of  King  Philip.     I  have  read  two 
lives  of  Roger  Williams,  here  among  his  haunts,  with  great  ad- 
miration of  that  eccentric  old  hero.     In  respect  to  mere  bathing, 
I  do  not  consider  Newport  namable  along  side  of  Cape  May 
or  even  Long  Branch.     Unless  you  walk,  every  dip  costs  37£ 
cents.     The  times  for  bathing  without  dress,  are  much  restricted  ; 
and  every  thing  goes  by  hours,  not  by  tides.     But  the  air  is 
incomparable ;  indeed  I  should  wax  extravagant,  if  I  said  all  I 
think  of  it.     This  is  the  Shiloh  of  New  England  quakerism. 
The  orthodox  preponderate.     In  our  part  of  town  one  sees  the 
sweet   young   plain    quakeresses,   passim,    more   antiquo.     The 
Maine   law  works  no  visible  change  in  hotels,  but  produces  a 
VOL.  II. — 8* 


178  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

dreadful   exasperation.     I   think    the   moral    influence    plainly 
deleterious. 

Newport,  August  20,  1552. 

I  do  not  find  my  health  much  benefited,  except  by  the  repose. 
Within  a  fortnight  I  have  had  a  bad  turn  of  disabling  rheuma- 
tism. Fishing  is  said  to  be  the  favourite  clerical  sport.  I  am 
an  exception.  The  sailing  is  delightful.  I  can  imagine  the 
delicate  play  of  fly-fishing  to  have  a  charm ;  but  this  dead  pulling 
up  of  sea-fish  is  merely  a  nasty  trade.  Yesterday  I  caught  a 
shark,  about  four  feet  long,  having  pulled  to  the  surface  two 
others,  one  apparently  seven  feet  long.  But  it  is  a  useless  and 
horrid  butchery,  and  I  would  as  soon  stick  a  hog  or  a  calf.  I 
have  been  twice  out  sailing  with  Dr.  Boardman.  The  New- 
port men  say  he  ventures  beyond  his  sea-knowledge.  Their 
boats  have  a  peculiar  rig,  and  great  alacrity  in  sinking.  [Rev. 
Mr.]  Thayer  is  a  Triton ;  I  have  seen  him  row  across  Bristol 
harbour  in  quite  a  gale,  and  he  often  rows  himself  out  to  vessels, 
during  pretty  rough  winter  weather,  to  visit  their  crews.  M.  has 
a  gay  sloop  of  eight  or  ten  tons,  which  has  luxurious  accommo- 
dations ;  I  have  tried  it  twice.  You  may  judge  of  his  zeal,  when 
I  add  he  keeps  a  man,  whose  sole  employment  is  to  gather  crabs 
for  bait.  I  have  seen  a  letter  of  Berkeley,  wherein  he  says,  in 
1730,  that  Newport  has  6,000  inhabitants,  and  is  the  chief  place 
for  trade  in  America.  The  house  which  he  built,  (Whitehall,) 
two  or  three  miles  off,  is  much  visited.  I  found  in  it  a  family 
that  goes  to  no  church,  with  a  young  man  dying  of  consumption. 

Revolutionary  memorandums  and  reminiscences  are  sufficient- 
ly frequent  here,  but  it  is  mortifying  to  see  how  little  has  been 
preserved  of  their  earlier  archaeology.  The  earliest  grave-mark 
1  have  actually  seen  is  1648,  and  this  is  a  late  stone.  More 
Indian  traditions  and  names  remain,  than  is  usual.  For  example 
many  of  the  names  of  fish  are  plainly  Indian,  as  Squid,  Squeieek, 
Scup  or  Scuppang  [porgy],  Choxy,  Menhaden  [mossbunker], 
Totang  [blackfish].  The  more  I  see  of  Narraganset  Bay,  the 
more  I  admire  it.  Among  its  numerous  islands,  there  are  spots 
where  the  views  of  coves,  villages,  and  remote  uplands,  are  equal 
to  any  thing  of  the  flat  sort. 

I  hope  to  resume  labo.urs  on  the  first  Sunday  of  September. 

New  York,  September  23,  1852. 
I  have  this  day  brought  home  my  little  flock  from  Newport ; 
thanking  God  that  we  have  been  kept  in  life,  and  that  some  of 
the  number  have  derived  such  benefit.1     Our  church  still  lingers. 

1  The  intermission  of  his  preaching  in  New  York  was  only  from  July  18 
to  August  29. 


1851—1857.  179 

The  pews  are  in,  but  not  the  pulpit.  I  am  less  and  less  elated 
with  the  magnificence  of  this  pile.  I  feel,  however,  a  growing 
desire  to  spend  what  is  left  of  me,  in  plainer,  simpler,  more 
instructive  preaching.  I  am  in  low  spirits  about  the  condition 
of  the  New  England  churches.  The  whole  feeling,  in  their 
assemblies,  is  different  from  that  of  ours — bad  as  we  are.  The 
choirs  carry  matters  clear  away  from  the  congregation,  who  in 
very  numerous  instances  stand  during  singing,  gazing  up  into 
the  singers'  gallery.  The  sermons  are  never  expository  ;  and 
those  which  are  reputed  the  best  are  extensively  on  general 
topics  of  national  law,  ethics,  and  philanthropy.  A  sort  of  cold 
revival  is  superinduced  in  many  of  them,  which  adds  communi- 
cants, but  does  not  help  the  matter  much.  An  ordinary  laying 
open  of  a  large  context,  especially  with  any  stress  laid  on  par- 
ticular pregnant  expressions,  would,  I  am  sure,  be  received 
with  surprise  in  most  places.  They  admit  themselves,  that  the 
new  generation  of  preachers  is  giving  all  its  zeal  to  the  construc- 
tion of  rhetorical  specimens. 

I  am  glad  you  are  willing  to  do  the  service  in  Princeton.3 
Young  men  need  and  desire  the  very  plainest  directions  how  to 
go  about  their  work.  Religious  biographies  will  furnish  many 
suggestions.  Dr.  Waugh's  life  contains  some  grand  things  about 
city  wrork.  I  have  not,  for  many  years,  seen  a  little  volume  by 
Innes,  a  Baptist  of  Edinburgh  or  Glasgow,  which  struck  me  as 
containing  some  of  the  best  results  of  pastoral  observation  I 
ever  read ;  the  title  escapes  me.  My  father  used  to  go  largely 
into  ministerial  life  and  ways,  marriage,  economy,  choice  of  a 
field,  principles  about  settlement  and  removal,  and  a  great  deal 
concerning  preaching,  that  is  commonly  left  to  Homiletics,  or, 
more  properly  speaking,  omitted.  I  mean  all  that  considers 
preaching  in  regard  to  the  private  religion,  &c,  of  the  minister. 
I  know  he  also  lectured  fully  and  frankly  on  revivals ;  on  mis- 
sions ;  on  call  to  foreign  work.  Be  advised  not  to  withhold 
facts  and  deductions  from  your  own  ministry. 

I  am  prepared  to  pronounce  Newport  the  most  delightful 
climate  (to  the  feelings)  in  America.  It  is  singularly  like  what 
I  found  Ireland  to  be,  at  the  same  season. 

New  York,  October  25,  1852. 

Our   Synod   sat   from   Monday   till   Tuesday   night.      Our 

judicatories  here  are  more  churchly  than  religious  ;   too  formal 

and  perfunctory.     We  have   no  very  great  men  left  now,  and 

seem  not  to  need  them.2     John  Bell  [of  Tennessee]  seems  to 

1  A  temporary  supply  of  the  chair  of  Pastoral  Theology. 

2  Mr.  Webster  died  October  24. 


FRIENDS' 
MEETING, 


180  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH    A.VENTTE   CHURCH. 

me  one  of  our  soundest  trunks  of  the  old  forest.  I  begin  to 
think  military  skill  is  more  of  a  trade  than  I  once  thought,  and 
involves  less  mental  greatness.  As  to  France,  I  am  heretic 
enough  to  think  it  has  made  a  happy  escape  from  infidelity  and 
socialism.  Walsh's  letters,  in  the  Journal  of  Commerce,  pro- 
mote this  judgment,  I  dare  say. 

I  have  not  had  a  marriage  for  six  months.  So  they  have  a 
professor  of  Mohammedan  literature  in  Amherst  College.  I  am 
out  of  heart  about  the  delay  of  our  church.  There  is  no  reasonable 
prospect  of  entrance  before  December.  And  if  the  acoustics  should 
prove  bad,  as  my  fears  predict,  from  the  immense  vaulting  and 
needless  recess,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  look  for  another  house. 

The  Moral  Science  sells  well,  and  is  much  lauded  by  some 
sound  judges.  It  is  indeed  the  only  work  which  enters  largely 
into  elementary  morals.  W.'s  piety  has  loomed  up  wonderfully 
since  his  demise.  Our  preachers  find  it  a  fruitful  theme.  A 
French  wine-house  has  this  sign : 

Rendezvous 

des 
Bons  Amis. 

Commend  it  to  your  Quaker  neighbours.  A  famous  mourning- 
store  in  Broadway,  has  for  its  sign :  Maison  de  Deuil,  which  im- 
perfect scholars  may  interpret  variously.  I  have  a  book  in 
hand,  partly  new  and  partly  sermons,  addressed  to  "  the  suffer- 
ing people  of  God,"  ["  Consolation."]  Dr.  Eice  (set.  70)  looks 
as  firm  as  ever ;  not  gray  ;  indeed  not  changed.  He  is  a  truly 
affectionate  old  man.  He  is  now  at  Addison's.  Mr.  Talbot 
Olyphant  of  my  church  is  going  to  China  for  the  fourth  time. 
His  brothers  have  also  been  several  times,  and  his  father  spent 
ten  years  in  China.  They  are  all  deeply  interested  in  our  mis- 
sions. They  speak  confidently  of  the  railway  to  San  Francisco, 
as  a  thing  that  must  be,  and  that  speedily.  The  present  route 
to  China  is  shortened  to  sixty  days.  Accessions  at  last  com- 
munion eighteen  on  certificate,  six  on  examination.  Collections : 
for  Church  Extension  $1,106  ;  for  Bible  Society  $990.  My  eye- 
sight is  foiling  me  very  rapidly. 


New  York,  Eye  op  Thanksgiving,  ) 
November  24,  1852.  J 

You  make  believe  I  owe  you  a  sheet,  so  here  goes.  On  your 
overhasty  departure,  I  perceived  that  you  had  left  a  book,  &c, 
on  my  table.  I  have  not  spoken  of  these  little  lapses  of  mem- 
ory, they  are  to  be  expected.  Do  you  not  find  the  events  of 
your  middle  life  more  easily  remembered  than  the  occurrences 


1851—1857.  181 

of  yesterday  1  A  spectacle-case  is  also  lying  on  my  table — did 
you  leave  that  also  %  So  Napoleon  III.  is  at  length  enthroned. 
Strange  that  both  he  and  Louis  Philippe  should  have  had  such 
adventures  in  America.  Add  Joseph  Bonaparte  and  the  Murats. 
What  a  pity  saints'  days  and  anniversary  festivals  should  be  so 
dangerous  !  Governor's  appointments  lack  the  prestige  and  the 
legends  and  the  traditions  and  the  games  and  the  flowers  in 
season.  I  saw  in  Europe  some  things  to  show  that  thousands  on 
thousands  may  keep  a  fete  without  the  least  disorder.  The 
modicum  of  religious  association  tends  to  prevent  this.  We 
get  over  boyish  hilarity  too  soon.  Far  up  in  the  Alps  of  Savoy, 
1  came  upon  a  group  of  men,  in  the  highway  in  a  circle,  hand  in 
hand,  singing  Swiss  songs,  with  every  coloured  ribbons  in  their 
broad  hats.  With  us,  they  would  have  been  stupefying  them- 
selves with  adulterate  brandy  at  some  hogsty  of  a  corner  gross-ery. 
In  Paris,  on  Corpus-Christi  Day,  which  they  call  the  Fete  de 
fleurs,  I  reckoned  that  there  were  in  the  Madeleine  not  less 
than  5,000  bouquets,  of  which  the  great  ones  would  have  sold 
at  our  florists  for  $10  a  piece.  I  happened  to  be  at  Cologne  on 
St.  Martin's  day.  The  whole  parish  of  St.  Martin's,  pro  more, 
turned  out  in  procession  on  a  great  place  around  the  church. 
There  were  hundreds  of  girls  and  women,  and  thousands  of 
men,  all  very  orderly.  The  natural  tendency  to  anniversaries 
breaks  out  among  us  in  such  holidays  as  New  Year's,  Thanks- 
giving, Forefathers'  Day,  Evacuation  Day,  &c.  The  degree  of 
excess  and  abuse  which  occur  on  set  days,  will  be  in  proportion 
to  the  decay  of  religious  feeling  among  a  people ;  but  I  am  by  no 
means  sure  that  these  are  greatly  increased  by  set  days.  Yet  as 
a  good  son  of  Mother  Church,  1  subside  into  the  tenet,  that  all 
such  feasts  are  against  the  second  commandment.  I  wonder  the 
homoeopathists  have  not  taken  Elijah  as  their  patron  saint,  who 
was  the  first  6/AOL07radr]<; ;  James  v.  17.  The  nexus  between  one 
credulity  and  another  is  seen  in  the  fact,  that ,  our  prime  ho- 
moeopath, is  prominent  in  the  convention  of  spiritual  rappers 
and  mediums.  I  wish  you  a  happy  family  meeting.  My  text 
is,  Psalm  ii.  11,  last  words. 

New  York,  December  24,  1852. 
I  wish  you  and  yours  a  merry  Christmas.  The  week  has 
been  an  exciting  one,  in  regard  to  our  new  church.  Our  treas- 
urer has  just  been  in,  and  says  (though  he  has  not  had  time  to 
foot  up  the  items)  that  the  debt  is  cancelled — the  sale  of  pews 
equalling  the  entire  cost  of  ground  and  building.  All  the  very 
high-priced  pews  are  taken.  About  ninety-five  remain  unsold. 
It  is  my  wish  that  sales  should  now  stop,  and  that  the  remaining 


182  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

pews  should  be  rented,  at  low  rates.  Now  that  the  immense 
cost  is  met,  the  future  annual  expenses  on  pews  need  not  be 
greater  than  if  the  house  had  been  built  for  a  small  sum.  The 
assessment  on  pews  is  eight  per  cent.  Since  Monday  the  treas- 
urer has  actually  collected  $85,000.  We  had  a  very  full  house 
on  Sunday ;  benches  and  chairs  brought  in  till  all  was  crammed. 
Drs.  Potts  and  Plumer  preached.  I  have  been  again  reading 
Erasmus's  Colloquies,  in  the  old  full  edition,  with  great  delight. 
Old  Cass  gains  on  me,  by  his  magnanimity  towards  opponents. 
Old  Benton  in  the  House  will  be  almost  as  racy  as  J.  R.  of 
Roanoke.  Peter  Cooper  is  building  an  Institution  just  below 
the  new  Bible  House,  for  which  he  has  appropriated  $300,000.* 
These  two. buildings  will  beautify  and  improve  a  very  ugly  part 
of  town.  That  neighbourhood  already  has  St.  Mark's,  St.  Anne's, 
the  Baptist  Tabernacle,  Opera  House,  and  Astor  Library  ;  and 
very  near  are  Lafayette  St.  Church  and  St.  Bartholomew's.  A 
Mr.  Milne  has  been  here  about  two  months,  begging  for  a  church 
at  Cannobie.  I  am  unable  to  see  the  propriety  of  such  a  course. 
Churches  are  probably  thick-set  all  around  the  place,  where  they 
demand  a  Free  Kirk.  In  2  Cor.  xi.  28,  tViowTao-is  has  a  force 
not  commonly  observed,  i.  e.  "  the  being  run  down  by  so  many 
people."  In  2  Cor.  iii.  6,  our  version  fails.  The  free  version 
would  be,  (to  keep  up  the  play  of  words,)  "  But  our  ability  is  of 
God,  who  has  given  us  whatever  ability  we  possess  as  ministers." 
I  wish  you  and  yours  facile  digestion  of  the  mince-pies,  and  kindly 
resignation  to  the  drums,  accordeons,  &c,  of  the  season. 

New  York,  December  27,  1852. 

Thinking  you  might  be  pleased  to  learn  something  authen- 
tically about  our  church,  I  proceed  to  report  progress.  We  had 
$13,000  from  the  old  building.  Last  week  we  sold  pews  enough, 
added  to  the  above,  to  clear  us  of  all  debt,  that  is,  to  equal  the 
whole  cost  of  the  ground  and  edifice  ;  which  we  reckon  at  $105,- 
000.  This  left  us  seventy-seven  pews  on  hand,  which  we  deter- 
mined to  rent.  To-day  all  these  have  been  rented,  except  seven 
below,  and  three  in  the  gallery.  The  whole  number,  1  think  I 
told  you,  is  204.  My  concern  is  now  of  a  very  novel  kind ; 
viz.,  where  there  is  to  be  room  for  any  increase.  Indeed,  I  fear 
some  of  our  worthy  slow  people  will  have  found  themselves 
without  seats. 

So  poor  old  Mr.  Steel  is  gone.2  He  was  a  good  friend  of  my 
childhood.     Often  have  I  partaken  of  good  buttered  bread  spread 

1  The  cost  reached  to  more  than  twice  this  sum,  and  was  wholly  a  gift. 

2  Mr.  John  Steel,  of  Philadelphia,  a  member  of  the  Third  (Pine  Street) 
Church. 


1851—1857.  183 

thickly  with  sugar,  from  the  hand  of  Betty,  in  that  little  dark 
back  parlour  no  longer  to  be  found,  unless  in  England.  John 
was  perhaps  happiest,  when  he  was  a  linen  draper  bold,  in  the 
New  Market.  He  could  read  the  "  Aurora,"  and  go  out  to  the 
Republican  meetings,  with  little  risk.  I  remember  Betty's 
mother,  old  Mrs.  Blair,  and  how  helpless  she  was  with  rheu- 
matism. Did  I  mention  to  you,  that  the  assessments  on  our 
pews  are  less  than  in  Duane  Street  1  They  have  to-day  been 
reduced  to  7£  per  cent.  I  wish  I  could  turn  out  about  twenty 
pews  of  rich  folks  and  fill  them  with  poor.  But  this  is  one  of 
those  dreams  not  to  be  realized.  I  never  was  stronger  in  my 
opinion,  that  all  church-sittings  ought  to  be  free.  Yet  we  can't 
reach  this  without  establishments,  endowment,  and  all  that. 
Even  in  the  popish  churches  in  Paris,  1  calculated  that  at  one 
sous  a  chair,  the  common  price,  people  of  regular  attendance 
would  pay  $2  a  year,  which  is  just  the  price  of  a  cheap  sitting  in 
our  church. 

New  York,  December  31,  1852. 

Here  is  my  last  letter  of  the  old  year,  with  my  best  wishes 
for  you  and  yours,  for  the  new.  This  has  been  a  period  of  events 
and  mercies  for  me.  Some  of  the  things,  which  I  dare  say 
people  think  tend  to  elate  me,  have  a  quite  contrary  effect ; 
especially  the  worldly  increase  of  my  cure.  Seldom,  if  ever, 
have  I  had  any  private  exercise  more  solemn,  than  in  the  whole 
progress  of  this  matter.  And  I  never  more  felt  the  necessity  of 
dealing  plainly  with  my  people.  My  congregation  is  fearfully 
large.  Every  pew  which  was  not  sold,  is  rented,  except  about 
two  and  a  half.  One  of  my  responsibilities  is  that  of  begging 
and  dispensing  large  alms.  Yesterday  I  had  to  raise  some 
money  for  poor  members  of  a  German  congregation.  I  went 
nowhere  for  this  purpose,  but  mentioned  it  in  calls,  and  received 
$68.  On  the  first  Sunday  we  collect  for  our  Foreign  Missions, 
and  I  hope  we  shall  do  better  than  ever.1 

The  question  of  riding  in  our  street  cars  on  Sunday,  is  agi- 
tating our  community.  I  have  not  been  able  to  decide  it.  The 
poor  go  in  cars  ;  the  rich  in  coaches.  The  number  of  horses  and 
men  employed  is  less  than  if  there  were  no  cars.  It  is  a  query 
whether  as  many  cars  as  these  would  not  be  demanded  by  those 
(among  half  a  million)  who  have  lawful  occasion  to  journey.  Jf 
so,  the  question  of  duty  would  be  reduced  to  one  of  individual 
vocation  to  this  amount  of  locomotion.  The  whole  matter  of  the 
Christian  Sabbath  is  a  little  perplexed  in  my  mind.     1.  All  that 

1  The  collection  proved  to  be  more  than  $3,300.  In  the  next  month,  for 
Domestic  Missions,  $3,7 £0. 


184:  WHILE   PASTOR   OF  FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

our  Lord  says  on  it,  is  prima  facie  on  the  side  of  relaxation. 
2.  The  apostles,  who  enforce,  and  as  it  were  re-enact  every  other 
command  of  the  ten,  never  advert  to  this.  3.  Even  to  Gentile 
converts,  they  lay  no  stress  on  this,  which  might  be  expected  to 
come  first,  among  externals.  4.  According  to  the  letter,  Paul 
teaches  the  Colossians  (ii.  16)  not  to  be  scrupulous  about  Sab- 
baths. I  am  not  therefore  surprised,  that  Calvin  had  doubts  on 
this  subject.  The  very  strict  views  of  the  Sabbath  have  pre- 
vailed in  no  part  of  Christendom  unconnected  with  the  British 
Isles.  I  must  wait  for  more  light.  I  admit  the  fact,  that  spiritual 
religion  has  most  flourished  where  the  strict  opinions  have  pre- 
vailed. My  good  father  used  to  say  :  "  Be  very  strict  yourself; 
be  very  lenient  in  judging  your  neighbour."  I  have  always 
taken  milk,  without  scruple ;  which  is  an  offence  to  hundreds  of 
good  people  among  us.  Some  began  to  have  qualms  about 
Sunday  gas  ;  but  on  inquiry  they  found  that  the  labour  which 
produced  it  fell  on  Thursday  or  Friday.  As  I  ahvays  give  my 
people  a  motto  for  the  year,  and  preach  on  it,  I  have  chosen  "  My 
Grace  is  sufficient  for.  thee." 

[Soon  after  this  date  Dr.  A.  became  so  sensible  of  the  increasing  perils 
of  slighting  the  Sabbath,  that  he  took  a  decided  position  in  favour  of  the 
stricter  practice.] 

New  Yore,  March  9,  1853. 

With  more  than  two  hundred  pew-holders,  I  find  my  circuit 
wide  enough.  In  regard  to  visiting,  I  am  forced  to  seek  how  to 
pleas©  God  and  not  man.  Cases  of  illness,  &c,  break  in  very 
much  on  what  I  have  heard  called  a  a  routine  of  rounds."  The 
pleasure  of  having  our  big  boys  at  home  must  soon  end ;  a  fore- 
warning of  partings  yet  more  serious.  O  that  grace  might 
"apprehend"  them!  Bickersteth's  life  [by  B irks]  is  a  plain 
book,  but  O  how  full  of  healthy,  ardent  piety  !  I  think  him  one 
of  the  loveliest  ministerial  models. 

Mr.  Beers's  death  is  a  loss  indeed.1  He  was  every  thing  I 
could  ask,  as  to  prompt  and  willing  help.  Mr.  Auchincloss  [an- 
other Elder]  is  sinking  apace.  I  shall  try  for  a  considerable 
enlargement  of  the  session,  but  fear  I  shall  not  be  successful. 

Chalmers's  "  Life "  [by  Hanna]  contains  an  extraordinary 
amount  of  trifling  matter.  The  plan  seems  to  have  been  to 
publish  all  that  could  be  raked  and  scraped.  It  is,  however,  a 
wonderful  monument  to  his  frankness  of  nature.  Amos  Law- 
rence, though  called  a  Unitarian,  delighted  in  such  books  as 
McCheyne,  Haldane's  Life,  &c,  and  bought  them  largely  for  dis- 

1  Mr.  Beers,  one  of  his  elders  and  most  esteemed  friends,  died  in  Feb- 
ruary. 


1851—1857.  185 

tribution.  There  is  a  somewhat  singular  case  of  activity  in  my 
congregation.  A  young  man,  who  took  first  honour  at  Prince- 
ton, and  then  studied  law,  devotes  his  whole  time  to  the  distri- 
bution of  the  Bible.  He  has  boarded  every  foreign  vessel  in 
this  port,  for  four  or  five  years.  He  argues,  exhorts,  battles, 
and  generally  succeeds.  Our  congregations  are  full  to  a  degree 
which  oppresses  me.  I  believe  only  half  a  pew  is  unlet.  Our 
collection  for  Education  Board,  on  Sunday,  was  $3,510.  Our 
weekly  lecture  is  crowded.  With  much  external  attention  there 
is  little  proportionable  coming  out  by  profession.  Next  Sunday 
we  shall  admit  about  twenty  on  certificate,  and  six  on  examina- 
tion. Of  the  whole  twenty-six,  about  twenty  are  made  up  of 
husband  and  wife.  I  am  very  soberly  apprehensive  of  failing 
under  my  burden,  and  that  before  long.  I  generally  lose  my 
rest  on  Sunday  night,  and  on  the  last  had  the  addition  of  a 
vomiting.  In  no  winter  have  I  had  more  of  nervous  tremor. 
But  I  try  to  disregard  these  symptoms,  as  I  see  no  way  out  of 
my  present  duties.  The  translation  of  a  French  book  "  the 
Preacher  and  the  King,"  which  is  really  a  treatise  on  homi- 
letics,  is  a  capital  book.  I  have  Bunsen's  "  Hippolytus,"  a  book 
about  every  thing,  (4  vols.,)  but  of  which  the  real  intent  is  to 
give  an  exact  portraiture  of  Christianity  about  A.  D.  225,  as  to 
the  creed,  liturgy,  and  manners  ;  and  for  this  portraiture  the 
material  afforded  by  the  chevalier  is  very  rich.  It  includes  a 
complete  series  of  the  very  earliest  liturgies,  in  the  original. 
Antipuseyite,  antiealvinist,  antipedobaptist,  antirationalist,  tran- 
scendental, mystical,  poetical,  erudite,  interesting,  bold,  with  occa- 
sionally pickings  of  a  very  suggestive  kind.  His  facts  and  quota- 
tions are  a  great  basis  for  thought.  His  central  point  is  the 
Eucharist,  in  the  view  expressed  by  that  word.  He  proves  very 
clearly  that  the  ancient  church  made  this  the  great  thing,  and  that  all 
the  liturgies  grew  out  of  a  simple  communion  service.  It  is  to  him 
the  Christian  sacrifice,  not  in  the  popish  sense,  but  as  expressing 
in  common  what  he  regards  as  the  great  central  feeling  of  religion, 
viz.,  the  unselfish  offering-up  of  the  whole  man,  thankfully  to 
God,  as  Christ  once  offered  up  himself.  He  thinks  this  idea 
pretty  much  lost  in  the  modern  church.  He  is  as  little  of  a 
Trinitarian  as  Neander  Schleiermacher,  or  Bushnell. 

New  York,  April  8,  1853. 
Mr.  C,  a  Scot,  gives  striking  accounts  of  the  surplus  of  labour 
in  Scotland.  There  are  about  400  probationers,  and  about 
thirty  annual  vacancies.  Twenty  missionaries  are  wanted  for 
Australia,  and  they  can  drum  up  only  six.  He  is  familiar  with 
labour  among  the  poor  in  Edinburgh.     Spoke  of  their  district 


186  WHILE    PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHUECH. 

methods.  Two  or  three  ladies  have  about  twenty  houses  allotted 
to  them,  for  visits,  &c.  But  these  small  cantons  are  sometimes 
visited  by  three  different  sets,  one  Free  Church,  one  Establish- 
ment, &c.  He  is  en  route  for  Cincinnati,  but  I  almost  wished  to 
detain  him  here.  There  is  such  a  spirit  of  work  about  these 
real  working  Scotchmen.  Mr.  C.  has  lately  traversed  those 
parts  of  Ireland  where  the  conversions  from  Popery  have 
taken  place,  and  confirms  the  most  favourable  accounts.  Thou- 
sands have  become  intelligent  Protestants.  The  beginning  has 
always  been  by  schools.  He  represents  the  Bible  knowledge 
obtained  in  these  as  wonderful.  There  are  about  forty  Presby- 
terian schools.  Dr.  Duff  has  taken  this  matter  in  hand  with  great 
zeal.  In  our  city-work,  the  great  lack  is  not  of  money,  but  of 
men.  I  am  astonished  when  I  consider  the  supineness  of  our 
young  ministers.  There  are  half  a  dozen  licentiates  hanging 
about  here,  waiting  for  vacancies,  who  might  instantly  have 
their  hands  full  of  work.  Any  man  of  the  least  energy  could, 
in  a  school-room  or  loft,  soon  gather  a  houseful  of  hearers.  I 
even  think  our  young  laymen  are  not  backward  in  their  part. 
But  we  want  a  revival  of  zeal  among  preachers.  I  am  increasing 
my  eldership,  and  minded  to  increase  it  more :  Joseph  Hyde, 
James  M.  Halsted,  Thomas  U.  Smith,  and  Jeremiah  J.  Green- 
ough.1  It  does  not  often  happen  to  me  to  discover  four  new- 
cases  of  religious  inquiry  in  two  days  ;  but  such  is  the  event  of 
this  week. 

The  only  error  I  see  in  the  Brick  Church  movement  is,  that 
they  did  not  move  fifteen  years  ago,  when  they  might  have  made 
a  better  bargain.  The  supporters  of  the  church  have  long  been 
up  town.  Free  churches  must  be  established  for  the  class 
remaining  below.  The  position  of  that  church  has  long  been 
intolerable,  from  the  noise  of  cars  and  newspaper  steam-presses, 
next  door.  The  year  has  added  to  our  church  109,  of  whom 
only  twenty  on  examination.  We  are  just  about  opening  a 
mission  Sunday  School,  in  20th  Street  near  7th  Avenue.  We 
have  plenty  of  teachers,  and  a  room  capacious  of  250,  in  a  neigh- 
bourhood filled  with  poor  ;  the  streets  toward  the  North  River 
being  thronged.  I  have  completed  that  part  of  the  memoir  [of 
his  father]  which  precedes  Princeton,  and  in  that  whole  period 
have  not  one  letter.  When  I  think  of  the  new  generation  in 
Princeton,  I  feel  quite  old — Dod,  Green,  Cattells,  Hope,  Duffield. 
C.'s  case  reminds  me  of  a  frequent  saying  of  my  father,  that  he 
never  knew  a  poor  man  go  crazy  for  fear  of  starvation. 

For  some  months  I  have  been  studying  Galatians,  with  a 

1  They  were  ordained  April  10,  1S53. 


1851—1857.  187 

feeling  of  increased  understanding.  Poor  Byers's  wife  embarked 
at  Shanghae  the  day  after  lying-in,  and  so  came  five  months 
with  a  newborn  child,  and  a  dying  husband.  A  week  ago  wo 
attended  his  funeral,  in  the  same  church  where  he  was  ordained 
a  year  since.  Coulter,  our  missionary  printer,  is  just  reported 
dead  at  Ning  Po.  The  Hippodrome  is  rising  near  us,  like 
magic  ;  they  say  to  contain  8,000.  The  Crystal  Palace  is  not 
merely  less  than  the  original,  but  is  ill  placed,  and  diminished 
to  the  eye,  by  the  contiguity  of  the  great  massive  Reservoir. 
One  of  the  prettiest  little  electrical  experiments  I  know,  has 
been  repeatedly  performed  in  my  parlour  by  James  and  his  com- 
rades. If  new  to  you,  it  will  be  surprising.  It  is  the  lighting 
of  gas  by  the  finger.  One  person,  in  old  slippers  or  the  like, 
shuffles  about  on  a  thick  rug  for  five  minutes,  until  the  body 
collects  a  sufficiency  of  the  electric  fluid.  He  then  suddenly 
applies  his  finger  to  the  vent,  (held  open  a  moment  before,  by 
another  person,)  and  the  flame  instantly  breaks  forth.  I  can  at 
any  time  produce  a  spark,  but  have  not  succeeded  in  kindling 
the  gas.  I  am  not  a  believer  in  Gavazzi.  I  heard  him  in 
Glasgow,  and  thought  him  eloquent ;  but  there  was  no  religious 
ingredient,  and  little  but  a  Mazzini-like  damnation  of  the  pope. 
Dr.  De  Witt  lately  preached  a  sermon  for  me,  extempore,  more 
like  my  father's  best,  than  I  have  heard. 

Having  exchanged  with  Krebs  on  Sunday,  I  walked  home 
through  Avenue  A.  My  way  lay  for  above  a  mile  through  the 
German  quarter — all  the  signs  in  German— children  talking 
German.  It  was  not  only  not  like  Sunday,  but  was  like  a  4th 
of  July,  or  exactly  like  a  Sunday  in  Cologne  or  Heidelberg. 
Every  fourth  house  was  a  drinking-place.  Some  of  these  were 
large,  with  numerous  tables,  and  filled  with  as  many  women  as 
men.  There  are  half  a  dozen  Romish  chapels  within  a  few 
hundred  yards  of  Tompkins  Square;  one  of  these,  (Holy  Re- 
deemer,) a  tawdry  thing,  is  said  to  be  larger  and  higher  than 
Trinity  church.  I  think  there  is  more  stir  among  our  good 
people  than  I  ever  knew,  about  the  condition  of  the  poor,  ragged 
boys/&c.  I  cannot  get  any  other  churches  to  agree  with  me  in 
a  favourite  scheme,  to  have  a  great  and  inviting  building  erected, 
far  down  town,  with  a  striking  preacher,  seats  free,  and  no  proxi- 
mate regard  to  what  is  called  a  church-organization.  Our  folks 
are  nearly  ripe  for  a  mission  church  ;  but  I  do  not  mean  it  shall 
be  down  town.  The  churches  left  in  that  quarter  are  nearly 
empty,  as  for  example  the  spacious  North  Dutch.  Soon  every 
thing  below  will  be  warehouses,  &c.  The  teeming  population 
of  the  upper  wards  are  falling  a  prey  to  the  Catholics.  O  that 
our  sect-divisions  did  not  make  territorial  operation  impracti- 


188  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

cable  !  How  much  more  we  could  do,  if  we  could  only  mark  off 
nine  squares,  as  our  own  field — for  schools,  church,  charity, 
care  of  poor,  &c.  I  sometimes  scruple  whether  a  uniformity, 
like  Sweden,  properly  worked,  would  not  overbalance  the 
advantages  of  our  ultra  free  inquiry  and  individual  judgment. 

New  York,  April  28,  1853. 
Yours  is  "  to  hand,"  a  beautiful  Americanism,  which  electrifies 
one  at  every  telegraph.  Another  is,  Howel's  "  Print ;  "  which 
I  observe  on  the  imprint  of  a  sermon.  Addison  will  sail  in  the 
"  Asia,"  18th  prox.  We  spent  hours  in  Presybtery,  upon  city 
destitution  and  church  extension.  I  came  away  with  a  heavy 
heart,  persuaded  that  as  a  Presbytery  we  shall  do  nothing. 
Whatever  is  effected  must  be  done  congregationally.  Just  think 
— our  great  and  wealthy  Presbytery  has  not  one  preaching- 
station  for  the  poor  and  wicked.  As  it  is,  the  only  work  that  is 
doing,  is  by  the  irresponsible  City  Tract  Society,  under  A.  R. 
Wetmore.  The  plea  of  some  is,  that  the  only  mode  is  to  set  off 
colonies  from  large  churches.  But  how  can  we  get  our  members 
to  leave  us  %  And  the  worst  necessities  are  just  where  self- 
supporting  churches  can  never  exist.  I  would  rejoice  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  if  the  twenty  best  families  in  my  charge 
would  leave  me  to  found  a  new  church.  But  this  would  by  no 
means  reach  the  layer  of  population  that  I  have  in  view.  We 
opened  a  mission-school  last  Sunday ;  five  in  the  morning, 
twenty -two  in  the  afternoon.  Gavazzi  continues  to  draw  enor- 
mous houses.  His  histrionic  powers  are  unequalled.  The  pur- 
lieus of  the  Palace  are  growing  up  into  a  young  San  Francisco, 
of  tawdry  shells,  saloons,  grog  and  oyster  holes,  mountebank 
stalls,  &c.  ;  very  unlike  the  boundless  lawns  and  groves  of  Hyde 
Park,  which  begirt  the  English  one.  The  building  itself  is  be- 
ginning to  look  well.  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  church,  which  is  a  free- 
seat  one,  has  parsonage  on  one  side  and  school  on  the  other,  and 
employs  a  doctor  and  an  apothecary,  to  serve  all  attendants 
gratis.  I  suppose  none  but  the  poor  apply.  We  go  to  Sharon 
springs  on  Wednesday.1 

Sharon  Springs,  N.  T.,  June  24,  1853. 

Ink-privileges  are  scanty  here,  though  brimstone  and  water 

abound.2     The  season  has  pot  fairly  begun.     There  are  about  a 

hundred  here  in  all.     We  are  the  only  visiters  at  a  farm-house 

about  a  mile  from  the  springs  :  real  country ;   a  sweet,  quiet, 

1  By  medical  advice  for  the  benefit  of  one  of  his  children. 

2  The  letter  was  written  in  pencil. 


1851—1857.  189 

pastoral  farm  of  a  hundred  and  forty  acres.  The  fore  is  abundant 
and  wholesome,  and  the  sights  and  sounds  very  composing  after 
being  "  in  populous  city  pent."  I  sit  out  of  doors  all  hours  that 
the  heat  will  permit.  Yesterday  the  boys  caught  a  ground-squir- 
rel, here  called  by  its  Indian  name,  chipmunk.  Innumerable 
birds  are  in  the  trees  ;  the  young  just  taking  wing.  Ten  quarts 
of  strawberries  at  the  last  picking.  We  churned  twice  yester- 
day. Mrs.  Swift  gets  about  fourteen  pails  of  milk  daily.  To 
vary  the  routine,  the  bees  swarmed  just  now,  and  you  will  be 
pleased  to  learn  that  the  outgoing  hive  was  saved. 

The  water  is  of  two  kinds,  in  one  of  which  magnesia  prevails. 
It  is  surprisingly  crystalline,  and  deliciously  cool,  but  the  taste 
is  that  of  hard-boiled  eggs  raised  to  the  wth  power.  It  does  not 
tell  its  story  with  the  promptness  of  the  Saratoga,  but  is  very 
potent  on  the  system,  and  in  rheumatic  eases  works  wonders. 
There  is  a  settlement  of  Canadian  Indians  (xlbenaqui)  here,  who 
make  the  most  beautiful  and  various  basket-work  I  ever  saw. 
There  is  no  church  here.  About  a  mile  off  there  is  a  building 
which  is  occupied  in  turn  by  Lutherans  and  Methodists  every 
Sunday  morning,  and  by  Universalists  in  the  afternoon.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more  beautiful  country.  The  surface 
rolls  perpetually  :  there  are  some  high  hills ;  no  end  to  streams, 
often  running  through  dark  ravines,  tumbling  water-falls,  and 
mountain  springs.  There  is  an  appearance  of  great  fertility. 
The  county  is  Scoharie,  and  is  about  seven  miles  from  Cherry 
Valley.  I  feel  refreshed  and  rested  by  being  here,  but  not  well. 
I  shall  try  to  get  away  on  the  28th.  I  have  not  found  the  least 
diminution  of  heat,  though  the  sweetness  of  June  air  in  the  coun- 
try is  very  refreshing.  I  had  no  idea  of  the  thousands  of 
emigrants  filling  the  trains  westward,  until  my  late  trips.  Thir- 
teen hundred  left  Albany  in  one  day.  Two  of  them  died  in  the 
cars  from  excessive  heat.  The  tract  distributors  are  active 
among  them.  The  chief  house  here  is  the  Pavilion,  on  an 
eminence  which  commands  a  truly  mountain  view.  The  farm 
on  which  we  are  is  in  the  lap  or  valley  just  below  it,  at  the  foot 
of  a  green,  smooth,  rounded  descent. 

Newport,  July  26,  1853. 
I  received  with  much  emotion  your  intelligence  of  the  death 
of  your  brother  Charles.  Every  thing  is  gained  when  the  soul 
is  safe  ;  and  I  am  not  surprised  to  hear  good  tidings  in  this  re- 
spect, knowing  how  lively  an  interest  he  always  took  in  the 
means  of  grace.  Yet  it  seems  strange  to  think  of  him  as  carried 
away  by  disease.  He  was  always  a  favourite  of  mine,  from  very 
childhood,  for  his  cheerfulness,  frankness,  and  cordiality.     May 


190  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

Heaven  protect  and  bless  his  bereaved  little  family !  How 
rapidly  the  associations  of  our  youth  are  growing  dim  !  Perhaps 
the  most  wonderful  thing  of  all  is,  that  we  ourselves  survive ; 
unless  it  be  this,  that  we  still  cling  so  closely  to  the  earth. 

I  received  your  previous  letter  while  I  was  yet  in  New  York  ; 
where  I  passed  a  dull  and  solitary  time,  my  family  being  in 
Sharon.  I  then  resorted  thither,  and  spent  some  days  with  them. 
It  is  a  delightful  resort.  The  scenery  is  romantic,  and  the  air 
dry  and  elastic.  We  had  no  feeling  of  oppressive  heat,  but  a 
sort  of  mountain  freshness.  The  waters  seem  very  efficacious 
in  a  large  class  of  diseases.  We  were  on  a  large  farm,  less 
than  a  mile  from  the  spring,  with  an  unbounded  range  for  the 
children.  I  was  almost  sorry  to  come  away,  though  the  air  of 
Newport  is,  after  another  fashion,  very  refreshing.  We  came  in 
two  days,  by  way  of  Albany,  Springfield,  Worcester,  and  Provi- 
dence, a  very  pleasing  route.  Springfield  is  a  charming  town, 
and  the  trip  from  Worcester  to  Providence  is  through  a  very  novel 
series  of  grazing  valleys,  meandering  streams,  and  beautiful  fac- 
tory-villages. On  the  Sunday  of  our  arrival  Henry  came  in 
from  hunting  and  fishing  in  Sullivan  County,  up  the  Delaware. 
He  took  lots  of  trout,  and  slept  two  nights  out  of  doors.  I  shall 
give  him  as  much  boating  and  sea-fishing  as  his  vacation  allows. 
I  was  very  poorly,  with  choleroid  affections,  in  New  York,  but 
have  rallied.  My  church  is  kept  open.  When  last  heard  of, 
Addison  was  stepping  from  Dover  to  Calais.  In  the  face  of 
much  foregoing  prejudice,  he  thinks  Candlish  immeasurably 
above  any  preacher  he  ever  heard.  He  had  heard  McNeile, 
Hamilton,  Cumming,  Melvill,  and  Blomfield. 

New  York,  September  IV,  1853." 
I  am  under  a  very  strong  impression  that  I  answered  your 
penult  letter  from  Newport,  Though  I  returned  to  my  own 
pulpit  on  the  1st  of  this  month,  I  did  not  bring  back  my  famil- 
iars till  to-day.  Willy,  who  had  been  very  ill,  has  been  merci^ 
fully  recovered.  James  has  gained  a  good  deal  of  strength,  by 
maritime  pursuits,  winding  up  by  falling  into  Narraganset  Bay 
on  Wednesday.  We  spent  the  night  in  a  small  and  over-crowd- 
ed boat,  and  got  here  about  ten.     Both  going  and  coming  I  had 

agreeable  chat  with  Dr.,  once  Captain  V of  U,  S.  A.,  and 

Grace  Church,  Brooklyn.  He  is  a  great  fisherman.  He  and  a 
party  this  summer  killed  fifty  sharks  in  thirty-six  hours ;  one 

which  Dr.  V hooked  measured  eleven  feet.     I  spent  some 

days  on  Cape  Cod,  among  a  primitive  and  homogeneous  people,  as 
much  like  the  old  Puritans,  I  suppose,  as  any  living,  The  chief 
places  were  Sandwich,  Yarmouth,  South  Yarmouth,  Barnstable, 


1851—1857.  191 

South  Dennis,  North  Dennis,  and  Harwich.  There  are  no 
negroes,  no  Irishmen,  and  no  foreigners.  In  the  houses  I  visited 
I  saw  nothing  like  domestic  servants ;  yet  surprising  comfort, 
great  improvement  of  mind,  and  apparent  religion.  The  men 
are  all  seafarers,  and  generally  captains.  Our  congregation  were 
in  a  very  fair  way  of  raising  $18,000,  to  buy  an  old  church  in 
which  we  already  have  a  mission-school ;  when  the  matter  was 
quashed  by  a  reclamation  of  another  people  building-  in  that 
quarter,  who  thought  that  our  setting  up  a  chapel  would  affect 
them.  So  we  are  looking  round  for  a  new  scheme.  Few  of  my 
flock  have  returned.  Church  pretty  full  all  summer,  but  mainly 
from  other  congregations.  I  have  gained  nothing  during  the  sum- 
mer. 

New  York,  November  11,  1853. 

We  are  in  an  odd  state  as  to  music.  Lowell  Mason  is  our 
leader;  but  since  his  return  from  Europe  he  is  so  bent  on 
severe,  plain  tunes,  and  congregational  singing,  that  while  I  am 
tickled  amazingly,  the  people  are  disappointed.  His  success  in 
making  the  people  sing  has  been  marvellous.  I  enter  no  house 
where  so  many  join.  But  I  fear  we  cannot  hold  it  against  such 
odds.1  We  are  planning  to  build  or  buy  a  house  for  our  Mis- 
sion Sunday  School. 

My  father's  eldest  sister,  Mrs.  Graham,  is  dead.  She  was  a 
woman  of  strong  mind  and  solid  piety,  with  whom  my  father 
kept  up  a  correspondence  for  sixty  years.  The  interruptions  of 
a  city  pastor  are  sometimes  the  occasions  of  his  chief  usefulness. 
I  have  had  three  to-day,  all  beyond  my  church  pale.  I  preached 
[November  6]  at  overture  of  Dr.  Parker's  lecture-room.  A 
Presbyterian  church  in  Rochester,  known  from  the  patron  as 
"  Mr.  Ward's  Church,"  [St.  Peter's,]  has  the  commandments  and 
creed,  &c,  on  tablets,  and  is  to  have  responses,  &c.     The  article 

1  In  a  note  to  the  editor  of  this  correspondence  Mr.  Mason  says  :  "During 
the  four  years  or  more  that  I  had  the  privilege  of  leading  the  singing  exer- 
cises in  Dr.  Alexander's  church,  he  often  spoke  to  me  on  the  subject.  In- 
deed, I  did  not  often  meet  him  when  this  was  not  a  leading  topic  of  remark. 
He  always  spoke  with  great  decision,  and  once  certainly  he  told  me,  when 
it  was  suggested  that  there  might  be  danger  of  a  return  to  choir-singing, 
that  he  would  not  remain  pastor  of  a  church  where  the  singing  was  exclu- 
sively in  the  hands  of  a  choir.  He  often  spoke  to  me  after  the  public  ser- 
vice, of  the  gratification  he  experienced  from  the  psalmody,  and  I  well  re- 
member on  one  occasion  he  told  me  he  had  never  before  enjoyed  so  much 
the  exercise  of  song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord.  He  spoke  to  me  also  of  the 
growing  importance  of  the  singing  service  in  his  own  estimation.  He  used 
to  attend  our  little  preparatory  meetings,  often  making  remarks,  suggesting 
topics,  &c. ,  and  always  closing  with  prayer." 


192  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

in  the  October  Edinburgh,  on  Church  Parties,  gives  the  most 
readable  account  I  have  ever  seen  of  the  peculiarities  and  relative 
force  of  the  great  divisions  of  Anglicans,  with  many  important 
facts  and  explanations  entirely  new  to  me.  The  "  Christian  Re- 
membrancer" (Puseyite)  notices  Fanny  Fern's  book,  and  says, 
"  What  a  language  in  America,  where  a  young  lady  can  call 
trousers  '  pants ! '"  I  observed  the  word  pantaloons  was  not 
used  by  London  tailors,  [always  trousers.] 

What  a  change  the  sculptures  of  the  Exhibition  [Crystal 
Palace  in  New  York]  will  make  in  our  popular  estimate  of 
nudities.  Shop-windows  and  parlours  show  the  revolution. 
Paris  can  scarcely  equal  some  of  our  Broadway  solicitations. 
Such  an  autumn  as  we  have  had  I  suppose  no  one  remembers. 
People  love  to  predict  a  hard  winter.  Coal  is  high,  and  the 
"  stringency "  will  throw  thousands  of  operatives  out  of  work. 
There  is  but  one  point  in  which  I  ever  feel  drawn  toward  the 
millenarians  ;  their  belief,  namely,  that  Christ  will  visit  and  re- 
new his  church  ex  abrupto,  by  a  sudden  burst.  This  often  seems 
likely  to  me.  Our  whole  system  of  modern  means  works  slowly, 
and  seems  often  to  work  backward.  And  yet,  as  to  the  influence 
on  the  world  at  large,  it  has  not  been  ever  greater,  in  my 
opinion,  since  the  Reformation,  than  at  this  moment.  I  do  not 
see  that  Christianity  was  ever  more  enlarging  itself.  By-the-bye, 
I  think  the  talk  about  supporting  the  ministry  is  good  and  indis- 
pensable ;  I  can  say  so  as  suffering  no  personal  need.  Nothing 
seems  more  prominent  or  more  plain  to  me  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment ;  I  often  wonder,  indeed,  that  it  is  alluded  to  so  much,  as  it 
is  plain  that  primitive  Christians  did  not  neglect  that  duty.  I 
do  not,  however,  agree  with  those  who  ascribe  the  fewness  of 
candidates  to  this.  Having  lived  much  among  such,  I  never 
knew  a  youth  who  seemed  to  me  to  be  held  back  by  this  reason ; 
and  he  who  should  be  so  had  better  stay  out. 

I  find  this  great  change  in  my  pastoral  experience :  I  am 
more  concerned  about  the  quality  of  religion  in  my  flock,  than 
when  I  was  young.  Sometimes  I  am  almost  as  glad  to  observe 
a  ripening,  as  once  to  observe  a  conversion.  A  few  instances, 
very  striking,  have  come  under  my  knowledge.  Doubtless  from 
some  grand  defect  in  my  preaching  its  influence  has  been  most 
on  professors ;  this  beyond  any  hopes  of  mine.  Awakenings 
are  rare  with  me.  My  father  long  ago  pointed  out  this  evil  in 
my  sermons,  and  it  has  caused  me  many  a  pang.  The  invitatory 
part,  I  am  always  free  to  hold  forth  ;  but  in  every  instance  when 
I  have  tried  the  alarming  and  more  pungent,  I  have  been  like 
David  in  Saul's  harness.  I  am  often  depressed  beyond  expres- 
sion at  the  apparent  waste  of  my  exertions.     Private  addresses 


1851—1857.  193 

and  expository  lectures  have  done  most  of  the  little  good  that 
appears.     Sad,  sad,  to  think  how  nearly  the  glass  is  run  out ! 

New  York,  December  4,  1853. 
The  modern  German  rule,  of  sticking  firmly  to  grammar- 
laws,  helps  some  passages.  E.  g.  Acts  xix.  3  :  yKovaafxev  can 
mean  only,  "We  did  not  hear  of  any  Holy  Ghost;"  i..e.  we 
were  not  baptized  with  the  formula,  including  that  name  :  v.  5, 
"  When  they  heard  this,  they  were  baptized  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus ; "  so  their  previous  baptism  had  not  been  in  his 

name  either.     Dr.  C is  here,  as  accompanying  a  minister 

from  Wisconsin,  who  solicits  for  a  college.  This  fungus  of  col- 
lege-building on  our  Education  Board  is  like  to  eat  out  all  the 
vitals  thereof.  I  have  had  a  tea-visit  from  Rev.  R.  Steel  and  Dr. 
Gray.  Steel  has  been  thirty-four  years  at  Abingdon.  Addison 
preached  a  grand  sermon  for  me  yesterday  ;  he  is  very  unequal. 
I  have  arrived  at  the  last  Feast  of  Tabernacles,  in  lecturing  on 
the  Life  of  Christ.  It  has  been  by  far  the  most  delightful  homi- 
letical  exercise  I  ever  tried.  Holmes  is  delighting  audiences 
with  his  brilliant  and  witty  lectures.  Our  City  Tract  Society 
has  twenty-six  missionaries  and  eleven  hundred  distributors. 

New  York,  January  4,  1854. 
I  wish  you  and  yours  a  happy  New  Year.  The  last  has  been 
to  us  a  year  of  mercies.  As  years  roll  on,  the  most  despondent 
thought  I  have  is  a  fear  of  never  being  much  better  in  this  world ; 
I  am  glad  there  is  another.  I  used  to  make  resolutions  at  the 
new  year ;  but  now  I  am  disheartened.  The  same  habits,  the 
same  tendencies,  the  same  selfishness,  the  same  "  old  man,"  and 
warring  <rap£.  My  people  lately  agitated  the  question  of  raising 
my  salary  to  $5,000.  When  they  met,  a  letter  of  mine  was 
read,  earnestly  requesting  that  it  might  not  be  done.  They 
nevertheless  voted  it  unanimously,  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  raise 
the  pew-tax.  After  deliberating  a  few  days,  and  in  opposition 
\»o  every  adviser,  I  wrote  positively  declining.  To  this,  after  a 
week,  I  have  no  reply.1  Our  church-collection  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions on  Sunday  was  $5,180  63.  Add  $1,000  for  China  Mission 
about  a  month  ago.  Our  Mission-school  goes  on  well ;  we  have 
more  than  two  hundred  of  the  ragged  sort.  I  expect  to  go  to 
press  this  week.  No  one  knows  the  anxiety  I  have  had  in  pre- 
paring this  work,  chiefly  from  the  absence  of  diaries  and  letters 
for  the  last  forty  years.     I  think  I  have  been  benefited,  however, 

1  Upon  his  declining  the  additional  salary,  the  congregation  made  an 
equivalent  provision,  which  enured  to  his  family  at  bis  decease. 

VOL.  II. 9 


194  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

by  conversing  with  so  many  of  my  father's  best  thoughts.  1 
have  been  reading  a  Unitarian  book,  intituled  "  Regeneration," 
by  Sears.  It  is  wonderful  how  he  uses  all  our  evangelical  lan- 
guage, and  tries  to  gain  all  the  spirit  and  warmth  of  gospel 
grace.  Hollow  as  it  is,  I  consider  it  sincere,  and  in  the  light  of 
a  confession  of  the  nakedness  of  their  own  system.  Osgood, 
of  this  city,  preaches  in  the  same  strain ;  a  sort  of  revulsion 
from  Parker  and  young  Channing.  Poor  old  Mr.  Comfort  [of 
Kingston,  N.  J.]  had  an  easy  end  ;  the  clock  quietly  ran  down. 
Ofwrhat  are  called  anecdotes,  my  memoir  will  be  singularly 
destitute ;  also  of  smart  sayings.  I  wish  I  had  even  two  or 
three.  Gavazzi  still  holds  forth.  Achilli  is  claimed  by  Bush  as 
a  New-churchman.     My  New  Year's  text  wTas  ivSk,  Philip,  iii.  13. 

I  humbly  thank  God  for  his  mercy  to  H ;  though  now  I 

am  almost  as  anxious  that  he  should  be  the  right  sort  of  Chris- 
tian as  I  was  that  he  should  be  converted. 

Daily  do  1  grow  more  opposed  to  pews.  I  honour  Popery 
and  Puseyism  for  this  point.  Free  churches  are  unanimously 
voted  a  nuisance  by  New  York  Christians  ;  but  my  mind  is  un- 
changed. They  have,  with  us,  always  been  undertaken  by  poor 
preachers.  If  such  Chrysostoms  as  you  and  I  wot  of  were  to 
open  a  free  church,  it  would  tell  another  story  ;  and  I  am  per- 
suaded the  only  wray  to  effect  it  will  be  for  individual  preachers 
to  lead  the  way.  I  have  not  the  spirit  of  a  reformer,  or  I  know 
what  I  would  do.  My  Tuesday  lecture  is  the  only  service  in 
which  I  feel  at  all  apostolical.  Addison  preached  here  once  on 
Sunday  for  McAuley's  young  men.  A  new  school  of  Evangeli- 
cals in  Germany  has  broached  a  doctrine  about  the  church  which 
would  solve  some  enigmas  about  the  broken  condition  of  visible 
Christianity.  It  is  this  :  1.  God  founded  and  organized  a  Jewish 
church.  2.  This  was  the  only  organization.  3.  It  is  in  suspension 
and  abeyance  since  the  Advent.  4.  There  is  no  explicit  founding 
of  a  Christian  church.  5.  The  Israelitish  church  will  be  restored, 
with  a  spiritualizing  of  its  forms,  &c.  The  Irvingites  agree 
with  this  in  part.  At  our.  communion  we  had  twelve  on  certifi- 
cate, and  five  on  examination.  Almost  all  the  catechumens  I 
personally  taught  in  1844,  have  come  in.  One  of  such  revealed 
his  case  to  me  this  evening  after  lecture.  I  should  feel  the 
mysteries  multiplied  by  supposing  Christ  not  to  have  been  God 
before  his  baptism.  It  would  then  be  "  The  flesh  became  Word," 
and  not  "  The  Word  became  flesh."  Nor.  do  I  see  any  gain  as 
to  the  "  body  prepared,"  which  is  equally  true  of  the  moment  of 
conception,  and  which  does  not  necessarily  imply  a  preparation . 
On  every  point  respecting  the  Trinity  and  Incarnation  the  Catho- 
lic (I  may  say  Tridentine)  doctrines  seem  to  me  most  fully  to 


1351—1857.  195 

meet  all  objection ;  having  been  gradually  worn  into  shape  by 
the  collision  of  short-lived  heresies. 

Prince  Albert  seems  to  be  threatened  with  evil  days.  The 
queen  must  come  in  for  hei*share.  There  seems  to  be  something 
very  vacillating  in  the  recent  policy  of  England.  No  hand  at  the 
helm  bears  strong.  Who  knows  but  Providence  means  Con- 
stantinople to  Ml  again  as  in  1453  ?  There  is  a  long  account  to 
settle  with  the  Turk.  In  some  unknown  way  the  Greek  church, 
not  near  so  corrupt  as  many  think,  may  be  made  to  countervail 
Rome,  and  perhaps  to  be  herself  reformed.  I  lately  got  a  Greek 
prayer-book,  and  among  much  rubbish  find  an  extraordinary 
amount  of  long,  beautiful,  pathetic,  evangelical  confession  and 
prayer.  Two  of  the  Chinese  insurrectionists,  leading  men,  lately 
visited  Shang-hae  incog.,  and  talked  with  Culbertson.  Though 
they  had  never  seen  a  New  Testament,  they  seemed  to  be  Chris- 
tian and  converted  men.  Happer's  letters  in  the  Presbyterian 
are  evidently  on  the  unfavourable  extreme.  It  has  not  been 
mentioned  that  the  dynasties  now  threatened  in  both  wars, 
Chinese  and  Turkish,  are  both  Tartarian.  The  Gog  and  Magog- 
ish  aspect  of  this  ought  to  be  nuts  for  our  prophet-mongers. 

New  York,  March  14,  1854. 
A  Scotch  Presbyterian  of  my  acquaintance  lately  gave  his 
son  $300  for  reading  through  Pool's  Annotations  on  the  Old  and 
New  Testament.  My  sermon  on  the  prayers  of  the  unconverted 
was  not  so  pleasing  to  one  hearer,  who  sent  me  eight  pages  of 
confutations — said  she  uttered  the  "  voice  of  God,"  that  she 
hardly  refrained  "  from  rising  in  the  church  and  uttering  the  true 
doctrine,"  &c.  More  young  persons  are  serious  among  us  than 
I  have  known  before.  Our  Mission-school  does  well.  We  have 
set  up  another  down  town,  in  which  is  a  class  of  adult  Germans. 
I  think  the  "  Household  Words  "  contains  some  of  Dickens's  best 
writing.  Now  and  then  there  is  a  sneaking  dab  at  evangelical 
religion.  The  Astor  Library  is  a-going ;  but  no  library  I  have 
ever  seen,  not  even  the  Bodleian,  has  left  such  traces  on  my  im- 
agination as  the  Old  Philadelphia,  which  I  want  to  see  again.  I 
hardly  ever  buy  a  book,  and  latterly  have  read  few.  I  have 
almost  to  say,  "  Quand  je  veux  des  livres,  j'en  fais."  Yesterday 
I  put  the  last  sentence  to  the  Memoir.  Without  my  planning 
so,  this  fell  on  the  day  of  my  completing  my  half-century.  The 
occasion  was  celebrated  as  much  as  my  modesty  would  allow. 
The  President  of  your  Senate  [his  brother,  W.  C.  A.]  appeared 
at  breakfast,  and  accompanied  me  out  of  the  house.  The  steam- 
ship Knoxville  conveyed  me  out  to  Sandy  Hook  and  back,  with 
about  five  hundred  invited  guests.     It  was  really  beyond  my 


196  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

wish  that  the  Asia,  which  we  spoke,  should  have  fired  two  guns 
In  the  evening  about  one  hundred  gentlemen,  chiefly  of  the  cloth, 
attended  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Stuart.  I  was  handsomely  received. 
The  speech  was  much  applauded  ;  it  was  by  Dr.  Duff  of  Calcut- 
ta. The  band  of  music,  nearly  opposite,  played  till  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  13th.     I  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied.1 

It  is  really  delightful  to  hear  Duff,  and  to  see  him.  His  awk- 
wardness and  lobstering  defy  description.  He  seems  to  have  a 
bet  that  he  will  get  the  collar  of  his  coat  above  his  left  ear  once  in 
every  sentence.  His  accent  is  the  pleasantest  Scotch.  There  is 
to  me  great  music  in  his  intonations.  What  commands  me  is 
his  wonderful  sense.  His  humour  is  native,  and  bursts  out 
everywhere.  At  times  he  is  sharply  sarcastic.  I  feel  that  he  is 
eminently  a  spiritual  man.  I  hope  they  will  not  kill  him.  He 
spoke  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes  at  the  Tabernacle.  From 
his  schools  at  Calcutta  there  have  come  20,000  Hindoo  pupils. 
A  plain  but  pious  man  of  our  church  lately  made  a  suggestion  to 
me,  which  indicates  Christian  labour  in  a  right  direction.  He  is 
a  clothier,  employing  five  hundred  hands.  He  is  impressed  with 
the  fact  that  in  our  efforts  to  do  good  the  relation  of  employer 
and  employed  is  ignored.  He  proposes  that  every  Christian  em- 
ployer should  seek  the  benefit  of  his  employes.  He  points  out 
methods.  He  suggests  associations  of  employers  for  mutual 
illumination  and  incitement,  and  to  accomplish  jointly  through 
visiters,  Bible-readers,  &c,  what  cannot  be  done  so  well  singly. 
He  has  a  number  warmly  engaged  with  him.  The  scheme  con- 
templates the  Germans  chiefly.  He  astonished  me  by  saying 
that  the  calculated  number  of  hands  engaged  by  wholesale 
clothiers  in  New  York  is  25,000,  of  whom  two-thirds  are  Ger- 
mans. There  is  so  much  real  working-spirit  among  these  pious 
clothiers,  that  I  can't  help  hoping  it  is  of  God.  At  our  sacra- 
ment six  on  examination,  and  two  on  certificate.  About  seven 
are  ready  in  my  judgment.  One  of  my  Sunday  School  women 
sees  almost  every  one  of  her  pupils  brought  into  the  church.  I 
hope  our  Mission-school  and  chapel-edifice  will  go  up  after  all. 
Within  three  weeks  we  have  collected  for  it  $15,500. 

New  York,  May,  1854. 
At  no  time  in  my  ministry  have  so  many  been  coming  to  me 
to  talk  of  their  souls.  These  are  not  known  to  one  another. 
One  interesting  case  is  of  a  young  lady  from  Central  America, 
who  did  not  know  a  word  of  English  four  years  ago,  but  now 
.seems  to  be  an  instructed  and  converted   person.     A  refugee 

1  This  mock  celebration  of  his  birth-day  is  made  up  of  a  trial  trip  of  a 
new  vessel,  and  of  a  soiree  in  honor  of  Dr.  Duff. 


1851—1857.  197 

Italian  painter  is  a  constant  attendant,  and  professes  to  have 
embraced  Protestantism. 

The  noblest  Gothic  church  of  modern  London  is  that  of  the 
Irvingites.  The  millenarian  pamphlet  entitled  "  The  Coming 
Struggle,"  which  has  had  so  prodigious  a  run,  on  account  of  seve- 
ral happy  prophetic  hits,  has  already  falsified  itself;  as  it  boldly 
declares  that  England  is  to  stand  aloof,  and  have  no  part  in  the 
contest  with  Russia. 

I  had  no  proper  idea  of  Dr.  Duff's  eloquence  until  I  heard 
him  before  the  Bible  Society.  His  personal  religion  shone  out 
very  much  in  his  later  speeches.  He  has  a  marvellous  command 
of  a  sort  of  long-winded  but  most  expressive  diction,  and  his  ad- 
jectives are  generally  substantives,  and  not  epithets. 

Dr.  Proudfit  has,  in  his  new  Review,1  fully  demonstrated 
against  Schaff,  that  none  of  the  Fathers  made  Peter  to  be  the 
Rock  ;  nor  any  one  else  before  the  Middle  Ages.  I  never  had 
any  doubt  about  Christ's  naming  himself  by  petra,  any  more 
than  himself  by  [Destroy]  "  this  temple ; "  but  I  did  not  sup- 
pose that  all  the  Fathers  held  so  too,  against  all  their  doctrinal 
prepossessions.  There  continues  to  be  much  quiet  seriousness 
among  my  hearers.  Yesterday  I  heard  of  five  cases  unknown  to 
me  before ;  but  this  concurrence  is  very  extraordinary.  My 
lecture  is  very  full  and  very  serious.  I  have  arrived,  in  the  Life 
of  Christ,  at  the  last  passover.  The  Nebraska  bill  has  passed. 
I  have  never  opposed  it,  but  feel  very  sad  at  the  prospect  of  in- 
creased slavery.  As  to  what  would  be  the  fact,  I  suppose  this 
rests  on  causes  which  will  not  be  affected  one  way  or  the  other 
by  this  bill.  The  marshalling  of  South  against  North  is  more 
open  and  violent  than  I  remember.  My  "  Consolation"  is  out 
in  12mo.2  I  see  great  defects  in  my  "  Memoir  ;  "  but  this  plan 
of  stereotyping  every  thing  is  very  unfavourable  to  the  perfec- 
tionating  of  one's  works.  My  quondam  chum,  Waterbury,  has 
gone  to  Europe,  his  eyesight  being  threatened ;  he  is  one  of 
the  best  and  kindest  of  men.  I  have  just  sold  a  tract  of  land  in 
Virginia  ;  the  names  of  the  creeks  amused  me :  Little  Pedler, 
Sinking  Swamp,    Enchanted,  and   Love-lady.     The   avails   are 

$111  05.     L M said  to  me  t'other  day  :  "  I  have  been 

an  organist  all  my  life ;  yet  if  a  congregation  should  say  to  me, 
'  Shall  we  have  an  organ  ? '  I  should  scarcely  dare  to  reply  '  Yes.'  " 
Old  Mr.  Scott  said  in  1849,  "  We  fare  well  in  our  church ;  last 
Sabbath  we  had  Kittle  and  Potts  ;  to-day  Krebs  (pronounced  by 
him  crabs)  and  EellsP     Such  was  literally  the  fact. 

I  have  often  tended  to  your  opinion  on  the  fugitive  busi- 
ness ;  but  these  things  make  me  pause,  viz. :  if  the  slaves  arc  not 
1  "  The  New  Brunswick  Review."  2  The  first  edition  was  in  octavo. 


198  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

sent  back,  the  peril  of  their  escape  and  their  other  sufferings  will 
be  much  increased  :  again,  we  shall  be  flooded  with  runaways, 
and  our  free  negroes  are  burden  enough  already  :  lastly,  I  don't 
see  how  such  a  state  of  things  can  continue  long,  without  war  ad 
internecionem  upon  the  borders.  Yet  I  believe  that  the  Fugitive 
Slave  Law  will  be  repealed,  and  that  the  Union  will  be  dissolved 
on  this  question,  sooner  or  later.  The  second  Psalm  is  my  chief 
comfort  in  politics. 

Though  not  quite  a  millenarian,  I  was  struck  with  these 
words  of  Chalmers  to  Bickersteth  :  "  But  without  slacking  in  the 
least  our  obligation  to  keep  forward  this  great  (missionary) 
cause,  I  look  for  its  conclusive  establishment  through  a  widening 
passage  of  desolating  judgments,  with  the  utter  demolition  of 
our  present  civil  and  ecclesiastical  structures."  I  find  no  meeting 
so  hard  to  conduct  as  the  Monthly  Concert,  so  called.  Now  and 
then  I  have  some  keen  chagrins  at  finding,  from  imperfect  lists, 
&c,  that  I  have  neglected  some  worthy  family  for  several  years. 
Such  things  plague  me  more  than  greater  trials,  and  not  always 
in  a  warrantable  way.  Houses  about  here  are  so  near  together 
as  to  be  almost  a  Fourierite  phalanstery,  and  now  that  windows 
are  up  we  have  sometimes  two  or  three  sets  of  piano-twangle 
and  opera-squalls  at  once.  A  hundred  Chinese  have  been  found 
in  New  York  ;  of  whom  thirty-five  last  week  attended  instruction 
in  Chinese  from  a  missionary,  Mr.  Syle. 

New  York,  July  4,  1854. 
Thermometer  85°  in  my  study  at  11  A.  M.  I  went  to 
Albany  yesterday,  and  returned  the  same  day,  having  six  hours 
in  Albany.  In  going  there  was  no  oppression  of  heat,  but  the 
return  was  distress  equal  to  any  thing  of  the  torrid  sort  I  ever 
felt,  and  this  is  par  excellence  my  weak  point.  I  took  a  warm 
bath  and  two  cups  of  tea,  and  was  quite  restored  ;  but  the 
pandemoniacal  squibs  and  crackers  prevented  the  sleep  I  hoped 
for.  Some  good  chat  with  Sprague.  Says  his  correspondence 
is  from  five  to  ten  letters  per  diem,  and  that  he  despatches  these 
before  breakfast — that  he  regularly  goes  round  his  flock  in  visits 
twice  every  year — that  he  writes  two  sermons  every  week — that 
he  has  not  preached  an  old  sermon  for  seven  years.  His  com- 
municants are  more  than  700.  He  visits  each  family  of  his 
charge  twice  a  year,  spending  on  this  the  hours  from  11  to  2. 
My  congregation  is  thin  indeed — though  more  than  half  present 
are  strangers.  We  shall  again  keep  open  this  year  ;  but  I  ex- 
pect to  take  my  family  to  Newport  on  the  11th.  Our  church 
was  entered  last  week,  and  the  pulpit  Bible  abstracted.  A  fire 
was  also  made  under  the  stairs,  with  a  bundle  of  combustibles, 


1851—1857.  199 

but  it  burned  out,  leaving  a  pile  of  cinders  and  ashes  on  the 
floor.  I  have  had  donations  of  port-wine  from  two  quarters, 
during  the  heats ;  showing  a  remarkable  discrimination  in  my 
worthy  parishioners.  One  of  the  parcels  purports  to  be  real 
Old  London  Dock,  imported  to  order. 

Scribner  is  gone  to  England.  My  book  on  Consolation  is 
about  to  be  put  out  by  Nelson  of  Edinburgh.  Cholera  is  plainly 
increasing  among  us,  but  without  that  feeling  of  panic  which 
commonly  accompanies  pestilences.  The  papers  pretend  that 
rain-water  keeps  oft'  cholera ;  but  it  has  never  been  worse  than 
at  such  islands  as  St.  Thomas,  where  they  drink  no  other. 


Newport,  July  31,  1854. 
Ink  runs  in  these  latitudes.  Thayer  is  as  agreeable  and  in- 
structive a  preacher  as  ever.  He  is  much  beloved  by  his  peo- 
ple, and  does  good  among  all  classes.  Stanhope  Prevost,  a 
grandson  of  President  Smith,  and  an  old  playmate  of  mine,  is 
here,  from  Lima.  His  Spanish  wife  and  children  speak  no  Eng- 
lish. The  current  is  setting  in  New  England  so  much  in  favour 
of  congregational  singing,  that  at  the  commencement  at  And  over, 
next  week,  they  are  to  disuse  their  choir-display,  and  sing  old- 
fashioned  psalmody.  Prof.  Stowe  has  been  preaching  some 
weeks  to  the  students  on  the  Millennium.  I  have  been  study- 
ing Maurice's  book,  [the  Boyle  Lectures.]  He  is  all  fog ; 
belonging  to  that  class  of  minds  who  are  great  at  starting  objec- 
tions, and  taking  the  side  of  adversaries,  but  impotent  in  the 
work  of  upbuilding.  I  am  now  upon  Candlish's  answer ;  a  work 
of  some  strength,  and  sufficiently  confutative  of  M.,  (no  great 
task,)  but  hasty  and  often  obscure.  Maurice  really  surrenders 
the  Trinity,  Atonement,  Inspiration,  Resurrection,  and  Future 
Punishment. 

r 

Newport,  August  21,  1854. 
Your  letter,  in  its  closing  part,  so  entirely  removed  all  expec- 
tation of  our  seeing  K.,  that  I  was  really  surprised  when  she 
called  on  us  to-day.  She  is  looking  exceedingly  well,  and  is  full 
of  that  happiness  among  new  scenes,  which  sits  so  well  on 
youth,  and  which  it  is  one  of  the  peculiar  pleasures  of  old  folks 
to  contemplate  without  envy.  I  am  glad  to  see  how  thoroughly 
she  has  escaped  all  affectations,  even  those  conventional  ones 
which  one  looks  for  in  young  ladies  ■  it  is  a  negative  charm 
worth  a  thousand  et  ceteras.  There  have  been  some  cases  of 
cholera  here,  but  it  is  said  they  are  abating ;  and  there  is  no 
evacuation  of  the  hotels.     I,  hope  there  is  no.  harm  in  going  to  a 


200  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

boat-race,  as  I  did  on  the  12th.  I  was  in  a  yacht,  and  went  out 
some  miles  to  sea.  The  sight  was  beautiful.  Besides  the  racers, 
the  harbour  and  outer  bays  were  covered  with  hundreds  of 
beautiful  craft.  Last  week,  John  Auchincloss  took  a  shark 
twelve  feet  long.  The  drought  is  oppressive  here,  but  the  air  is 
temperate  and  agreeable.  I  took  my  twenty-fifth  bath  to-day. 
I  am  the  only  clerical  loafer  here ;  last  year  there  were  many. 
My  intercourse  with  T.  continues  to  be  very  pleasant ;  he 
strangely  unites  the  philosophical  preacher  with  the  laborious 
and  affable  pastor,  and  is  uncommonly  zealous  in  looking  after 
the  lower  classes.  Mary  Williams's  "  comfortable  boarding- 
house  "  is  still  fraught  with  goodly  broadbrims.  Congregational 
singing  is  unknown  here.  At  Dr.  Choules's,  psalmody  is  the 
act  of  staring  at  the  gallery,  with  all  backs  to  the  pulpit.  We 
have  here  Bancroft,  Sumner,  Archer  of  Virginia,  Curtis,  and 
Gen.  Almonte  with  coach  and  four.  B.  has  purchased,  or  will 
purchase,  a  house  here ;  he  is  a  candidate  for  our  little  Rhode 
Island  mitre.  He  has  the  proper  size,  and  preaches  evangel- 
ically. The  orthodox  Quakers  have  an  immense  barn  here,  in 
which  the  New  England  yearly  meeting  assembles  ;  but  they 
talk  of  taking  it  to  Lynn.  There  is  a  secession  of  "  Wilburites," 
led  by  John  W.  of  this  State,  whom  I  suppose  to  be  like  the 
Hicksites.  The  Baptists  are  very  strong  ;  they  dip  in  the  salt- 
water. Several  churches  are  open-communion.  The  early  (Roger 
Williams)  Baptists  disused  singing  at  worship,  as  having  no 
Scripture  precedent.  The  traditions  of  the  slave-trade  of  New- 
port and  Bristol  are  curious.  I  know  no  town  which  has  such  a 
proportion  of  blacks  and  yellows,  as  this.  With  no  disposition 
to  judge  harshly,  but  all  the  reverse,  I  am  led  to  think  that  what 
we  regard  as  experimental  piety  is  at  a  low  ebb  in  New  Eng- 
land. The  revival  day  has  gone  by.  I  hear  of  no  savoury  old- 
time  Christians.  Of  Unitarians,  I  find  many  more  than  I  expect- 
ed. The  absence  of  a  spirit  of  worship,  in  assemblies,  is  very 
striking.  Communion-seasons  are  brief  and  perfunctory,  and 
the  ordinance  is  just  an  addition,  as  when  we  baptize  a  child. 
The  New  England  clergy  seem  to  me  a  highly  cultivated  class ; 
but  the  elegant  or  ingenious  essay-style  gains  ground  in  ser- 
mons.    Expository  preaching  is  absolutely  unknown,  so  far  as  I 

can   learn.     I   have   seen  a  number  of  young  preachers. 

They  are  scholarly,  but  somehow  impress  me  as  totally  devoid 

of  ministerial  zeal.     The  intellectual  and  tasteful  in appears 

to  have  a  forming  influence  on  all  the  new  race  of  preachers.  I 
own  my  survey  has  been  somewhat  narrow,  but  I  should  have 
expected  an  exception  here  and  there. 


1851— 185T.  201 

New  York,  September  21,  1854. 
Yours  of  the  5th  was  backwarded  to  me  from  Newport 
to-day.  I  have  read  Gurney1  with  much  pleasure  and  some 
admiration.  As  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Fry  and  "William  Allen,  I 
was  deeply  impressed  with  the  truth,  that  whatsoever  in  him  is 
good,  is  independent  of  Quakerism.  One  is  ready  to  blush,  to 
read  the  petty  arguments  of  such  ft  mind,  for  the  hat  and  the 
plain  language.  He  was  a  good  man  ;  but  I  am  unable  to  see 
wherein  he  even  approaches,  either  in  spirituality  or  self-denial, 
most  of  the  good  missionaries  and  ministers  whose  biography 
is  written.  I  read  Judson's  Life  about  the  same  time;  and 
while  I  differ  as  much  from  J.  as  from  G.,  I  see  in  him  a  hun- 
dred-fold more  Christian  greatness.  Who  can  imagine  that  the 
travelling  sermons  of  Gurney  did  much  good  ?  whereas  Judson 
was  instrumental  in  giving  a  noble  version  of  the  Scriptures  to 
a  great  empire,  and  of  converting  thousands  of  Burmese.  I 
heard  two  of  Gurney's  sermons ;  they  were  good  for  a  Quaker, 
but  no  whit  above  the  average  of  our  plain  preachers.  I  ran  up 
to  Newton,  Sussex.  Though  I  had  been  there  once,  many  years 
ago,  I  really  had  forgotten  how  lovely  a  country  it  is.  With- 
out being  Alpine,  it  is  most  picturesquely  mountainous,  and  the 
air  is  as  good  at  Newton,  as  at  Schooley's  Mountain.  Their 
railway  will  soon  complete  the  remaining  twelve  miles  ;  and 
then  you  could  get  there  via  Newark,  in  a  few  hours.  Never 
have  I  passed  a  summer  with  so  little  gastric  trouble.  The 
only  death  in  my  charge  has  been  a  consumptive,  set.  80.  Mr. 
H.  has  been  talked  of,  in  reference  to  a  new  (or  revived)  "  enter- 
prise "  at  the  beautiful  village  of  Oyster  Bay,  L.  I.,  which  is  fast 
becoming  ja  summer  resort.  On  your  authority,  I  spoke  well  of 
him  to  one  of  the  chief  men.  I  hope  he  would  not  object  to  be 
ostracized.2 

New  York,  October  21,  1854. 
This  is  the  fourteenth  day  of  my  illness,  and  I  am  still  in  my 
room,  though  dressed  and  sitting  up  a  good  deal.  My  disease 
has  been  obscure.  It  has  given  me  more  severe  pain  than  all 
my  previous  sicknesses  put  together ;  but  it  has  been  clean  pain, 
without  nausea  or  depletory  processes.  It  has  been  a  series  of 
dreadful  paroxysms,  averaging  about  eight  hours  each  ;  of  these 

1  Memoirs  of  Joseph  John  Gurney.     Edited  by  Joseph  B.  Braithwaite. 

2  In  the  early  part  of  October  of  this  year  Dr.  Alexander  was  prostrated 
by  an  excruciating  and  alarming  disease,  the  progress  of  which  will  appear 
iii  the  letters.  On  the  14th  October  he  informed  me  by  an  amanuensis  that 
he  had  been  laid  up  for  seven  days.  He  was  not  able  to  preach  after  Octo- 
ber 8  until  November  10. 

VOL  II. 9* 


202  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

I  have  had  about  five.  In  their  acme,  the  pain  was  all  but  intol- 
erable. One  night  I  took  what  would  equal  480  drops  of  lauda- 
num, without  effect.  My  doctor  (Delafield)  is  a  very  Napoleon 
in  decision  ;  but  his  methods  are  mild,  and  he  exactly  resembles 
Dr.  Belleville  [vol.  i.,  125]  in  his  expectant  practice.  I  have 
from  the  beginning  supposed  that  the  root  of  the  evil  was  cal- 
culus. Spasmodic  colic  co-exists.  In  the  intervals  I  am  won- 
derfully smart.  I  ought  to  say  that  Divine  considerations  have 
been  of  great  support  to  me,  especially  when  I  was  almost  gone 
with  pain. 

New  York,  October  29,  1854. 

Since  the  20th  I  have  been  free  from  the  peculiar  pain,  the 
very  remembrance  of  which  makes  me  shudder.  At  present  I 
am  suffering  chiefly  from  the  impression  on  my  nervous  system 
of  so  much  severe  pain.  I  have  appetite,  take  a  glass  of  port 
and  gentian  bitters,  drive  out  for  an  hour,  and  walk  fifteen  to 
twenty  minutes.  You  may  imagine  I  have  a  great  feeling  of 
worthlessncss.  I  ought  ever  to  be  thankful,  that  in  my  most 
painful  moments,  the  great  truths,  which  I  trust  I  have  believed, 
were  not  less  clear  or  less  precious  than  usual,  but  unspeakably 
more  so.  I  wish  to  make  record  of  this.  I  did  not  find  that 
intense  and  wasting  pain  took  away  the  power  of  thinking,  but 
all  the  other  way.  While  it  is  fresh  I  wish  to  write  down,  that 
in,  with,  and  under  all  the  very  poignant  distress,  there  was 
an  under-current  of  peace  and  religious  satisfaction,  which  now 
comes  up  associated  with  the  pain — but  more  abiding  in  my 
mind  than  the  pain.  These  are  new  experiences  for  me.  In 
former  illnesses,  my  head  was  always  cloudy ;  in  this,  I  had 
pure,  unadulterate  pain. 

Dreadful,  dreadful  war  !  [Crimea.]  Bootless  carnage,  and 
for  what'?  I  have  been  skimming  Alison's  new  series  of 
volumes,  and  have  not  had  my  love  of  the  Turk  or  his  allies 
increased,  by  reading  of  the  Greek  revolution,  Scio,  Navarino, 
the  former  campaigns  of  the  Pruth  and  Balkan,  Diebitsch,  &c. 
While  an  uncontrolled  sway  of  the  Czar  over  all  the  east  of 
Europe  would  seem  bad,  I  own  I  am  struck  with  three  consid- 
erations :  1.  The  Turk  is  antichristian,  fanatical,  faithless,  bloody, 
and  doomed.  2.  The  Czar  is  the  natural  counterpoise  of  the 
Pope ;  and  it  is  significant  that  most  of  the  Romish  powers  are 
against  Russia.  3.  Russia  is  the  only  European  power  from 
whom  America  could  hope  for  much,  in  case  these  same  allies 
should  direct  their  forces  against  the  United  States.  Well,  "  He 
that  is  higher  than  the  highest  regardeth ;  and  there  be  higher 
than  thev." 


1851—1857.  203 

Did  you  know  that  the  Free  Church  people  publish  a  hand- 
some quarterly  at  Edinburgh,  almost  entirely  made  up  of 
articles  from  American  reviews  1 l 

New  York,  November  3,  1854. 

I  learn  that  the  late  diplomatic  congress  at  Ostcnd  has  settled 
that  Cuba  is  immediately  to  be  ours — I  suppose  bloodlcssly.  [A 
prominent  politician]  said  the  other  night :  "  If  I  were  President, 
I  would  declare  war  against  England  in  two  days  ;  so  as  to  be 
beforehand  with  them."  I  did  not  hear  the  casus  belli.  It  does 
not  seem  to  me  that  the  Bible  House  is  a  bit  larger  or  grander 
than  it  ought  to  be  ;  especially  as  it  has  been  a  source  of  revenue, 
and  was  built  by  special  subscription  of  friends.  The  moral 
impression  of  such  a  structure  gives  me  pleasure  every  time  I 
pass.2  It  is  said  that  one  of  the  passengers  became  perfectly 
gray  during  the  night  of  the  Arctic.3  I  have  a  sermon  which  I 
preached  on  board  that  vessel,  [May  25,  1851,]  on  the  text, 
"  And  the  sea  gave  up  the  dead,"  &c. ;  in  which  is  a  description  of 
just  such  a  mode  of  death.  It  was  much  censured  at  the  time, 
as  alarming  and  unseasonable.  The  crimes  of  our  city  are 
horrid,  but  they  are  committed  chiefly  by  foreigners.  Of  the 
1,500  who  daily  land  here  from  Europe,  the  worst,  for  various 
reasons,  never  get  beyond  New  York,  except  to  go  to  the  State's 
Prison.  Balloons  go  up  every  few  days  in  our  neighbourhood  ; 
one  to-day  with  four  inmates.  I  have  a  little  handbook  for 
young  communicants  in  the  press.4 

I  have  expressly  consigned  to  Adams  &  Co.  the  parcel  of 
books.  If  you  have  not  been  familiar  with  Bengel,  [Gnomon,] 
you  will  be  struck  with  his  pith,  and  the  unexpectedness  of  his 
remarks.  I  was  so  delighted  with  Dacosta  as  a  man,  that  I  read 
his  volume  with  great  pleasure.5  You  will,  amidst  his  enthu- 
siasm, find  some  new  remarks  on  the  comparison  of  the  gospels. 
Being  now  near  the  end  of  a  long  course  on  the  Life  of  Christ,  I 

1  a  The  British  and  Foreign  Evangelical  Review."  In  the  successive 
volumes  of  this  work  many  of  Dr.  Alexander's  articles  in  the  Repertory 
were  reprinted. 

2  This  was  said  in  reply  to  an  opinion  his  correspondent  had  expressed 
the  other  way. 

3  This  steamship  was  wrecked  on  her  trip  to  America,  September  27,  1854. 

4  "  Plain  "Words  to  a  Young  Communicant :  "  published  by  Randolph, 
1854.  Pp.  113.  His  only  contributions  to  the  Repertory  of  1854  were — 1. 
"  Curiosities  of  German  University  Life."  2.  "  Sketches  of  the  Pulpit  in 
Ancient  and  in  Modern  Times." 

6  His  meeting  with  Dr.  Isaac  Dacosta,  of  Amsterdam,  is  mentioned  in 
Chap.  IX.  of  this  volume.  The  work  alluded  to  is  u  The  Four  Witnesses  : 
a  Harmony  of  the  Gospels  on  a  new  principle." 


204:  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE    CHURCH. 

am  more  averse  than  ever  to  the  method  of  a  Diatessaron, 
except  when  used  as  a  mere  tabular  help  for  collation.  One 
could  endure  no  other  history,  made  up  thus.  I  agree  with  you 
about  Jay.  It  is  servile  and  does  him  injustice.1  Never  put  off 
your  reminiscences  till  you  are  past  80.  I  remember  how  dif- 
ferent his  "  Life  of  Winter,"  which  ought  to  be  reprinted.  The 
new  edition  of  Bickersteth's  Works,  16  vols.  18mo,  $10,  is  a 
cheap  book.  Even  when  I  cannot  see  with  him  as  to  the  prophe- 
cies, I  always  feel  that  I  am  conversing  with  an  eminently 
holy  man.  This  impression  is  made  on  me  especially  by  the 
"  Signs  of  the  Times,"  one  of  his  last  works.  The  little  prize- 
essay  of  Winthrop  is  not  to  be  despised.2  It  really  seems  to 
me  that  Lord  starts  right.3  His  way  of  finding  what  a  symbol 
means,  must  be  the  true  one.  It  is  some  merit,  where  all  was 
avofxia,  to  digest  some  laws.  But  his  results  are  often  odd 
enough,  and  sometimes  bathetic.  His  conception  about  the 
seven  kine  and  seven  ears,  is  funny  enough.  I  like  an  expression 
of  Trench,  in  his  book  on  Bible  synonymes  :  "  to  awaken  in  our 
scholars  an  enthusiasm  for  the  grammar  and  lexicon."  This  has 
been  my  great  "  Help  to  Preaching,"  and  more  and  more  so. 
Nothing  has  so  suggested  not  only  meanings,  but  parallels, 
illustrations,  divisions,  and  inferences.  As  I  twice  declined  the 
augmentation  of  stipend,  our  trustees  have  insured  my  life ; 
payable  to  relict.  It  is  indeed  a  Godsend,  to  one  who  never 
would  lay  up,  if  his  salary  were  $20,000.  As  we  are  cutting 
ourselves  oft'  more  and  more  from  the  old  world,  and  likely  to 
carry  out  the  Monroe  doctrine,  it  seems  to  me  that  Christians  in 
the  United  States  are  proportionally  more  bound  to  devise 
means  of  sending  the  gospel  to  Spanish  America.  Brazil  is 
quite  open,  and  New  Grenada  nearly  so.  It  seems  to  me  that 
this,  along  with  the  black  and  red  men,  falls  more  justly  to  our 
share,  than  Hindoos,  Nestorians,  Druzes,  Arabs,  or  Turks.  If  I 
could  have  one  sufficient  ex  tempore  prayer  in  each  diet,  I 
should  be  glad  to  have  a  prescribed  form  for  those  things  which 
we  ought  always  to  pray  for  :  e.  g.  government,  general  thanks- 
giving, &c.  I  would  have  the  Lord's  Prayer,  Creed,  Te  Deum, 
Gloria  in  Excelsis,  and  a  few  more  ancient  portions.  Our 
church  singing  is  of  the  very  plainest  sort,  and  the  people  join 
pretty  generally.     This  has  been  the  result  of  (1)  a  limited  list 

1  The  Autobiography  of  the  Rev.  William  Jay,   edited  by  Dr.  Redford 
and  Rev.  J.  A.  James. 

2  "The  Premium  Essay  on  the  Characteristics  and  Laws  of  Prophetic 
Symbols.     By  the  Rev.  Edward  Winthrop."     New  York  :  F.  Knight,  1854. 

3  Editor  of  the  Theological  and  Literary  Journal,  who  offered  the  pre- 
mium. 


1851—1857.  205 

of  tunes,  and  (2)  these  very  easy,  with  no  repeats,  and  scarcely 
any  slurs  or  dividing  of  syllables.  But  the  protest  of  our 
young  people  has  been  formidable. 

New  York,  January  23,  1855. 

The  trembling  of  my  hand,  which  I  inherit  from  mother  and 
grandfather,  makes  me  try  first  one  hand-(writing)  and  then 
another — as  I  can  go  steadiest.  I  answer  two  of  yours  in  one  ; 
and  accept  your  apology  for  poor  paper,  as  valid  for  the  whole 
ream.  I  wish  I  knew  Mrs.  Gurney.  I  once  saw  her  at  David 
Clark's  before  her  marriage ;  it  was  in  J.  J.  G.'s  company  that  I 
went  there.  I  wish  she  would  put  the  life  of  Anna  Backhouse 
into  the  shops.  Just  before  opening  your  letter,  I  opened  one 
from  a  young  lady,  in  deep  affliction,  thanking  me  for  the  copy 
of  A.  B.'s  life,  (which  I  received  from  Mrs.  G.,)  lent  her  by  me. 
Anna  is  one  of  my  saints.1 

Most  that  doctors  do  with  success  seems  to  be  opening  an 
alley  for  nature  to  have  fair  play,  and  elbow  room,  to  carry  the 
disorder  out  of  doors.  This  accounts  for  the  seeming  success  of 
homoeopathies.  I  doubt  not  that  poor  S.'s  case  was  greatly 
aggravated  by  doctoring ;  I  talked  much  with  him  while  the 
medication  was  proceeding.  Our  communion  was  a  week  earlier 
than  yours ;  nine  on  examination,  and  three  on  certificate. 
Several  of  the  cases  were  very  interesting.  I  think  if  I  could 
support  myself,  I  would  leave  my  charge  any  day,  and  begin 
down  town ;  I  ought  to  add — if  I  had  any  prospect  of  life. 
This  is  not  a  new  "  spirit ;"  I  never,  in  all  our  correspondence, 
said  any  thing  more  seriously.  I  perfectly  long  to  preach  daily 
in  our  now  finished  new  chapel. 

I  have  read  Muhlenberg's  pamphlet  with  great  delight,  and 
rank  it  very  high  as  a  literary  production.2  It  has  led  me  to 
fall  in  his  way,  with  increase  of  satisfaction.  He  tells  me  his 
Sisters  of  Mercy,  four  in  number,  have  relieved  1,200  cases  of 
distress  since  New  Year's.     R.  has  been  amongst  us.3     To  save 

1  The  widow  of  Joseph  John  Gurney,  the  eminent  preacher  and  author 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  was  of  New  Jersey.  Her  Memoir  of  his  daugh- 
ter was  printed  at  Burlington,  in  1852,  for  the  use  of  the  family  and  friends. 

3  "  An  Exposition  of  the  Memorial  of  Sundry  Presbyters  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church,  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops  during  the  Gen- 
eral Convention  of  said  Church,  1853.  By  one  of  the  Memorialists."  The 
object  of  the  Memorial  was  to  obtain  some  modifications  of  the  "  modes 
of  public  worship,  and  traditional  customs  and  usages "  in  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

3  The  reputed  author  of  a  volume  ("  Charity  and  the  Clergy")  sustain- 
ing the  strictures  of  "  New  Themes"  on  the  want  of  active  charity  in  the 
Christian  Church. 


206  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

my  credit,  he  attended  one  meeting  at  which  our  people  pledged 
$400  a  year  for  our  down  town  mission-school,  and  another  at 
which  he  learned  that  we  had  just  raised  $600  for  poor  of  this 
ward.  In  reference  to  this  last  matter,  I  attended  two  meetings 
of  clergy  of  the  Eighteenth  Ward,  last  week,  at  which  remarks 
were  made  by  Tyng,  Adams,  Cheever,  Hawks,  Muhlenberg, 
Bellows,  Van  Nest,  and  Alexander. 

The  gratuitousness  of  the  preaching,  to  which  I  alluded, 
[page  205,]  would  presuppose  a  fund  or  collection  for  a  Free 
Church.  If  I  were  ten  years  younger,  I  would  have  a  building 
erected  to  hold  2,000,  and  would  preach  to  free  seats ;  not  that  I 
think  the  existing  plan  ought  to  be  abandoned,  but  because  I 
think  we  ought  to  have  several,  yea  many  plans,  yea  many  sorts 
of  preachers,  "  unlearned  deacons  "  and  all. 

I  find  no  girls  decently  educated  except  at  home,  or  in  the 
country.  I  have  lately  examined  several  eminent  scholars  of 
the  highest  establishment.  Except  French  and  drawing,  they 
have  nothing  accurately,  though  pretending  to  have  ever  so  much 
German,  Latin — ologies,  &c.  I  have  a  Spanish  book  from  a 
Cuban  ex-professor,  and  very  fine  old  man,  inscribed  thus : 
"  Al  Senr  Dr  Don  J.  W.  Alexander,  D.  D.,  en  memoria  del 
Editor."  My  good  friend  and  excellent  sexton  Peter  Tarlsen 
is  dead.  We  buried  him  from  the  church.  The  captain  who 
first  brought  him  to  America  was  there.  Our  landlord  has 
raised  our  rent  from  $900  to  $1,200  ;  we  shall  therefore  move 


New  York,  March  14,  1855. 
I  am  truly  glad  that  the  old  college  bell  is  not  lost;  its 
sound  is  sweet  in  my  ears.1  The  Palmerston  ministry  seems 
hard  to  fix.  Sevastopol  is  taken  less  easily  than  was  at  first 
supposed.  The  Irvingites  number  30,000.  They  now  have  an 
Evangelist  here,  preaching ;  only  on  these  occasions  do  they 
invite  any  hearers.  We  are  about  to  lower  our  organ  loft,  and 
get  an  organ,  and  perhaps  change  the  pulpit :  we  shall  expect 
you  after  the  high  places  are  removed.  I  visited  a  bon  vivant 
very  ill,  whose  only  tie  to  church  or  religion  seems  to  be  the 
memory  of  a  little  boy  who  was  several  years  in  our  Sunday 
school.  The  father  repeated  whole  hymns  which  his  boy  used 
to  say  at  nigkt;  the  child's  portrait  hanging  all  the  while  in 
sight  by  the  bed.  The  intensity  of  paternal  affection  led  me  to 
dwell  on  that  particular  view  of  God's  love  in  Scripture.  Only 
Iwo  join  our  church  on  examination ;  one  a  boy  of  fifteen,  the 

1  The  main  edifice  of  Nassau  Hall  was  burnt  March  10. 


1851—1857.  207 

other  a  man  of  fifty.  On  Sunday  I  preached  twice  and  spoke 
something  at  three  other  meetings.  Secretary  [J.  L.]  Wilson 
gave  us  a  truly  awakening  account  of  the  India  missions  the 
other  night. 

The  life  of  the  Rev.  Andrew  Broaddus  has  interested  me 
highly.  In  my  young  days  he  was  the  star  of  the  Baptist  pulpit 
m  Virginia.  He  was  a  great  and  good  man,  and  a  preacher  of 
singular  fascination.  Dr.  Jeter's  "  Campbellism  Examined  "  is 
a  most  able  book  on  that  subject.  I  accord  with  you  in  missing 
the  society  of  sons,  but  this  is  not  so  grieving  as  to  suffer  the 
same  in  regard  of  daughters.  All  these  things  tell  us  that  the 
<TXVfia  passeth  away. 

April  3. — The  dealings  of  God  with  Ahab  make  me  believe 
that  the  great  outward  piety  of  Nicholas  will  not  go  unre- 
warded.    His  death  was  not  an  unchristian  one.1 

I  expect  to  leave  here  for  Virginia  on  the  9th  inst.,  and  to  go 
first  to  Charlottesville,  and  then  to  Charlotte.  We  open  our 
chapel  for  preaching  next  Sunday.  Dr.  A.  D.  Smith  has  more 
than  1,400  Sunday  scholars. 

Give  profound  salvos  to  all  inquiriturient  and  amicable  vicini- 
ties, from  your  observant  orator,  who  will  ever  pray,  &c. 

Ingleside,  Virginia,  April  20,  1855. 
The  spring  no  longer  coquets,  but  embraces  with  oriental 
voluptuousness.  Yesterday  would  have  done  for  Florida.  In  a 
north  porch,  in  shade,  the  glass  stood  at  95°  all  the  afternoon. 
This  morning  it  is  less  burning,  but  still  hot.  When  1  arrived 
in  Virginia,  the  spring  was  still  behind,  but  for  two  days  we 
have  almost  seen  it  growing.  All  the  ten  million  blossomings 
of  this  wide  plantation  are  out  together — peach,  apricot,  cherry, 
plum,  crab,  and  apple,  the  last  being  sweetest ;  also  lilach,  straw- 
berry, almond,  corcoras,  hyacinth,  pyrus  japonica,  &c.  The 
wheatfields,  often  of  a  hundred  acres  each,  are  suddenly  green. 
Before  breakfast  I  counted  fourteen  sj)ecies  of  birds  known  to 
me,  and  two  unknown.  There  are  about  fifty  mocking-birds  in 
and  about  this  lawn,  and  forty  robins  were  counted  on  the 
grass  at  once.  Herds  and  flocks  on  a  large  scale  variegate  the 
prospect.  This  estate  joins  Retirement,  where  I  lived,  and  which 
is  more  in  sight  than  once,  from  cutting  of  woods  away.  The 
house  or  houses  are  ruinous,  but  the  noble  oaks  stand.  The 
place  is  to  be  at  once  improved  by  Henry  A.  Carrington,  to 
whom  his  father  has  given  it.  It  was  twenty-nine  years  on 
Monday,  since  I  preached  my  first  sermon  at  Charlotte  C.  II. 

1  The  Czar  died  March  2,  1855. 


208  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

There  is  now  a  plank-road  of  about  six  miles  from  the  C.  H. 
to  Drake's  Branch  ;  a  line  which  is  about  bisected  by  a  planta- 
tion-road of  one  mile,  striking  it  from  this  spot.  This  place  has 
very  much  improved  by  the  growth  of  trees,  and  the  horticultu- 
ral improvements.  In  all  this  country  there  is  no  sign  or  sus- 
picion of  any  suffering.  I  have  renewed  my  acquaintance  with  a 
large  number  of  the  old  blacks,  and  have  been  struck  with  the 
ease  of  their  life.  The  old  coachman  of  Mrs.  Le  Grand,  Uncle 
Billy,  now  aged  84,  is  really  a  handsome  old  man.  I  have  earn- 
estly laboured  with  him  among  the  flowers,  which  he  is  gently 
tilling ;  and  have  read  and  preached  to  him — for  he  is  still  an 
unbelieving  old  creature.  I  have  felt  bound  to  seize  every  occa- 
sion to  exhort  these  servants,  in  consequence  of  the  weight  which 
the  words  derive  from  my  former  residence  here.  Some  of 
them  seem  to  me  as  good  and  as  experienced  Christians  as  any 
white  people  of  the  labouring  class.  There  is  plainly  an  impor- 
tant increase  everywhere  in  labours  for  their  instruction  and 
conversion.  The  political  rage  about  Know  Nothingism  is  such 
as  could  hardly  be  "  realized  "  in  the  North.  The  high  prices 
of  wheat  give  great  internal  prosperity  to  planters.  I  found  at 
the  University  of  Virginia  a  signal  change.  Almost  all  the  pro- 
fessors pious  :  large  voluntary  assemblies  of  students  ;  one  hun- 
dred attending  Sunday  prayer-meeting,  and  a  goodly  number  daily 
morning  ditto.  Cabell  is  most  instructive  and  striking  on  all  the 
questions  of  ethnology,  races  of  men,  &c.  He  dissents  totally 
from  Agassiz,  and  agrees  with  Maury,  Hewes,  and  Bache.1  He 
showed  me  some  stupendous  microscopic  things  concerning  the 
circulation  of  the  blood,  &c. 

21*7  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York,  June  13,  1855.'2 
Our  organ  is  to  be  put  behind  the  pulpit,  and  the  choir  re- 
duced to  one  or  more  male  voices  beside  the  pulpit,  thus  giving 
us  seventy-five  sittings  aloft.  Nothing  tends  to  reconcile  me  any 
more  to  pew-property.  If  Papists  did  not  falsify  their  theory  by 
their  practice,  their  method  of  free  churches  would  be  noble. 
Then  one  could  be  complacent  in  a  costly  church,  if  thereby  "  the 
brother  of  low  degree  "  (James  i.)  "  is  exalted."  The  sustentation 
of  the  preacher  is  as  clear  as  the  gospel-message  itself,  but  the 
rich  should  pay  so  as  to  lighten  the  burden  of  the  poor.  I  have 
long  been  an  admirer  of  some  things  in  Madame  Guy  on.     Up- 

1  In  1859  was  published  the  first  edition  of  Dr.  Cabell's  "  Testimony  of 
Modern  Science  to  the  Unity  of  Mankind ; "  with  an  Introductory  Notice 
by  Dr.  Alexander. 

-  In  the  absence  of  his  family  in  Virginia  he  was  dwelling  with  M». 
Thomas  U.  Smith,  one  of  the  elders  of  his  church. 


1851—1857.  209 

ham1  makes  her  far  better  than  she  was,  and  has  left  out  a  thou 
sand  of  her  gross  blandishments  and  nursery  endearments.  1 
think  the  best  thing  in  the  book  is  the  annihilation  of  her  theory 
by  Bossuet.  Fenelon,  though  her  pupil,  has  wonderfully  exalted 
and  spiritualized  her  system,  in  the  "  Maximes,"  and  "  Lettres 
Spirituelles."  But  it  is  all  given  better  in  Kempis.  I  have  not 
read  (since  Gil  Bias)  a  merrier  narrative  than  Mons.  Hue's 
Travels  through  China.  Quere.  Suppose  every  Popish  priest 
now  extant  were  a  true  spiritual  Christian,  how  far  would  the 
existing  machine  of  hierarchy  (influence  and  all)  be  compatible 
with  true  churchship  %  Item.  In  such  case,  might  not  certain 
conceivable  reforms  be  expected,  such  as  should  place  the  Catho- 
lic body  short  of  damnation  %  A  ship-load  of  immigrant  Mor- 
mons, seven  hundred  souls.  Hardly  any  were  Papists ;  most 
from  England.  If  the  Eutaxian  Liturgy2  come  into  actuality,  the 
only  result  will  be  to  train  people  for  the  "  Common  Prayer." 
If  I  must  pray  other  people's  prayers,  I  prefer  the  venerable 
grace  of  Anglicanism  to  any  thing  A,  B,  and  C  will  concoct. 

Adams's  steeple  is  going  to  be  the  great  ornament  of  up-town 
New  York ;  I  see  it  while  I  write,  slowly  growing,  day  by  day, 
above  the  houses  in  Twenty-sixth  street,  over  which  I  look 
southward.  The  church  will  stand  them  in  not  less  than 
$160,000.  Even  St.  John's  Church,  as  Dr.  Berrian  tells  me,  is 
nearly  deserted  of  worshippers  ;  though,  when  he  was  at  its  con- 
secration, it  was  thought  in  the  suburbs.     Mrs.  C and  my 

brood  will  make  for  the  Red  Sweet  Springs,3  near  the  Sweet 
Springs,  Alleghany  County,  about  16th  prox.  The  Board  man 
and  Thornwell  debate  [on  Church  Extension]  was  of  that  digni- 
fied sort,  that  we  have  latterly  missed  in  our  Assembly  ;  I  wished 
for  a  fuller  report.  I  am  now  about  five  or  six  lectures  deep  in 
the  Acts.  I  also  have  a  Bible-class  on  Romans.  Strawberries, 
though  slow,  are  as  fine  as  I  ever  saw.  This  year  will  be 
memorable  among  cits  for  its  incomparable  weather  in  May  and 
early  June.  I  had  made  all  preparations  for  a  reduced  $1  25 
edition  of  the  Life  of  my  father,  leaving  out  nothing  material, 
when  Trow's  printing-house  was  burnt.  Though  I  am  thankful 
to  say  our  plates  in  the  vault  escaped,  all  the  paper  for  this  new 

1  "  Life,  Religious  Opinions,  and  Experience  of  Madame  de  la  Mothe 
Guyon.     By  Thomas  C.  Upham."     1847. 

2  "  Eutaxia  ;  or,  the  Presbyterian  Liturgies  :  Historical  Sketches.  By  a 
Minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church."  New  York  :  1855.  This  was  fol- 
lowed in  1859  by  "A  Book  of  Public  Prayer,  compiled  from  the  authorized 
formularies  of  worship  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  prepared  by  the  Re- 
formers Calvin,  Knox,  Bucer,  and  others.     With  supplementary  forms." 

3  The  first  mention  of  the  spot  in  Virginia,  where  the  writer  closed 
his  earthly  course. 


210  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

impression  was  consumed.1  It  has  been  a  great  disappointment  to 
us  that  Mr.  E.  T.  Williams,  who  had  come  on  as  preacher  in  our 
Mission-chapel,  was  forced  to  go  instantly  away,  on  account  of 
his  wife's  ill-health.  Father  Otterson  is  preaching  temporarily, 
but  there  is  no  flock  as  yet ;  our  chief  hope  is  from  the  school. 

Red  Sweet  Springs,  Alleghany  ) 
Co.,  Virginia,  July  28,  1855.    J 

The  drive  to  the  Warm  Springs,  though  short  by  measure- 
ment, was,  I  think,  the  severest  I  ever  took.  We  got  in  about 
half-past  nine.  The  place  is  delightful.  A  former  tasteful  own- 
er has  done  much  landscape  gardening.  The  view  from  top  of 
the  Warm  Spring  Mountain  is  worth  going  a  hundred  miles  to 
see.  The  servants  are  the  best  I  know,  having  that  oriental 
deference  and  tact  which  belong  to  old  family  menials.  We 
rested  a  day.  Twelve  passengers  on  the  coach  on  Thursday. 
The  squeeze  was  annoying,  but  the  road  pleasant.  In  crossing 
the  Alleghany  we  encountered  two  thunder-storms,  and  rode  four 
hours  in  heavy  rain.  I  omitted  that  we  found  no  chance  direct 
to  this  place,  and  so  had-  to  come  via  White  Sulphur.  At  Cal- 
laghan's,  where  we  dined,  two  deer  had  been  brought  in  ;  man 
says  sometimes  five  in  a  day  :  six  cents  a  pound.  At  a  water- 
ing-house, two  rattlesnakes  had  been  slain  during  the  day.  I 
recognized  the  import  of  the  moment,  when,  after  an  easy  ascent, 
I  found  the  waters  tending  towards  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Lodged 
wretchedly  at  the  noblest  place  I  ever  saw,  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs.  No  reporter  had  prepared  me  for  such  Eden-like  varie- 
ty of  lawn  and  landscape,  within  the  proper  bounds,  such  ex- 
panse, and  such  a  town  of  rural  cots,  &c.  Next  morning  up  at 
four.  Course  south-east.  Except  about  four  miles  of  the  six- 
teen, the  drive  was  transcendently  beautiful.  We  recrossed  the 
Alleghany.  I  think  our  whole  road  was  along  the  bedside  of 
two  foaming,  tumbling,  roaring  little  rivers,  up  one,  and  down 
the  other,  with  a  slight  hiatus  on  the  water- shed.  The  second 
was  Dunlap's  Creek.  Compared  with  the  country  around  the  Rock 
Alum,  [Rockbridge  County,]  this  region  is  noted  for  immense 
timber,  cascades,  and  torrents,  rapid  changes  of  hill  and  vale,  and 
exuberant  productive  power  in  every  vegetable  way.  We  broke 
fast  ten  miles  from  the  Warm  Spring,  at  Col.  Crow's,  on  the 
side  of  Dunlap's  Creek,  which  we  crossed  many  times  ;  and  just 
under  the  broad  shadow7  of  the  Sweet  Spring  Mountain.  Good 
breakfast  and  fine  venison.  The  colonel  is  a  jovial  Boniface,  full 
of  hunting-stories  ;  and  this  is  a  famous  place  for  deer-shooting. 

1  The  smaller  copy  was  afterwards  published. 


1851—1857.  211 

Here  about  nine.  The  place  =  1,700  acres.  The  capabilities 
for  landscape  improvement  are  unlimited.  I  look  straight  over 
a  broad  green  lawn  ten  times  as  big  as  yours,1  and  up  a  hillside 
to  a  knoll  beautifully  crested  by  trees  and  grazed  over  by  both 
herd  and  flock.  The  Springs  are  in  a  dark  glen,  with  rustic 
seats,  two  fine  natural  cascades,  and  a  grove  of  irregular  ancient 
trees  ;  a  spot  for  nymphs.  The  bath  is  (say)  40  X  20  feet,  and 
deep  enough  for  swimming.  At  the  Warm  Spring  the  bath  is 
98°,  and  38  feet  diameter.  The  "  Sweet  Springs "  are  a  mile 
from  us.  The  Cabell  party  are  here,  and  the  calm  retirement  is 
very  taking. 

About  sixty  here,  and  about  seventy  at  the  Sweet.  They 
have  four  hundred  and  fifty  at  the  White  Sulphur. 

Red  Sweet,  August  6,  1855. 
Our  company  is  yet  small,  but  we  shall  be  overflowed  wiien 
the  "White"  is  empty.  Our  number  about  seventy-five. 
Table  good,  though  not  sumptuous  as  at  the  Old  Sweet.  We 
have  printed  bill  of  fare,  entrees  of  French  cookery,  always 
soup,  &c.  Absence  of  drinks  striking.  We  have  a  PoJish 
count,  two  Episcopal  ministers,  and  one  Methodist.  The  walks 
and  drives  around  here  in  every  direction  are  delightful.  We  go 
almost  daily  to  the  Sweet.  Can  walk  to  a  cascade  of  forty  to 
sixty  feet.  Frequently  ascend  neighbouring  mountains.  Dr. 
Cabell  is  daily  pushing  his  microscopical  observations  which 
brings  me  some  entertainment.  The  swimming  here  is  worth  all 
the  journey.     The  tepid  chalybeate  is  mawddsh  enough. 

Red  Sweet,  August  11,  1855. 

The  disheartening  dampness  continues.  Our  number  is  two 
hundred,  and  many  are  daily  rejected.  Rooms  for  some  fifty  to 
eighty  are  finishing.  I  just  saw  a  deer  brought  in  of  a  hundred 
and  nineteen  pounds  ;  yesterday  one  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  pounds.  The  Sweet  Springs  have  one  hundred  and  fifty. 
The  fashion  chiefly  there.  Here  we  have  a  hop  every  night. 
Rev.  Castleman  was  upset  near  Bell's,  on  way  here.  Next  day 
he  drove  from  three  A.  M.  till  daylight,  because  the  driver  could 
not  keep  awake  five  minutes  at  a  time.  I  weary  of  the  mode  of 
life. 

Red  Sweet  Springs,  August  14,  1855. 

If  this  crosses  yours,  please  make  all  right  by  considering 
yourself  as  the  debtor.     Though  we  have  rain  daily,  there  is 

1  The  Rockbridge  Alum  Springs,  where  the  two  correspondents  had  met 
the  week  before.  We  continued  at  different  Springs  during  the  time  indi- 
cated by  the  Virginia  dates, 


212  WHILE   PASTOK   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

more  dry  air.  I  am  thankful  to  say  that  our  indispositions 
abate.  Mrs.  T.  of  Baltimore,  the  R.  K.  of  my  youthful  days, 
is  here  with  her  husband.  I  last  spoke  with  her  in  1826 ;  she 
is  now  a  grandmother.  Judge  Potts  [of  Trenton]  is  at  the 
Sweet.  He  is  thin  as  ever,  but  seems  very  fresh,  alert,  and 
well,  and  is  an  addition  to  our  society.  We  have  Edmund 
Ruflin,  the  celebrated  agricultural  philosopher  of  Virginia.  I 
preached  here  and  also  at  the  Sweet  Springs  on  Sunday  ;  here  I 
had  a  large  assembly.  Our  small  evangelical  library  of  books 
and  tracts  is  in  free  circulation  ;  and  religious  talk  is  easier  here 
than  with  us ;  while  religious  people  allow  themselves  more 
liberties.  The  over-dressing  and  over-jewelling  of  the  women 
are  indescribable.  Have  they  not  mistaken  the  caricatures  in 
Harper  for  the  fashion-plates  ?  Great  numbers  here  from  the 
lower  Mississippi.  One  Methodist,  who  sustains  "  a  supernu- 
merary relation,"  and  one  Episcopal  schoolmaster  in  orders,  con- 
stitute, with  thy  servant,  the  chaplaincy.  John  Van  Buren  is  at 
the  White.  Dysentery  of  a  fatal  type  prevails  among  the  moun- 
taineers. In  one  house,  a  mile  off,  three  deaths  have  occurred. 
Henry  saw  five  deer  on  the  12th.  The  Red  Sweet  water  is 
doing  wonders  with  some  cases  of  chronic  diarrhoea.  A.  A. 
Hodge  goes  to  Fredericksburg  vice  McPhaill. 


Red  Sweet,  August  21,  1855. 

Yours  of  15th  is  "  to  hand  ;  "  I  was  not  "  to  home  "  when  it 
came,  but  no  further  off  than  the  Old  Sweet,  where  I  go  daily 
and  sometimes  twice.  This  morning  I  called  on  Wm.  Collins, 
of  Baltimore,  a  classmate  in  college,  now  a  lawyer  in  Mary- 
land, and  son-in-law  of  Gov.  Jas.  Barbour.  Kirk,  another  class- 
mate, is   there.     He   preached    a   powerful    sermon   here   last 

Sunday.     The   most  interesting  converser  here,  is  .     His 

knowledge  and  diction  are  extraordinary.  Ultra  States-rights- 
man.  He  says  of  Dr.  Adams,  ("  South  Side  "  :)  "  After  reason- 
ing from  certain  exceptional  cases,  to  show  that  slave-holders  live 
for  nothing  but  to  make  their  slaves  happy — an  absurd  assertion 
— and  after  making  slavery  to  be  a  most  happy  condition,  he 
avows  his  wish  gradually  to  put  an  end  to  this  state  of  felicity." 
Cabell  perseveres  in  regular  morning  lectures  on  Natural  Philo- 
sophy and  Natural  History.     We  have  about  400  at  each  Spring. 

Thompson,  of  the  Independent,  waiting  from  Maine,  says,  (in 
substance,)  "  Though  Southerners  hate  the  Yankees,  yet  they  will 
every  year  come  among  them,  so  long  as  the  North  has  the 
monopoly  of  mountains,  springs,  &c."  Mulattoes  decrease  in 
Virginia.     The  air  is  now  dry,  but  cold ;  almost  every  one  has 


1851—1857.  213 

fires.     I  have  at  no  moment  been  so  well  as  my  average  in  New 
York  ;   rheumatism  and  headache  pursue  me. 


Ked  Sweet  Springs,  August  24,  1855. 

Yours  of  18th  to-day,  simul  with  one  from  Princeton,  of 
20th .  When  the  mails  do  so,  it  is  best  not  to  delay  exchange  of 
notes  for  the  usual  diplomatic  period.  Littell's  Nos.  586  and 
587,  ["  Living  Age  "]  are  great ;  but  why  does  our  old  friend 
grudge  the  price  of  all  proof-reading  ?  Your  proximity  to  the  Hot 
and  Warm  will  make  the  Lukewarm  ["  Healing  Springs  "]  very 
much  livelier  than  the  Cold,  [Alum.]  Our  number  is  about  280. 
The  weather,  for  a  few  days,  has  been  warm  and  agreeable. 
Several  cases  of  illness  in  the  neighbourhood.  It  is  a  copious 
hemorrhage  of  the  bowels,  and  intractable.  The  indigenous 
women  and  children  in  these  wet  valleys,  look  tallowy  and 
anemic.  The  fewness  of  Northerners  is  remarkable.  My  read- 
ing has  from  necessity  been  in  Cabell's  books  ;  so  I  have  learnt 
some  Comparative  Anatomy,  and  Zoology. 

Mrs.  A.  feels  very  "  poly,"  (such  is  the  expression,)  and 
William  is  still  "  delicate."  You  have  probably  learnt  that 
"  trifling  "  means  "  worthless."  We  have  a  very  "  respectable 
crowd "  at  these  Springs.  Mrs.  C.  is  "  mighty  weak,"  but  is 
"  fattening."  Willy  talks  of  a  sig-yah  (segar)  and  of  "  waw- 
tah."  If  it  comes  at  all  in  your  way  to  visit  Lexington,  do  not 
hesitate  an  instant  to  go  with  your  folks  to  R.'s,  and  stay  as  long 
as  you  choose.  The  truth  is,  "  comfort,"  in  Virginia,  is  not  at 
public,  but  private  houses  ;  the  case  being  reversed  in  Northern 
cities. 

Red  Sweet  Springs,  September  1,  1855. 

What  you  say  is  certainly  just ;  your  path  of  duty  is  very 
clearly  marked  out,  and  you  are  left  in  the  best  hands  ;  2  Sam. 
xxiv.  14.  Whatever  thoughts  may  supervene  about  your  con- 
gregation, you  are  obviously  in  your  right  place;  and  if  any 
censorious  saints  should  class  you  among  absentee  "  city-min- 
isters," you  will  feel  inwardly  right  before  God,  1  Cor.  iv. 
3,4. 

Your  Jews  are  probably  negro-traders.  That  business  in 
Virginia  has  fallen  almost  entirely  into  the  hands  of  the  Circum- 
cision, and  Mr.  G.  tells  me  they  have  greatly  humanized  it ;  so 
that  where  negroes  have  to  be  sold,  they  prefer  it  should  be  to 
the  Hebrews. 

We  are  very  full — the  running  over  of  the  White  Sulphur. 
No  Philadelphians,  or  New  Yorkers,  and  but  half  a  dozen  North- 
erners.    I  shall  wait  till  the  11th,  when  we  can  fill  a  coach  for 


214  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

Lexington,  making  stops.  I  am  advised  we  cannot  possibly  have 
entry  to  our  church  before  October  1,  as  the  carpenters  have  us 
on  the  hip.  Our  house,  30  West  18th  Street,  is  pretty  much 
(or  Yankice  "  about ")  done.  Peaches  in  New  York  are  late  and 
unpromising ;  in  lower  Virginia  fine  and  abundant ;  here  none. 
Delightful  Indian  plums  of  three  varieties,  are  in  our  woods 
here,  and  probably  in  yours,  [Bath  County.]  I  occasionally 
overhear  some  hellish  cursing  and  swearing,  horribly  sticking  in 
my  memory  from  its  perverse  ingenuity;  it  is  from  certain 
sporting  gentry. 

New  York,  October  2,  1855. 

"We  arrived  at  Princeton  on  Thursday.  Our  journey  was 
without  "  evil  occurrent."  On  return,  I  find  my  flock  still  un- 
gathered,  and  church  still  incomplete.  For  the  twelve  new 
pews,  for  60  persons,  we  have  twice  that  number  of  applicants. 
We  preached  in  our  Chapel  of  Ease,  which  was  full,  but  mostly 
of  strangers.  No  death,  but  of  an  infant,  has  taken  place  in  my 
proper  flock. 

The  renewed  bustle  of  moving  awaits  us  ;  but  we  are  thank- 
ful for  a  new,  convenient,  and  clean  house.  We  cannot  have  full 
delivery  of  the  same  much  before  the  15th. 

To-day  Mr.  Smith  took  us  to  our  new  house,  No.  30  West 
18th  St. ;  where  we  had  the  surprise  of  finding  the  chief  trouble 
of  removing  removed,  by  the  downputting  of  new  carpets,  and 
the  inputting  of  furniture  and  books.  Yesterday  we  entered 
again  our  remodelled  church.  My  feelings  are  complex  in 
regard  to  it.  Some  things  are  beyond  my  hopes  :  1,  the  acousti- 
cal trouble  seems  thoroughly  cured :  I  could  not  wish  it  better 
for  speaking  and  hearing ;  2,  the  lowering  of  the  west  gallery 
is  altogether  pleasing  ;  3,  the  singing  led  by  a  precentor,  and  no 
consolidated  choir  or  band,  pleases  me ;  the  people  joined  heartily, 
On  the  other  hand,  my  pride  suffers  at  being  made,  with  my 
pulpit,  sermon,  &c,  a  mere  appendage  to  a  great  big  organ.  A 
savage,  on  entering,  would  certainly  take  the  instrument  for  the 
divinity  of  the  shrine.  My  head  spins  with  the  numerous  con- 
flicting businesses  now  competing  for  notice.  I  have  an  edition 
of  Memoir  (abridged)  to  oversee,  a  book  to  finish,  a  preface  to 
write,  a  Presbytery  to  attend,  two  sermons  to  prepare,  a  house 
to  fit  and  inhabit,  a  boy  to  school,  "  help  "  to  hire,  &c. 

New  York,  October  26,  1855. 
I   am   expecting,  besides    my   own   service,  to   preach   for 
Dr.   T.'s  folks,  after  their  communion.     He  is  a  much  more 
earnest  man  than  most  of  us,  breathing  some  of  the  good  Free 


1851 — 1857,  215 

Church  spirit,  as  I  observed  it  in  Scotland.  He  tells  me  that 
a  number  of  families  of  his  charge  have  it  for  a  custom,  before 
leaving  home  for  church,  to  unite  in  prayer  for  a  blessing  on  the 
Word  which  they  expect  to  hear. 

Bible  instances  show  us  that  God  is  concerned  in  our  private 
sorrows.  The  Psalms  especially  appear  more  divine  to  me  every 
day.  What  a  body  of  experience  !  How  they  have  formed  the 
character  and  devotions  of  the  Church  !  How  remarkable,  to 
have  issued  from  such  a  land  and  age  ! 

In  regard  to  the  future  state,  continual,  earnest,  and  I  believe 
reverent  reading  of  God's  Word,  has  produced  in  me  some  per- 
suasions and  hopes,  which  I  should  not  like  to  be  called  on  to 
prove  in  mood  and  figure.  It  is  my  belief,  that  many  things  are 
made  true  to  us,  and  from  Scripture  too,  for  which  we  cannot  cite 
a  particular  proof-text.  The  general  result  is,  that  I  look  on  the 
world  of  disembodied  saints  as  nearer  to  us  than  is  usually  held, 
and  on  the  future  glory  as  less  unlike  the  good  things  of  the 
militant  church,  than  many  teach.  Holiness  here  is  found  not  in 
abstractions,  but  in  the  concrete  feelings,  words,  and  acts  of  human 
creatures.  Some  good  people  talk  of  holiness  in  heaven,  as  if 
they  must  secure  it  from  carnality  by  making  it  vague,  dreamy, 
and  metaphysical.  Though  "  equal  to  angels,"  Luke  xx.  36,  the 
blessed  are  not  dehumanized.  All  New  Testament  allusions 
show  them  as  ours  still. 

The  anxiety  I  feel  for  my  children,  oppresses  me  at  times 
very  much.  It  is  hardly  at  all  about  their  temporal  advance- 
ment— even  their  learning  ;  but  I  am  deeply  solicitous  that  they 
should  be  truly  religious,  and  more  painfully  alive  to  their  perils 
in  this  respect  than  once  I  was. 

We  are  hardly  yet  arranged  in  our  habitation.  It  is  emi- 
nently commodious,  clean,  and  spacious.  Church  continues  sur- 
prisingly full ;  with  very  little  token  of  awakening.  I  fear  I 
entertain  rather  than  impress  my  hearers  ;  this  has  long  been  a 
sore  place  within  me.  Yet  when  sometimes  I  have  for  a  little 
attempted  the  pungent  method,  it  has  been  Saul's  armour  to  me, 
and  I  have  been  fain  to  come  back  to  my  natural  way. 

New  York,  November  12,  1S55. 
Yesterday  was  Communion.  One  on  examination,  and  twelve 
on  certificate.  Dr.  Duff's  speech,  [Scotch  General  Assembly,] 
though  abundantly  self-exhibitory,  has  some  daring  flights  of  old- 
fashioned  eloquence,  such  as  our  fastidious,  carping  age  and  people 
do  not  willingly  hear.  Th.  Dwight  translated  a  book  on  New 
Grenada,  by  Gen.  Mosquera,  late  President  thereof,  who  now 
lives  with  his  son  Gen.  Heran,  just  back  of  us.     It  is  instructive, 


216  WHILE  PASTOR  OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

and  gives  one  a  new  view  of  the  capabilities  of  that  wonderful 
country  of  mountains  and  paramos,  a  word  which  means  high, 
cold,  uninhabitable  plateaux.  The  way  is  perfectly  open  at  Car- 
thagena  for  the  gospel.  I  know  no  experience  which  has  grown 
on  me  more,  within  a  few  years,  than  the  impression  of  nearness 
of  the  other  world.  I  have  not  a  corresponding  temper ;  but  I 
certainly  realize  this  as  never  before.  Concerning  the  future,  1 
do  not  see  things  so  distinctly  and  definitely  as  some ;  for  exam- 
ple, Baxter,  in  the  "  Saints'  Rest."  Howe's  "  Blessedness  of 
the  Righteous,"  comes  nearer  my  views.  But  my  persuasions 
of  this  seem  natural,  rather  than  religious.  They  do  often,  how- 
ever, furnish  me  a  motive.  Poor  unlettered  saints  (I  am  now 
caring  for  one  on  his  death-bed)  unquestionably  have  more  com- 
fort of  their  faith  than  we.  Books,  disquisition,  analysis,  habits 
of  objection,  looking  at  difficulties,  hearkening  to  latitudinary 
talk,  all  tend  to  break  the  charm  of  childlike  faith.  Would  we 
were  more  like  children  ! 

New  York,  November  14,  1855. 

If  univocality  were  all,  we  have,  I  think,  fully  attained  the 
end  of  making  our  people  sing.  I  have  never  heard  a  louder 
chorus  out  of  a  German  church.  As  to  melody  and  harmony, 
your  deponent  saith  not. 

How  gravely  things  look  in  our  families,  when  we  project 
our  thoughts  into  the  future  !  My  yearnings  about  my  house- 
hold are  sometimes  very  affecting.  "  The  fondness  of  a  creature's 
love,"  &c.  To  have  these  affections  sanctified  is  greatly  desir- 
able, but  how  little  realized  !  Some  parents  seem  to  be  cheered 
with  a  continual  confidence  in  regard  to  the  salvation  of  their 
offspring  ;  and  I  own  this  comes  over  me  too,  in  my  best  hours. 
Happy,  happy  are  they  who  are  safely  landed  on  Canaan's  shore. 
Some  of  the  most  serious  reflections  I  ever  have,  are  connected 
with  the  lapse  of  time  and  nearness  of  eternity,  as  viewed  along 
with  my  small  attainments  hitherto ;  especially  with  the  thought 
that  these  are  not  likely  to  be  greater.  I  am  deeply  sensible 
that  these  and  the  like  thoughts  give  a  sombre  cast  to  my  man- 
ner, of  late,  which  is  by  no  means  fitted  to  make  religion  attrac- 
tive. The  normal  or  ideal  sort  of  Christianity  would  be  beauti- 
fully cheerful.  Mr.  Williams,  our  mission-chaplain,  returns  to 
Africaan  the  spring.  Poor  Dr.  Hare's  lecture  had  a  craziness  be- 
yond what  the  reporters  give,  in  the  perfectly  bedlam  character  of 
the  costly  apparatus  which  he  exhibited.1  I  have  been  part  of  the 
day  with  a  dying  woman,  who  has  neglected  religion,  and  is  in 

1  The  late  Dr.  Robert  Hare,  of  Philadelphia,  had  lectured  on  "  Spiritual- 
ism," 


1851—1857.  217 

terror  of  death.  Such  cases  (I  mean  the  terror)  are  less  common 
than  1  expected  to  meet  when  I  began  my  ministry. 

The  military  were  out  in  force  to-day  ;  a  beautiful  sight. 
But  all  the  trappings  do  not  hide  the  bloodiness  of  War.  How 
loose  and  perfunctory  are  the  notices  of  books  in  the  religious 
papers  !  I  have  often  remarked  it.  E.  g.  Whately  is  com- 
mended, without  a  hint  of  his  rationalism  about  Inspiration, 
Future  Punishment,  &c. ;  while  a  breath  against  limited  Atone- 
ment or  Imputation  would  bring  down  their  wrath.  I  heard 
Milburn,  the  blind  preacher,  at  a  Bible  Society  to-night.  His 
voice  and  manner    are  very  lovely,  and  sometimes   Summer- 

fieldian.     He  is  also  a  genius  ;  but  like  all  the  crack of  the 

Young  America,  is  over-learned — full  of  Bacon,  Des  Cartes,  Frede- 
rick Strauss,  Auguste  Comte,  (esthetics,  &c,  &c.  A.  also  made 
a  fine  address  in  his  way.  More  than  any  man  but  Todd,  and 
in  a  better  way,  his  mind  strings  innumerable  fine  stories,  phrases, 
allusions,  and  verses  altogether  ;  and  he  sacrifices  every  thing  to 
the  entertainment  and  arrest  of  the  hearer's  mind.  His  manner, 
too,  is  good,  and  he  has  much  pathos.  But  you  carry  away  no 
one  deep  impression,  as  from  Chalmers,  Edwards,  or  Nettleton. 
Love  to  all  yours,  whom  we  remember  in  prayers. 


New  York,  December  25,  1855. 

We  dined  to-day  on  a  white-fish  from  Michilimacinac.  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  always  has  a  Christmas-tree  for  his  charity-children 
at  his  church.  We  had,  notwithstanding  the  rain,  350  urchins 
and  urchinesses  at  our  cake-and-candy  fete  at  the  Mission  Chapel. 
Our  two  Industrial  schools  promise  well.  The  lower  one,  at 
Duane  Street,  (where  we  also  have  mission-preaching,)  already 
numbers  200.  We  talk  of  going  in  largely  toward  the  purchase 
of  a  building  for  a  coloured  congregation. 

Every  day  sickens  me  more  and  more  with  Congress.  Just 
consider  what  sort  of  work  they  carry  on  under  the  pretence  of 
voting  for  Speaker ;  the  debates  running  on  matters  of  mere 
party-name,  such  as  did  not  use  to  be  mentioned.1  I  am  fully 
persuaded,  that  if  all  parties  would  be  patient,  wrould  drop  the 
naked  question  of  slavery,  and  would  bend  all  powers  towards 
abating  the  abuses  of  slavery,  it  would  result  in  the  speedy 
emancipation  of  all  who  should  be  fit  to  enjoy  freedom.  In 
this  way  history  shows  us  that  slavery  has  heretofore  ceased 
and  determined.  Hush  the  angry  quarrels,  and  appease  the 
natural  pride  of  slave-holders,  and  thousands  among  them  would 

*  This  scene  was  re-exhibited  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
1859-'60. 

VOL.  II. 10 


218  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

go  even  for  legislative  reform,  in  the  matters  of  marriage, 
property,  separation  of  households,  reading  the  Bible,  and  so 
forth.  This,  I  think,  will  take  place  anyhow ;  but  in  a  less 
favourable  way,  so  long  as  Northern  violence  retards  the  meas 
ures.  Huidekoper,  of  Meadville,  sent  me  his  treatise  on  the 
Underworld,  or  Hades  of  the  Fathers.  He  proves  pretty  con- 
clusively that  the  "  descended  into  hell  "  of  the  Creed  originated 
after  the  unscriptural  fiction  of  an  underworld  arose  in  the 
church.  He  impugns  the  candour  of  Christians  who  now  try  to 
swallow  it,  with  other  meanings. 

For  the  coming  year  I  have  fixed  on  the  year-word,  "  God 
with  us."  This  method  of  year-motto  I  have  pursued  now  for 
about  fifteen  years,  with  much  comfort  to  my  own  heart,  and  I 
believe  to  others ;  especially  as  I  have  preached  on  the  text 
whenever  I  had  a  congregation. 

New  York,  January  14,  1856. 
The  Repertory  makes  me  say  "  apostacy,"  '  which  I  wrote 
not ;  and  sundry  other  things.  Another  article  has  *  forceably." 
I  was  ea^re  to  find  out  your  article  in  which  you  write  "  meagre  " 
for  "  meager."  A  divine  writes  to  me  about  "  schollar-ships," 
several  times  thus  spelt.  Unless  Providence  interpose  frequent 
frosts  our  formidable  force  of  snow-banks  will  furnish  a  fresh. 
Torrents  entered  our  Church  yesterday.  It  was  our  Communion. 
Dr.  Carrington,  just  from  Charlotte,  says  the  snow  is  deeper 
there.  The  lowest  mark  by  my  thermometer  was  — 5°.  Dr. 
E wing's  plan  is  an  excellent  one,  I  wish  he  would  carry  it  out ; 
the  technical  name  for  such  a  word-book  is  a  "  glossary."  2  You 
probably  had  Hall  forbears  in  the  Siege  of  Derry,  as  I  had 
Alexanders  and  Reids ;  so  you  wrill  read  third  Macaulay  with 
peculiar  zest.  In  parts,  the  new  portion  is  almost  a  Church  his- 
tory. I  am  deeply  convinced  that  a  majority  of  the  South  will 
one  day  come  to  the  point  of  mitigating  slavery  so  far  as  to  make 
it  a  sort  of  feudal  apprenticeship  ;  and  that  it  will  be  abolished. 
Every  year — even  in  the  face  of  Northern  rebuke — hundreds  of 
new  voices  are  raised  in  behalf  of  marriage,  integrity  of  families, 
and  license  to  read.  To  a  practical  mind  it  is  striking  that 
Abolitionism  has  abolished  no  slavery.  I  have  been  seldom 
more  provoked  [than  by  a  newspaper  notice  laudatory  of  the 

1  A  very  common  misprint.  His  articles  in  the  Repertory  for  1856  were  : 
1.  Quesnel  and  the  Jansenists.  2.  Memoir  of  Dr.  John  M.  Mason.  3. 
"Waldegrave  on  Millenarianism. 

2  The  suggestion  of  our  friend,  which  he  did  not  live  to  undertake  him- 
self, was  a  vocabulary  of  the  English  Bible,  giving  the  changes  of  meaning 
that  have  taken  place  since  the  translation. 


1851—1857.  219 

singing  in  his  church.]  Earnest  endeavour  on  my  part  to  make 
worship  supersede  music  is  disturbed  by  these  newsmakers. 
Amidst  much  that  is  mortifying  at  Washington,  there  is  some- 
thing favourable  to  observance  of  rule,  in  the  substantial  quiet 
of  so  many  weeks,  on  the  eve  of  a  great  national  quarrel.  From 
the  same  number  of  the  "  Clerical  Journal  "  come  the  following 
paragraphs : 

"  Religious  Libels." 

"After  many  other  remarks,  the  speaker  says,  as  reported  in 
the  British  Banner :  "  If  I  were  a  Churchman,  furthermore,  I 
might  go  into  my  pulpit  every  Sunday  and  read  a  homily,  and  by 
so  doing  should  discharge  all  the  obligations  which  I  took  upon 
me  by  my  ordination  vows.  But  you,  young  men,  who  go  forth 
from  this  college,  must  not  take  homilies  into  the  pulpit  nor 
other  people's  sermons,  but  you  must  take  your  own."  Now 
here  is  a  serious  charge,  conveyed  in  the  presence  of  a  miscel- 
laneous audience  and  of  young  men  about  to  be  trained  for  the 
ministry  among  Dissenters." 

MS.   SERMONS,   &c. 
TpiFTY  MS.  SERMONS,  Original,  Compiled,  and  Selected  ;  preached 

-■-  during  1S54-5  to  a  Country  Congregation.  Price  5/.  Address  "  Oxoniensis,"  Post- 
office,  Worcester. 

lYTANUSORIPT  SERMONS,  either  for  purchase  or  temporary  use, 

-"-*-    supplied  by  an  M.A.  in  Priest's  Orders,  of  St.  John's  College,  Oxford. 
Apply  to  "E.  O.,"  4,  Brudenel-piace,  New  North-road,  Hoxton. 

PAROCHIAL  SERIES,  Four  Original  Sermons  for  November,  8s. 

■*•  Quarterly  Sets  as  usual.  Also  Curates1  Aid,  Propagation  of  Gospel,  Church  Build- 
ing, &c,  2s.  6<A  each.     Prospectus  List  and  Specimen,  2s.  free. 

Henky  F.  Gaywood,  C.  Moodt,  257,  High  Holborn. 

"IMPORTANT  SERMONS.— Church  Building,  Clergy  Orphan,  Na- 

-*-  tional  Society,  &c,  Ac.  2s.  Gd.  each.    Six  Sermons  preparing  for  Advent,  Quarterly 
Series  as  usual,  Plain  Practical  Sermons.    Prospectus  and  Specimen,  Is. 
Geokge  Pose,  93,  Amiens-street,  Dublin. 

EDITED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  A  CLEEGYMAN. 

Fcap  4to.,  9d.  each,  free  by  post, 

PAROCHIAL  (MS.)  SERMONS,  based  on  Discourses  by  BISHOP 

-1-     BEVEEIDGE,  and  suitable  for  any  Congregation,  are  published  every  THUESDAY. 
First  Twenty-one  Sermons  now  ready.    Prospectus  gratis. 
Address,  "MSS.,"  Bath. 

Guthrie  ("  The  Gospel  in  Ezekiel ")  is  more  florid  than  Hamil- 
ton, but  also  more  evangelical.  His  figures  glow  as  much  as 
W.'s,  but  he  has  some  sense.  Macaulay  does  justice  to  George 
Fox  and  the  Quaker  Sham.  If  there  was  any  thing  left  to  attack, 
his  paragraphs  might  be  published  as  a  tract. 

We  are  about  to  lose  Mr.  Williams  from  our  missionchapel, 
(thus  Macaulay  prints  all  such  compounds,)  as  he  returns  to 


220  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHUECH. 

Africa.  He  has  done  us  good  service.  I  preached  there  on  a 
late  Sunday  evening.  Juvenile  hearers  are  far  the  most  numer- 
ous. Other  families  increasing,  but  only  where  they  have  been 
visited.  Besides  the  missionary,  we  have  an  Irish  Reader  drum- 
ming up  hearers.  I  wish  I  could  find  such  a  Scotch — or  Irish- 
man, as  I  have  occasionally  met,  for  this  work.  There  are  men 
to  whom  it  would  be  delightful,  and  it  is  very  promising. 

New  York,  February  7,  1856. 

I  write  with  a  thumb  which  is  wounded  in  the  very  place 
where  the  pen  goes.  The  40th  day  of  sleighing  has  increase 
of  slipping  by  reason  of  rain  that  freezes  as  it  falls.  The  suffer- 
ings of  in-coming  ships  have  been  very  great.  One  known  to 
me,  has  been  off  our  Atlantic  coast  for  a  month.  Henry  B.  Pratt, 
of  the  Seminary,  from  Georgia,  is  here  preparing  to  go  to  New 
Granada.  I  hope  the  Gospel  will  go  into  Central  America,  at 
the  hole  made  by  the  filibusteros.  The  outlay  on  furs  this 
winter,  is  enough  to  remind  one  of  the  Roman  luxury  in  Gibbon 
and  Montesquieu — $2,000  for  a  sable  cape  is  frequently  given. 
The  white-and-yellow  furs  from  the  neck  of  sables,  for  carriages 
and  sleighs,  though  less  valuable  are  of  monstrous  price  from 
their  size.  The  prevalence  of  cold  at  the  South  is  unexampled. 
The  marked  decrease  of  emigration  to  our  port  has  been  evident 
in  the  less  pressing  necessities  of  the  poor  this  month,  as  com- 
pared with  the  corresponding  portion  of  last  year.  The  arrivals 
are  about  one-fourth  for  the  last  reported  week.  The  stream  of 
German  emigration  is  showing  a  disposition  to  seek  Spanish 
America ;  this  is  true  especially  of  the  Catholic  part.  I  see  both 
Peru  and  Mexico  are  holding  out  special  inducements  to  Catholic 
German  settlers ;  and  as  in  both  countries  this  is  synchronous 
with  renewed  struggles  of  the  clergy  for  political  power,  it  looks 
somewhat  like  a  concerted  scheme  to  forestall  the  protestantizing 
of  the  South.  Lieut.  Gilliss,  of  the  U.  S.  Astronomical  Survey, 
after  several  years  in  Chile,  (so  he  writes  it,)  gives  the  worst 
account  of  popish  misrule  I  ever  saw.  The  peons  (which  by  an 
Americanism  means  hirelings)  are  very  far  below  Southern 
slaves.  He  declares  flatly,  that  most  of  the  births  are  illegiti- 
mate and  a  frightful  proportion  incestuous. 

In  your  life  of  Washington  Irving,  mention  that  he  is  a 
homceopathist,  and  that  he  still  rides  young  horses.  He  is  very 
smart  and  kidglovish,  but  with  a  sunken  manner  and  anile  voice. 
I  have  never  known  any  one  who  came  to  the  truth  so  regularly 
as  old  Mr.  C,  just  deceased.  He  was  a  highly  educated  man, 
both  in  America  and  Europe,  and  Jefferson's  ami  prochain.  He 
said  :  "  I  was  a  victim  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  infidelity."     Many  years 


1851— 1857.  221 

ago,  he  attacked  the  subject  by  regular  approaches — reading  all 
the  works  which  are  famous  on  the  Evidences.  It  was  his 
method  in  other  things.  He  would  talk  with  every  one  on  these 
points,  just  as  on  the  Tariff,  &c.  He  satisfied  himself  of  the 
authenticity  of  the  books.  He  went  as  deliberately  about  the 
question  of  Inspiration,  with  like  results.  He  cautiously  went 
through  all  the  doctrines,  and  settled  on  what  we  maintain  as 
evangelical.  Thus  far  was  headwork.  But  Grace  was  carrying  on 
heartwork  also  ;  and  on  his  dying-bed  he  recounted  all  this,  and 
much  more,  as  the  process  of  years,  and  partook  of  the  sacrament 
with  clear  avowal,  good  confession,  and  a  most  edifying  joy. 

About  1824,  there  was  hardly  a  more  irreligious  family- 
connexion  anywhere  than  .     Now  the  religious  members 

amount  to  scores.  And  every  day  we  hear  of  the  work  going  on. 
Of  a  truth,  we  make  too  little  of  such  silent  ramification  of  the 
true  Vine. 

1  am  now  at  Acts  ix.  It  is  really  my  Bible-class,  though  I 
have  another,  so  called,  of  young  men.  My  heart  sickens  at  the 
prospect  of  war,1  and  for  what  %  For  ill-minded  party-men.  I 
have  no  fears  of  any  one's  dwelling  unduly  on  Christ  as  a  Saviour, 
and  know  none  who  have  the  fault  you  seem  to  apprehend.2  The 
other  extreme,  viz.,  propounding  him  chiefly  as  a  Master  and 
Lawgiver,  is  that  of  all  the  Ecks,  the  Blairs  and  Robertsons, 
and  Channings.  Every  orthodox  preacher  I  ever  heard,  gives 
prominence  to  Christ  as  Prophet  and  King. 

New  York,  March  4,  1856. 

Yesterday  was  twenty-nine  years  since  my  dear  affectionate 
uncle  Rice  preached  my  ordination  sermon  from  Col.  iv.  17,  an 
admirable  text.3  The  only  articulate  words  after  he  was  carried 
away  were,  "  I  should  like  to  preach  again — but  the  will  of  the 
Lord  be  done  !  " 

Yesterday  Dr.  Nott,  set.  85,  married  a  couple  in  our  church. 
His  father  died  of  disease  at  62 ;  his  brother,  a  sedentary  minister 
of  Connecticut,  died  of  an  accident,  in  his  hundredth  year. 
Everett's  oration  is  the  great  event.  The  immense  assembly 
fondled   the   orator,    and   almost   chaired   as   well    as    cheered 

3  The  Central  American  question  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain. 

2  The  suggestion  referred  to  was  that  in  preaching,  Christ  is  not  held 
forth  in  his  Divine  authority  as  Lord,  in  due  proportion  with  his  gracious 
office  as  Saviour. 

3  Dr.  Benjamin  H.  Rice  was  attacked  with  paralysis  in  his  pulpit, 
(Hampden  Sydney,  Virginia,)  January  17,  1S56,  and  died  on  the  24th  of 
February. 


222  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

W.  Irving.  The  argument  was  that  Washington  was  great,  be- 
cause he  was  good. 

The  streets  of  New  York  have  now  reached  a  degree  of  flood, 
ferment,  feculence,  filth,  and  fragrancy,  at  which  they  become 
curious  and  almost  sublime.  There  is  a  wall  of  block  ice-muck 
in  the  middle  of  Broadway,  from  three  to  six  feet  high,  for  a  mile ; 
and  this  after  more  than  $40,000  spent  on  that  single  object. 

I  agree  with  you  in  the  importance  of  varying  one's  position. 

Dr. had  decided  symptoms  of  stone  from  a  constant  use 

of  one  posture,  and  this  in  a  rocking-chair.  Et  sic  de  similibus. 
As  a  specimen  of  what  the  transcendentalists  call  the  Philos- 
ophy of  History,  one  of  them  lately  said  to  me :  "  Judaism  is 
the  divinest  fact  which  God  could  make  out  of  the  materials  he 
then  had."  Addison  is  printing  on  Acts.  Wiley  frequently  im- 
ports English  copies  of  his  large  Isaiah,  which  cannot  be 
"  gotten  "  here,  as  the  Southerners  still  say.  So  many  around 
me  are  mad  with  dimming,  that  I  have  lately  been  examining 
his  prophetical  volumes,  four  or  five  in  number.  He  has  a  great 
charm  of  clear,  beautiful,  picturesque  language  ;  beyond  this,  he 

is  a  cross  of on ; l  superior  to  either,  but  as  conceited, 

as  shallow,  as  uncharitable,  and  as  one-sided.  Of  real  original 
proof — nothing.  As  to  prophecy,  he  merely  hashes  up  Elliott. 
His  interspersed  pious  addresses  are  good. 

New  York,  March  26,  1856. 

I  forgot  to  say  that  I  am  falling  into  the  very  same  tremolo 
which  you  detected  in  S.,  and  find  my  voice  materially  altered  in 
preaching.  The  religious  romance  of  early  Methodism  interests 
me  more  than  Macaulay,  and  I  think  John  Wesley's  English  better 
than  Swift's  or  Cobbett's.  I  remember  going  to  Dr.  Mayer's  to 
an  Easter  Communion,  with  my  father,  forty  odd  years  ago.2  On 
Maundy  Thursday  I  assisted  at  mass  at  St.  Ann's,  and  on  Good 
Friday  was  at  the  doors  of  three  chapels  ;  not  however  in  forma 
pauperis  ;  numbers  attended  to  that  function.  The  proceedings 
of  the  priest  with  his  acolytes  profanely  reminded  me  of  a 
juggler  and  his  aids. 

There  is  something  distressing  in  the  uniform  decay  and 
transitoriness  of  the  free  blacks.  The  few  exceptions  are  like 
feeble  exotics  reared  at  great  cost.  W.  himself  is  a  good 
man,  but  even  he  is  far  below  the  smallest  sort  of  village 
minister. 

1  Popular  Anti-Romanists. 

2  Dr.  Philip  F.  Mayer,  Pastor  of  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  Philadel- 
phia, commemorated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  pastorate,  October  5, 
1856.     He  died  in  1858. 


1851—1857.  223 

I  am  unfeigncdly  humbled,  though  not  a  whit  surprised,  that 
people  are  not  converted  under  my  teaching ;  and  it  is  always 
far  from  me  to  lay  the  blame  on  "  the  church,"  and  scold  my 
communicants  for  the  default.  I  should  wonder  if  any  good 
number  should  ever  be  awakened  by  me ;  and  as  a  personal 
matter,  own  with  abasement  that  I  accept  unfruitful  ministry  as 
an  intelligible  chastening  for  sin.  Let  me  add — none  of  these 
things  give  me  any  freedom  to  press  measures.  I  have'  no 
doubt,  either  you  or  I  could  get  up  a  stir  in  one  week,  which 
would  fill  a  column  of  tabulated  statistics.  Ah  me  !  I  am  sadly 
and  increasingly  unfit  to  work  in  the  conventional  traces.  I 
utterly  reject  the  entire  pew-system — I  speak  of  cities — as  against 
the  spirit  of  Christianity.  But  all  my  opinions  are  held  too 
tremblingly  for  me  ever  to  be  a  reformer.  So  I  quietly  and 
sorrowfully  go  on  expounding  those  things  I  am  sure  about. 

New  York,  April  17,  1856. 
I  shall  not  be  surprised  if  you  hear  there  is  some  awakening 
among  my  people.  And  so  there  unquestionably  is — but  only 
in  one  corner.  The  "  Church,"  to  use  the  Yankee  phrase,  is  not 
awakened  at  all.  There  are,  all  since  I  last  wrote  to  you,  appear- 
ances of  converting  influence  in  about  seventeen  persons.  These 
have  all  been  gradually  led  on  for  months,  and  some  for  years. 
Except  where  they  are  in  the  same  households,  they  are  almost 
all  unknown  to  one  another.  I  have  not  had  any  inquiry- 
meeting.  Once  I  have  met  "  those  willing  to  be  guided  about 
seeking  their  salvation,"  (writing  down  this  form  of  notice,  and 
reading  it,)  and  thus  have  drawn  to  my  house  yesterday  more 
than  forty.  With  these  I  had  no  private  talk,  then,  but  ex- 
pounded a  Chapter.  I  am  troubled  as  to  whether  I  shall  repeat 
even  this.  I  have  no  additional  meeting,  as  yet,  and  have  not 
departed  from  my  routine  of  lectures  on  Acts.  It  is  a  remark- 
able coincidence,  that  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  almost  a 
Bochim,  and  from  beginning  to  end  exhibited  tenderness,  humility, 
and  affection  on  the  part  of  ministers.  I  am  dreading,  beyond 
expression,  the  rise  of  a  fanatical  breeze  among  my  church- 
members,  and  shall  humbly  endeavour  to  suppress  rather  than 
arouse  human  passions.  You  will  understand  me,  better  than 
anybody,  when  I  say,  I  will,  as  at  present  advised,  continue 
private  address,  but  use  no  precipitating  means.  I  even  depre- 
cate them.  And  so  I  feel  about  the  whole  affair.  The  way  I  am 
taking  would  be  deemed  a  quenching  of  the  spirit  by  sundry  of 
my  brethren.  But  I  distrust  every  thing  in  revivalism,  which  is 
not  common  to  it  with  the  stated,  continued,  persistent  presenta- 
tion of  the  gospel. 


224:  WHILE    PASTOR    OF    FIFTH    AVENUE    CHURCH. 

New  York,  April  23,  1856. 

I  have  nothing  to  change  my  opinion,  that  the  inquiry  among 
our  people  is  lately  discovered,  but  not  lately  produced.  It  was 
not  an  inquiry -meeting  I  held — but  an  exposition,  and  I  had  no 
private  talk.  I  never  met  with  the  misapprehension  you  sur- 
mise.1 On  that  ground,  we  should  never  have  a  Bible  Class,  or 
a  Young  Men's  Meeting.  Above  all,  the  objection  would  lie 
against  your  taking  a  child  into  your  study  for  advice  and  prayer, 
which  would  yet  more  suggest  the  esoteric  scruple.  Though  I 
have  no  "inquiry -meeting,"  I  should  make  the  having  one  a 
simple  question  of  degree.  If  a  pastor  cannot  conveniently  see 
them  apart,  1  think  it  would  be  prudery  not  to  see  them  together. 
As  an  instrument  of  excitement  I  have  always  feared  them.  I 
add  but  a  few  to  the  cases  first  known.  But  a  very  large  pro- 
portion of  my  flock  appears  in  the  very  state  you  mention,  "  in 
the  place  of  the  bringing  forth  of  children."  All  this  winter  I 
have  preached  doctrinally — in  a  disguised  series — and  chiefly  about 
conviction,  conversion,  faith,  &c.  1  generally  conclude,  after  inter- 
views, that  this  reluctancy  (in  truly  serious  persons)  arises  from 
dim  view's  of  doctrine,  feeble  grasp  of  the  truth,  legal  notions  of 
the  preparation  which  they  must  see  in  themselves.  New-measure 
people  undertake  to  use  instruments,  and  often  kill  the  child. 
In  spiritual  as  in  natural  travail,  I  suppose  there  must  be  much 
waiting.     I  hope  we  shall,  May  11,  add  some  sixteen.2 

A  Spaniard,  a  civilian  from  Madrid,  is  here,  on  Bible  Society 
business ;  a  thorough  Protestant ;  says  there  are  many  such  in 
Spain ;  considers  the  country  on  the  verge  of  religious  freedom ; 
brings  a  liberal  work  of  his  own  in  sheets ;  explains  the  late 
vote  in  the  Cortes  very  clearly,  &c.  I  never  before  saw  beauty 
in  the  pantomime  of  feature  and  hands.  He  speaks  French 
fluently.  We  parsons  are  often  and  justly  rallied  for  being  taken 
in ;  but  every  few  days  I  find  the  same  happening  to  sharp 
worldlings.  A  wealthy  merchant  told  me  last  night  this  anec- 
dote :  He  had  a  large  and  costly  set  of  china  fraudulently  taken 
from  him  by  a  woman.  Not  long  after,  this  very  woman  got 
$100  from  him  for  a  charity,  since  exploded;  at  the  very  mo- 
ment his  suit  against  her  was  in  progress. 

1  "  The  trouble  I  have  about  the  private  meetings  is  the  apparent  admis- 
sion that  all  the  directions  for  '  guiding  those  that  are  seeking  salvation,' 
are  not  giveri  in  the  pulpit,  and  so  countenancing  the  notion  of  some  that 
there  are  esoteric  instructions  which  they  must  get  in  some  other  than  the 
ordinary  way.  Would  it  not  be  well  to  hold  the  inquiry-meeting  in  the 
church  ?  I  mean,  to  make  the  regular  services  take  the  direction  of  the 
simplest  colloquial  advice." 

2  On  that  dav  17  were  admitted  on  examination ;  7  on  certificate. 


1851—1857.  225 

New  York,  May  29,  1856. 
The  Assembly  was  dissolved  last  night,  with  exercises  of  a  most 
touching  character.  It  is  the  unusual  opinion  that  no  G.  A.  has 
been  so  edifying.  From  beginning  to  end  there  was  no  squabble, 
nor  was  one  sarcasm  uttered.  No  decision  of  the  Chair  was 
appealed  from,  and  only  one  was  questioned.  All  this,  under 
God,  was  owing  to  the  good  sense  and  affectionate  piety  of  Dr. 
McFarland,  [the  Moderator,],  who  has  carried  away  both  rever- 
ence and  love.  There  was  an  absence  of  stars  ;  but  the  average 
talent  was  uncommon.  Probably  no  Assembly  has  had  so  many 
valuable  laymen.  The  men  most  listened  to  were  Thornwell, 
Rice,  Peck,  Marshall,  D.  Lord,  Johns,  Judge  Leavitt,  Judge 
Allen,  Humphrey,  Harrison.  Welch,  in  Committees,  and  once 
on  the  floor,  made  his  remarkable  powers  of  mind  known,  and 
will  be  remembered  as  much  as  any  one.1  The  feeling  of  satis- 
faction, as  to  the  way  they  have  been  treated,  is  very  warmly 
and  generally  expressed.  I  never  felt  more  complacent  as  to 
my  church,  and  am  grateful  that  a  meeting  for  which  I  enter- 
tained such  fears  has  turned  out  so  much  to  the  honour  of  religion 
and  the  satisfaction  of  all.  The  ablest  speech,  and  one  of  the 
ablest  I  ever  heard,  for  argument,  adroitness,  tact,  style,  elocution, 
and  modest  power,  was  Humphrey's,  on  the  Danville  Seminary. 

New  York,  June  10,  1856. 
I  own  our  desert  of  national  judgments,  and  that  the  signs 
are  alarming.  Yet  I  think  the  present  concussion  is  a  temporary 
thing.  The  affair  in  Kansas  1  trust  has  reached  its  acme.  A 
minister  from  the  heart  of  the  troubles  has  just  left  me ;  he  is 
hopeful.  The  exaggerations  of  the  journals  are  horrible.  Such 
questions  should  never  have  been  left  to  be  settled  by  a  border 
mob.  Whatever  Democracy  may  be  in  settled  States,  it  is  only 
strong  government  which  can  rule  frontiers.  Dr.  Hodge  has 
most  admirably  stated  the  slavery  doctrine,  in  his  Ephesians. 
Inter  alia :  "  It  is  just  as  great  a  sin  to  deprive  a  slave  of  the  just 
recompense  for  his  labour,  or  to  keep  him  in  ignorance,  or  to 
take  from  him  his  wife  or  child,  as  it  is  to  act  thus  towards  a  free 
man ;  "  p.  369.  How  nobly  this  clear  enunciation  of  a  scriptural 
principle  towers  above  all  the  extravagancies  of  both  sides ! 

New  York,  June  21,  1856. 
I  made  my  first  acquaintance  with  Bridgeport  (Connecticut) 
this  week,  having  gone  there  to  preach,  and  converse,  and  pray 
with  Mrs.  H.2     I  dare  not  say  it  is  the  most  beautiful  place  I 

1  Ashbel  Welch,  Elder  of  Lambertsville,  N.  J. 

2  He  preached  in  Bridgeport,  June   19  ;    also  June   27,  July  10,  and 
August  24. 

VOL.  II. 10* 


226  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH    AVENUE   CHURCH. 

ever  saw,  but  I  dare  as  little  say  the  reverse.  The  railway- 
passes  far  away  from  its  surpassing  rural  villas.  Mrs.  H.  is  a 
wonder  of  knowledge,  wisdom,  humility,  faith ;  every  thing,  in 
a  word,  which  can  glorify  religion.  I  never  had  what  seemed  to 
me  a  holier  sojourn.  I  propose  to  take  part  of  my  family  to 
Bridgeport  on  the  27th  to  board  for  a  week — maybe  longer. 
Cases  of  awakening  still  drop  in.  Two  new  cases  awaited  my 
return  yesterday. 

No  public  route  gives  any  idea  of  the  English  beauties  of 
New  England.  The  villages  grow  so  into  one  another,  in  the 
south  part  of  Connecticut,  that  men  confidently  predict  a  row 
of  lamps  a  hundred  miles  east  of  our  city,  as  they  now  are  eight 
miles  to  Harlem. 

Newport,  July  28,  1856. 
I  am  to  be  addressed  at  "  Cliff  House,  care  Ch.  T.  Hazard." 
There  are  thirty-six  Mrs.  Hazards  in  Newport.  We  are  on  the 
very  beach  or  bank,  only  a  broad  field  intervening  between  our 
yard  and  the  cliffs,  at  whose  base  the  sea  breaks.  Looking  across 
a  horse-shoe  cove,  on  the  left  or  north  of  which  is  the  bathing 
beach,  I  see  three  points  or  capes,  between  which  are  two  coves 
with  their  respective  beaches.  Beyond  all,  the  village  of  Little 
Compton  glitters  in  the  sun.  The  waves  are  gently  swaying 
without  breaking,  and  the  scene  is  very  calm.  In  the  sun  it 
has  been  pretty  warm  to-day,  but  there  is  a  breeze,  and  when- 
ever we  drive  out  in  the  evening  we  need  an  overcoat.  The 
hot  Friday,  when  New  York  and  Philadelphia  thermometers 
marked  100°,  it  was  74°  all  day  on  the  Point,  south  of  us.  In 
the  town,  however,  there  is  a  good  deal  of  glowing  heat.  The 
place  at  which  we  are  is  part  of  a  tract,  which  Hazard  has  just  lost 
by  a  decree  in  Chancery.  The  house  in  which  I  stay,  was  once 
rented  by  Longfellow  and  his  friends.  I  have  news  of  our 
Henry  to  within  a  week,  by  Mr.  J.  Auchincloss,  wiio  unexpectedly 
saw  him  on  board  of  a  propeller  in  Lake  Superior.  He  and  his 
companion  have  nearly  disposed  of  the  six  boxes  of  Presbyterian 
books  which  they  took  on.  The  chief  buyers  have  been  the 
Cornishmen  in  the  mines.  He  is  in  the  land  of  the  Dakotah, 
of  Indian  lodges,  dog-trains,  and  snow  shoes.  Their  journeys  on 
foot,  with  sacks  on  their  backs,  have  been  numerous.  The  time 
I  spent  in  Bridgeport  was  very  agreeable.  It  is  a  beautiful 
place,  with  pleasant  drives  around  it.  Stratford,  Fairfield,  and 
Greenfield  Hill,  are  very  charming.  In  no  part  of  rural  Con- 
necticut do  I  see  any  of  those  marks  of  a  degraded  white  popu- 
lation, which  Southern  orators  say  must  appear  where  there  is 
no  servile  <;lass.     On  the  contrary,  I  am  more  and  more  struck 


1851—1857.  227 

with  the  thrift  and  equalized  comfort  of  the  small  yeomanry  of 
Puritan  New  England.     In  this  I  do  not  include  Rhode  Island. 

Several  rather  extraordinary  instances  of  good  done  by  simple 
reading  of  the  Bible  with  inquirers  have  lately  turned  up  in  my 
ministry.  Addison  is  writing  on  Acts,  in  my  study,  and  printing 
also.  A  new  Presbyterian  Church  is  about  to  be  organized  at 
Deep  River,  (Say brook  town,)  Connecticut,  under  Mr.  Connitt. 
I  have  nothing  but  what  the  papers  will  give  you,  concerning  the 
terrible  disaster  to  the  "  Empire  State"  near  us  on  the  26th. 
Mr.  Thayer  preached  an  original  and  grand  sermon  yesterday  on 
Self-conceit. 

August  4. — The  thermometer  keeps  about  76°  on  our  Cliff, 
but  it  is  pretty  hot  in  town.  People  are  very  proud  of  ther- 
mometers which  go  higher  and  lower  than  their  neighbours'. 
Thayer  and  Cheever  yesterday.  The  latter  strangely  and  un- 
couthly  original  and  fascinating.  He  reached  me  deeply.  Thay- 
er's sermon  was  great  on  "  take  heed  how  ye  hear."  On  or 
about  August  14th,  we  go  to  Bristol,  R.  I.,  for  a  week ;  thence, 
perhaps,  by  a  short  detour  to  Bridgeport.  The  absence  of  com- 
mon piety  and  religious  feeling  in  society,  is  much  more  manifest 
here  [New  England]  than  with  us.  The  spirit  as  well  of  hear- 
ing as  of  worship,  seems  gone.  Politics,  Abstinence,  and  Sla- 
very, usurp  the  "  sacred  desk." 

New  York,  August  23,  1856. 

I  came  here  yesterday  from  Bridgeport,  where  I  left  my  wife 
and  child,  and  write  from  my  own  house,  where,  however,  I  do 
not  expect  my  folks  till  September.  I  have  some  preaching  yet 
to  do  in  Connecticut,  by  which  I  may  contribute  somewhat  to 
hold  up  the  hands  of  the  Presbyterian  brethren.1  Through  what 
we  call  an  accident,  there  met  at  Henry's  table  last  night  in 
27th  street  all  our  brotherhood,  except  Archibald,  making,  with 
my  Henry,  six.  When  are  we  likely  so  to  meet  again  !  I  trust 
your  mother  will  rally,  but  every  year  brings  its  painful  warn- 
ings at  such  an  age.     God  grant  her  a  blessed  evening  ! 

How  ridiculously  American  is  the  scuffle  of  the  Scientific 
Association  at  Albany  about  Constitution  and  By-laws ! 

The  German  Eremonters  make  infidelity  and  drink  figure 
largely  on  their  banners.  In  New  England  I  found  no  Democrats, 
but  sundry  Fillmore  men.  There  is  a  feeling  that  he  would  con- 
ciliate. 

I  spent  some  days  in  Bristol,  R.  I.  ;  from  which  place  I  think 
I  wrote  to  your  worship.     It  is  a  thorough  wreck  ;  gr-ass  every- 

1  He  preached  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Hartford,  August  31. 


228  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

where  literally  growing  in  its  broad,  beautifully  shaded  Phila- 
delphian  streets.  Numerous  Cubans  of  wealth  summer  there. 
The  harbour  and  surroundings  are  enchanting.  They  kept  up 
slaving  as  late  as  1816.  A  negro  ghetto  of  Bristol  is  still  named 
Goree.  The  aspect  of  interior  New  England  is  pleasing  ;  from 
the  total  absence  of  any  patent  squalor.  Mechanics  everywhere 
live  in  houses  a  hundred  per  cent,  above  the  same  class  in  Penn- 
sylvania or  New  Jersey.  I  wish  our  Calhounites  could  see  that 
b  the  small  farmers  of  Connecticut  have  more  comforts  of  civiliza- 
tion than  many  wealthy  planters.  The  remaining  of  certain  old 
Puritan  habitudes  is  striking ;  such  as  a  noon  bell  and  curfew. 

New  York,  September  5,  1856. 

I  should  have  gladly  kept  my  wife  and  boy  a  little  longer  in 
rural  air ;  but  we  were  made  uncomfortable  at  Bridgeport, 
whither  we  came  from  Bristol,  by  overcrowding  in  the  house,  so 
we  returned  yesterday.  There  is  no  place  like  home.  My 
pulpit  has  been  very  well  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Myers,  of 
St.  Augustine.  Congregations  fair — though  very  few  of  our  own 
people. 

There  is  no  harm  in  repeating,  what  I  said  in  my  last,  how 
seriously  1  feel  the  tidings  you  give  respecting  your  mother. 
It  brings  my  own  warmly  before  me.  Not  only  were  they 
mutual  friends,  but  they  were  lovely  persons,  long  permitted  to 
escape  the  uncomely  accidents  of  old  age,  and  carrying  much  of 
the  sweet  natural  interest  of  girlhood  into  later  years.  Where 
shall  we  ever  find  such  sympathy  with  us — especially  in  the 
minor  trials  of  life  ?  Who  will  ever  so  understand  the  little 
weaknesses  of  our  character  ?  If  I  go  on  much  in  this  strain,  I 
shall  lose  my  composure ;  especially  if  I  touch  on  other  associa- 
tions, more  equal,  and  as  strong.  Let  us  bless  God  for  such 
relations  and  affections.  Prom  what  you  say,  I  am  prepared  to 
hear  something  grave  concerning  your  mother's  case.  If  it 
should  ever  be  proper  to  do  so,  assure  her  of  my  love  and  prayers. 

It  is  wonderful  that  the  yellow-fever  has  moved  so  slowly. 
The  ravages  at  Fort  Hamilton  and  Governor's  Island  have  been 
great,  in  proportion  to  the  subjects.  At  the  former,  two  men 
fell  yesterday  at  battalion-drill.  Maj.  Morris,  the  Commandant, 
married  a  Ritchie  (nee  Alexander)  of  the  Delaware  Fairfield 
family.  He  and  his  were  in  the  midst  of  it  before,  at  Tampico. 
It  is  too  much  to  expect  that  it  should  not  alight  and  spread  in 
our  Water-streets.1     If  reports  are  true,  there  have  been  some 

1  Water-street — a  narrow,  confined  street,  on  the  Delaware  front  of 
Philadelphia. 


1851—1857.  229 

cases  to-day.     What  a  remarkable  respite   from  cholera   this 
year,  all  over  the  country  ! 

My  "  heft,"  as  the  Yankees  say,  has  increased  to  164  lbs. 
At  Hartford  I  visited  with  pleasure  the  only  original  portraits 
of  Pres.  Edwards  and  his  saintly  wife.  They  are  in  the  Edwards 
family.  I  also  saw  the  Charter-Oak  lying  in  massive  glory  on  the 
earth  :  "  The  Charter  Oak,  it  was  the  tree,  that  balked  his  sacred 
majesty."  1  have  never  seen  so  much  of  the  country  and  every- 
day life  of  New  England,  as  this  summer,  and  it  has  been  with 
increased  respect.  The  average  of  domestic  comfort  and  even 
refinement  I  believe  to  be  unequalled  in  the  world.  We  talk  of 
Scotland,  and  justly  ;  but  Scotland  has  thousands  of  squalid 
peat-smoky  hovels,  where  the  best  fare  is  oatmeal-porridge. 
There  is  nothing  of  this  in  Yankee-land,  but  by  importation. 

New  York,  September  17,  1856. 

I  am  less  surprised  than  pained  by  the  tidings  you  give  me. 
Mequiescit  in  pace.  My  recollections  go  back  with  a  sad  pleasure 
to  the  old  Sixth  St.  house.  What  friendly,  long-continued,  un- 
varying kindness  to  us  and  ours  !  What  shadows  flit  along  the 
back-ground — some  friends  and  some  only  acquaintances — and 
howr  many  gone ! 

It  is  a  trial  to  me  not  to  be  able  to  go  to  the  funeral  of  one 
of  the  truest  friends  i  ever  had.  1  have  notice  of  an  invalid 
passing  through  town,  who  makes  an  appointment  with  me  for 
that  very  day  ;  and  the  circumstances  are  important  and  delicate. 
You  will  now  comprehend  a  feeling  of  family-headship,  which 
comes  heavily  over  one,  upon  the  departure  of  a  last  surviving 
parent. 

[I  subjoin  a  letter  written  on  the  same  afflicting  event  to  a 
sister  of  my  mother.] 

New  York,  September  25,  1856. 

It  was  impossible  for  me  to  hear  of  the  departure  Of  your 
beloved  sister,  without  thinking  very  much  of  you.  Few  persons, 
even  of  the  connexion,  have  been  with  her  so  constantly  during 
her  decline.  Perhaps  none  on  earth  knew  her  better.  Naturally, 
therefore,  your  sorrow  must  be  great. 

Among  the  consolatoins  which  you  have  so  richly,  one  is  the 
knowledge  that  our  dear  and  valued  friend  was  esteemed  by  so 
large  a  circle.  No  one  of  my  whole  acquaintance  was  ever  more 
spared  the  deformities  and  disagreeable  points  of  old  age ;  in  this 
resembling  your  father,  whom  I  well  remember,  as  the  sweetest 
looking  old  gentleman  I  ever  saw.  Then  you  have  the  pleasing 
reflection  for  life,  that  it  was  placed  in  your  power  to  minister 


230  WHILE   PASTOE   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

with  sisterly  affection,  in  the  dwelling  and  at  the  couch  of  one 
whom  you  loved.  But,  above  all,  we  must  be  consoled  by  the 
bright  hope  which  we  entertain,  concerning  the  present  and  future 
happiness  of  our  deceased  sister.  Though  a  silent  and  humble, 
she  was  a  sincere  and  a  consistent  Christian.  Her  trust  was  in 
the  Divine  Saviour  of  sinners,  to  the  rejection  of  all  self-righteous 
merits.  This  faith  diffused  serenity  over  her  closing  hours. 
Little  as  is  revealed  to  us  concerning  the  details  of  the  eternal 
blessedness,  we  know  that  the  souls  of  the  righteous  are  with 
the  Lord,  and  that  those  who  are  absent  from  the  body  are 
present  with  the  Lord. 

It  is  a  source  of  great  comfort  to  those  of  us  who  survive, 
that  your  sister  was  not  content  to  cherish  religious  sentiments 
in  her  private  thoughts,  but  spontaneously  added  herself  to  the 
Lord's  witnesses,  by  becoming  a  communicant  in  his  Church. 

How  natural  it  is  for  our  minds  to  go  back  to  those  who  are 
gone  !  Where  are  our  parents,  and  the  religious  teachers  of  our 
youth  1  Where  are  our  own  companions  1  Well  do  I  remem- 
ber Mr.  Hall,  with  that  spare,  and  dignified,  and  gentle  form 
which  belonged  to  him.  My  dear  friend,  "  The  fashion  of  this 
world  passeth  away."  May  we  find  grace  to  appear  clad  in  the 
righteousness  of  Christ  at  his  coming ! 

New  York,  September  30,  1856. 

A  letter  of  my  father  (1809)  has  turned  up,  in  which  he 
states  that  I  had  been  at  school  a  wreek.  I  remember  it  well ; 
it  wras  to  "  Madam  Thomson,"  in  Lombard  street,  [Philadelphia.] 
A  sort  of  self-pity  always  comes  over  me  when  I  think  of  my 
days  of  childhood  ;  I  do  not  detect  it  so  much  in  others.  It 
seems  to  me  I  had  more  unuttered  distresses  than  most  children. 
How  long  a  poor  child  will  harbour  an  afflictive  scruple  about 
religion,  which  would  have  been  instantly  dissipated  by  disclosure ! 

Bush  writes  to  me.  He  expatiates  on  the  excellencies  of 
Howe,  Owen,  and  Burroughs,  in  precisely  the  terms  which  he 
would  have  used  thirty  years  ago.  My  folks  are  coming  in 
pretty  fast,  but  many  are  yet  absent.  Mauch  Chunk  is  looking 
for  a  pastor — not  too  young — man  of  experience ;  schedule  of 
gifts — not  this,  not  that.  Webster  lived  and  died  on  a  stipend 
of  $400.  If  it  had  not  rained,  a  thousand  carters  were  to  have 
turned  out  last  night  for  Fillmore.  Within  a  few  weeks,  I  hear 
many  more  voices  in  this  state  (it  is  very  hard  to  say  "  our  state  ") 
for  Fillmore.  Numerous  private  accounts  speak  well  of  Mr. 
Monsalvatge's  preaching  and  labours  at  Carthagena.  He  has  a 
great  body  of  young  Granadans  on  his  side.  He  has  sent  me 
several  sermons,  openly  printed  in  the  city  newspapers.     Mr. 


1851—1857.  231 

Pratt,  late  of  Princeton,  writes  encouragingly  from  Bogota.  I 
forgot  whether  I  wrote  from  Bristol  about  Mr.  G.,  an  accom 
plished  Cuban  gentleman,  one  of  several  persons  of  wealth  who 
summer  in  Rhode  Island.  He  was  bred  in  Spain,  and  is  an 
author.  What  is  pleasing  is,  that  he  is  a  pious  and  courageous 
Protestant.  Lecturing  on  Acts  xv.  1 — 35,  I  find  it  very  tough 
to  make  that  Council  at  Jerusalem  a  college  of  Bishops,  or  a 
General  Assembly,  or  a  Synod,  or  a  Presbytery,  or  a  Kirk-session, 
or  an  independent  congregation.  The  common  fiction  of  the 
Church  having  been  organized  on  the  plan  of  the  Synagogue  is 
"  revolting  "  to  me  ;  incredulus  odi.  While  the  Apostles  lived, 
they  clearly  had  supreme  authority,  and  they  as  clearly  had  no 
successors.  Where  they  were  not,  Elders  ordained  by  them  had 
local  and  temporary  rule.  I  have  searched  in  vain  for  a  single 
instance  of  one  pastor  tied  to  one  congregation,  or  of  the  call  of 
one  congregation  as  necessary  to  orders.  All  the  ministry,  for 
what  appears,  was  minislerium  vagum,  which  the  impugners  of 
ordaining  sine  titulo  do  so  eschew.  My  love  to  your  environs. 
What  a  barbaric  pomp  about  the  crowning  of  the  Czar  ! 

P.  S.  October  2. — I  retain  the  preceding  in  order  to  say  that  I 
will  preserve  the  letters  for  you,  and  thank  you  for  them.1  All 
these  things  carry  one  back — back  !  I  like  the  allusion  to  the 
house  in  6th  street.  The  old  Philadelphia  carries  a  great  charm 
in  my  recollections.  I  have  the  only  severe  cold  I  have  had  in 
three  years,  and  do  not  see  how  I  can  do  duty  on  Sunday.  At 
my  prompting  Randolph  gets  out  a  book  for  Business  Men.  I 
chose  the  subject  of  Clerks,  and  what  I  have  written  on  it  will 
probably  appear  also  as  a  little  tractate.2  Your  libretto  and 
tract  were  received,  and  would  have  been  reviewed  by  me  but 
for  the  heavy  pressure  of  the  above,  and  of  completing  my  MS. 
on  Sunday  Schools,  which  went  to  Philadelphia  yesterday.3 

1  Letters  of  his  father. 

2  "  The  Man  of  Business,  considered  in  his  various  relations."  The  con- 
tributors to  this  volume  were  Drs.  Alexander,  Sprague,  Todd,  Tyng,  Ferris, 
and  Stearns.  Dr.  Alexander's  subject  is,  "  The  Merchant's  Clerk  Cheered  and 
Counselled."  This  chapter  was  afterwards  reprinted  by  itself,  and  one  per- 
son sold  more  than  a  thousand  copies  in  the  stores  of  New  York,  in  about 
four  weeks.  In  April,  1856,  Randolph  published  McLaren's  Sermons  on 
"  Glorying  in  the  Cross  of  Christ,"  for  which  Dr.  A.  wrote  an  intro- 
duction. 

3  "The  American  Sunday-School  and  its  adjuncts.  By  James  W.  Alex- 
ander, D.  D. ;"  published  by  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  1856,  342 
pages.  In  the  preface  he  says :  "  More  than  forty  years  ago  it  was  my  lot 
«0-sit  on  an  humble  form  in  one  of  the  earliest  Sunday-Schools  set  up  in 
America.  In  process  of  time  I  became  a  teacher  in  similar  institutions  ; 
and  ever  since  my  entrance  upon  the  Gospel  ministry  I  have  counted  it  an 
honor  to  work  collaterally  in  the  same  cause.  In  attempting  to  promote 
the  same  ends,  I  have  constructed  and  launched  from  the  presses  which  now 


232  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

New  York,  November  19,  1856. 

The  young  woman  gives  very  good  satisfaction,  and  appears 
to  like  her  place.  She  went  away  for  one  day  and  night  without 
my  leave.  She  appears  to  be  steady  and  industrious ;  good  at 
mending  and  at  washing  up  tea-things.  My  wife  has  said  nothing 
about  baking  or  ironing.  It  is  our  wish  to  keep  her  during  the 
winter.1 

My  sprained  foot  is  not  much  better,  though  I  go  about. 
Thanksgiving  sermon  adds  a  somewhat  to  the  week's  writing.  I 
intend  to  touch  on  the  importance  of  our  being  united  in  peace 
with  all  English-speaking  people.  My  text  is  Deut.  xxxii.  8, 
to  word  "Adam"  inclusive.  Sprague's  book2  is  both  valu- 
able and  entertaining.  I  like  it  all  the  better  for  the  number 
and  brevity  of  the  articles.  Some  of  them  are  quite  in  the 
manner  of  the  late  Joseph  Miller,  Esq.  If  you  have  not  read 
Trench's  "  English  Past  and  Present,"  it  will  give  you  a  pleasant 
half-hour.  What  a  wonderful  fall  we  have  had,  for  fine  weather ! 
Greatly  do  I  feel  the  deprivation  of  walking  freely,  and  more 
than  ever  do  I  sympathize  with  those  who  halt  alway.  Strange 
talk  this  in  the  papers,  as  if  the  Southern  fire-eaters  would  not 
vote  for  Buchanan,  unless  after  some  ultra  pledges  on  his  part. 
I  hope  and  pray  he  may  give  none.  Dr.  McCartee  has  come 
into  our  Presbytery,  and  taken  the  Westminster  Church  in  22d 
street.  Some  sermons,  which  I  have  on  hand,  (having  preached 
about  eight,)  will  perhaps  grow  into  a  book  on  Faith.  Robin- 
son's [Palestine]  new  impression  puts  the  former  three  into  two 
volumes,  and  adds  a  new  third.  Stewart's  Brazil  is  not  very 
lively,  but  full  of  information.  Brazil  must  be  a  horrible  coun- 
try, as  Portuguese  is  a  horrible  lingo.  The  Hungarian  officer, 
who  formerly  appeared  in  Trenton,  awakens  my  pity  ;  he  is  now 
in  abject  mendicity — a  handsome  soldierly  fellow  too.  It  is  a 
dreadful  thing  to  be  an  exile  in  poverty.  The  thought  is  good 
for  Thanksgiving  Day. 

New  Yoyos.,  January  2,  1857. 
January  1st  is  a  dies  non  with  us,  except  in  regard  of  calls, 

produce  the  present  work,  more  than  thirty  trifles,  which,  '  for  better  for 
worse,'  have  gone  sailing  out  upon  the  ocean  of  print,  some  to  be  high  and 
dry  on  the  strand  of  oblivion,  and  some  to  be  still  floating  on  the  wave, 
protected,  like  the  paper-nautilus,  by  their  very  frailty."  The  object  of  this 
Avork  is  to  prove  the  necessity  and  duty  of  providing  for  general  religious 
education,  and  to  show  how  this  end  is  promoted  by  Sunday-Schools  and 
veligious  reading. 

1  This  pleasantry  refers  to  a  visit  from  one  of  his  correspondent's  chil- 
dren. 

3  "  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit,"  vols.  1  and  2. 


1851—1857.  233 

so  I  now  wish  for  you  and  yours  a  happy  New  Year.  We  had 
175  calls.  I  am  told  Dr.  Spring  sometimes  has  300.  Holten's 
New  Granada  is  a  very  entertaining  book,  in  some  places  a  little 
free.     He  lets  you  well  into  Granadan  manners  and  customs.     I 

do  not  see  that differs  materially  from  Wright  and  Garrison, 

save  in  decorum  of  language,  when  in  his  late  book  on  Slavery 
he  says  :  "  Unless  the  Bible  teaches  my  doctrine  about  slavery, 
it  is  not  of  God."  A  member  of  my  church  has  been  spending 
a  year  in  North  Wales.  He  hired  a  furnished  house,  library, 
&c,  of  ample  size,  with  about  twenty  acres  of  pleasure-ground,  for 
£200.  The  whole  stood  within  a  walled  park  of  400  acres,  as 
good  as  his,  and  well-kept.  He  had  half-a-mile  of  wall,  ten  feet 
high,  for  wall-fruit,  and  had  every  sort  of  fruit  in  plenty.  In 
consequence  of  the  low  rent,  wages,  &c,  he  calculates  that  he 
did  not  add  a  penny  to  his  year's  expenses,  though  he  includes 
the  transportation,  to  and  fro,  of  ten  persons. 

A  soliciting  missionary  from  Port  Natal  in  South  Africa,  is 
here ;  a  fairspoken  Scot,  named  Campbell.  Prof.  Owen  of  this 
city  is  about  to  come  out  with  a  commentary  on  the  Gospels. 
He  is  of  the  Free  Academy. 

I  lately  attended  high  mass  for  the  soul  of  Father  Andrade, 
and  saw  about  ten  priests  officiating.  The  incense  is  scarcely 
more  than  nominal.  In  my  day,  we  used  to  get  a  very  tolerable 
sniff;  and  in  Paris,  I  think,  I  saw  a  dozen  censers  going  all  in  a 
row,  with  a  dexterous  perpendicular  hoist,  which  it  must  take 
some  time  to  learn.  Our  motto  for  1857  is :  "  Rejoice  ever- 
more." 1- 

I  have  arrived  at  the  16th  chapter  of  Acts  in  my  exposition. 
Sometimes  I  wish  no  other  sort  of  preaching  had  been  invented. 
I  wrish  I  knew  more  about  the  Doverites,  Derbyites,  or  Plymouth 
brethren.  They  seem  to  have  made  much  progress  among  the 
French  Protestants.  An  odd  fish  has  applied  to  me  for  my  life 
towards  his  "  Eloquent  Divines,"  about  to  appear.  I  have  refused 
and  derided,  but  experiences  teach  that  this  is  no  protection. 
This  is  the  seventh  letter  at  this  sitting,  and  some  of  them  more 
lengthy  ;  this,  therefore,  can  only  be  strengthy,  as  is  the  regard 
of,  Sir,  your  friend  and  subscriber. 

1  His  sermon  on  the  year-text  was  usually  preached  at  the  afternoon  ser- 
vice of  the  first  Sunday  in  the  year.  The  morning  service  of  that  day  had 
usually  a  reference  to  the  annual  collection  made  at  that  time  for  Foreign 
Missions.  The  collection  on  Jan.  2,  1857,  amounted  to  $7,600.  In  the  pre- 
ceding month,  the  collection  for  Domestic  Missions  had  been  nearly  $4,000. 
In  February,  1857,  the  collection  for  the  Board  of  Education  was  $4,600  ; 
in  May,  for  Sunday-Schools,  $1,300  ;  in  November,  for  the  Bible  Society, 
$2,600. 


234  WHILE   PASTOR   OF   FIFTH   AVENUE   CHURCH. 

New  York,  March  9,  1857. 

Louis  Napoleon  has  introduced  a  new  kind  of  state-paper,  racy 
as  a  vaudeville  ;  it  is  too  witty.1  Addison  calls  my  attention  to 
the  remarkable  revolution,  which,  under  the  Palmerston  rule,  is 
going  on  in  the  English  sees,  in  favour  of  Evangelicalism.  Both 
archbishops  and  the  threes  leading  bishops  are  now  on  that  side. 
I  find  "  grand-daughter  "  in  Webster  and  Worcester  ;  the  only 
authorities  I  have.2  Mr.  B.,  of  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  writes  to 
me  that  the  new  houses  building  there,  are  "  hundreds."  He 
also  says,  if  things  go  on  so  for  two  years,  that  the  region  200 
miles  west  of  the  east  border  will  be  the  most  thickly  peopled 
portion  of  the  Western  States.  Mr.  M.  bought  $500  worth  of 
land  on  the  .site  of  Milwaukee,  thirteen  years  ago.  Its  sworn 
value  now  is  $400,000.  The  Ferguson  who  wrote  "  America  by 
Rail  and  Steam,"  is  a  banker  and  a  deacon  of  Dr.  Hamilton's. 
He  has  been  here  on  a  second  visit. 

There  is  something  very  striking  in  the  prayer,  with  which 
St.  Augustine  commonly  closed  his  sermons :  "  Conversi  ad 
Dominum,  Deum,  Patrem  omnipotentem,  puro  corde,  Ei,  quan- 
tum potest  parvitas  nostra,  maximas  atque  uberes  gratias  aga- 
mus  :  precantes  toto  animo  singularem  mansuetudinem  ejus,  ut 
preces  nostras  in  beneplacito  suo  exaudire  dignetur ;  inimicum 
quoque  a  nostris  actibus  et  cogitationibus  sua  virtute  expellat, 
nobis  multiplicet  fidem,  mentem  gubernet,  spirituales  cogitationes 
concedat,  et  ad  beatitudinem  suam  perducat :  per  Jesum  Chris- 
tum Filium  suum,  Dominum  nostrum,  qui  cum  eo  vivit  et  regnat 
in  unitate  Spiritus  sancti  Deus,  per  omnia  sascula  saeculorum. 
Amen."  It  is  beautiful  Latin,  and  much  more  fall  of  matter  than 
"  a  Prayer  of  St.  Chrysostom."  3  Its  first  words,  with  an  -S  &c," 
so  often  close  the  "  Condones,"  that  I  presume  he  always  used  it. 
Augustine  is  the  only  father  of  whom  I  read  much  ;  and  the 
more  I  read,  the  more  I  perceive  that  if  you  leave  out  predesti- 
nation and  justification  by  faith,  his  scheme,  and  that  of  the 
Catholic  Church  of  his  day,  was  just  that  which  Pusey  would 
restore.  Nothing  can  be  more  garbled  and  misleading,  than  the 
centos  given  by  Milner.4 

1  I  suppose  the  allusion  is  to  the  Emperors  speech,  fit  the  opening  of  the 
Chambers  in  1857.  The  "  wit"  must  be  in  the  sentence  where,  in  reference 
to  the  inundations,  it  is  said  :  "  I  make  it  a  point  of  honor,  that  in  France 
rivers,  like  revolutions,  must  return  to  their  beds,  or  that  they  must  not 
.eave  them." 

2  I  had  insisted  that  such  a  purist  as  he  should  follow  the  old  standard 
dictionaries,  which  give  but  one  d  in  this  word. 

3  In  the  "Book  of  Common  Prayer." 

4  In  the  New  York  "  Journal  of  Commerce,"  of  March  10,  there  is  a  free 
translation,  with  comments,  from  Horace,  Ode  24,  Book  3,  in  application  to 
the  vices  of  the  age,  which  I  think  I  cannot  be  mistaken  in  attributing  to 
Dr.  Alexander. 


1851—1857.  235 

New  York,  April  27,  1857. 

Addison  preached  for  me  yesterday,  though  I  think  I  could 
have  preached  once  myself.  My  chief  annoyance  is  a  difficulty 
of  breathing,  oppression,  or  strangling  sensation,  which  comes 
on  at  times,  and  especially  at  night.1  While  Hugh  Miller's  new 
book3  contains  lots  of  things  which  I  do  not  believe,  it  has  some 
— many — of  the  sublimest  views  respecting  creation  and  re- 
demption, that  I  ever  met  with.  Some  of  his  sweeps  of  high 
description  are  inimitable.  Yet  he  always  says  ere  for  be/ore, 
and  mayhap  for  perhaps.  The  biographies  by  Macaulay,  in  sev- 
eral numbers  of  Harper,  are  worth  reading  ;  they  are  from  the  last 
(8th)  edition  of  the  Encyclopaedia  Britannica.  In  a  life  of  Sir  H. 
Davy,  by  Rogers,  it  is  said,  (1812,  &c.  :)  "  A  certain  change  (it 
must  with  regret  be  owned)  came  over  his  state  of  mind,  tar- 
nished his  serenity,  and  gradually,  though  imperceptibly,  weakened 
his  scientific  zeal.  It  wras  to  be  ascribed  solely,  we  believe,  to  the 
severe  ordeal  of  exuberant  but  heartless  popularity,  which  he  un- 
derwent in  London.     The  flatteries  of  fashionable  life by 

degrees  attached  Davy  to  the  fashionable  world,  and  loosened 
his  ties  to  the  laboratory,  which  had  been  to  him  the  sole  and  fit 
scene  of  his  triumphs."  We  have  a  cold  easterly  drizzle — as 
yet  more  wind  than  rain.  Addison  visited  his  native  house  on 
his  birthday,  and  ate  an  ice-cream  in  what  was  my  father's  study. 
I  distinctly  remember  the  day  J.  A.  A.  was  born.3 

When  Peter  Cunningham  shall  have  digested  all  Walpole's 
Letters  into  one  chronological  series,  with  the  promised  notes,  it 
will  be  the  richest  collection  of  gossip  in  the  world.  Some  one 
of  my  congregation  visits  the  Holy  Land,  every  year,  at  least. 
Lord  Napier  is  surveying  our  town. 

I  have  seldom  been  more  pained  by  a  thing  of  the  kind  than  by 
your  account  of  S.,  [lost  at  sea.]  Poor  little  S. !  We  remem- 
ber him  as  coming  into  our  sick  chamber  in  8th  street  [Phila- 
delphia] to  show  his  little  fat  leg.  Poor  mother  !  I  earnestly 
hope  she  will  have  spiritual  indemnity.  Mrs.  H.  was  buried 
yesterday.  She  was  free  from  extreme  suffering  towards  the 
last.  Mr.  J.,  a  good  friend  of  ours,  has  died  of  dreadful  disease 
of  the  heart.     How  voluminous  would  be  the  list  of  the  dead 

1  On  the  9th  April  he  had  written  :  "  I  am  laboring  under  a  very  pain- 
ful irritation  of  throat  and  fauces."  He  was  able  to  preach  but  twice  in 
April,  and  four  times  in  May.  His  cough  had  then  become  so  threatening, 
that  a  voyage  seemed  to  be  the  only  resort  that  promised  permanent 
relief. 

2  "  The  Testimony  of  the  Eocks." 

3  The  h#.us£  was  hi  Lombard  street,  Philadelphia ;  the  date  was  April 
£4,  1S09, 


236  WHILE  PASTOR  OF  FIFTH  AVENUE   CHURCH. 

whom  we  have  known ;  and  how  strangely  some  of  them  pass 
out  of  mind  ! 

Dr.  B.  used  to  read  Voltaire  as  the  best  Christians  read  the 
Bible.  Mrs.  B.  often  said  to  me  that  the  only  comfort  she  had 
was  in  going  to  church,  and  that  she  looked  forward  to  this 
all  the  week.  I  have  often  pondered  on  this  and  hoped  it  might 
prove  to  be  the  case  with  many  whom  we  overlook  in  estimating 
the  value  of  Divine  service. 

There  is  a  certain  point  at  which  a  man's  mishaps  operate 
against  him,  much  as  if  they  were  moral  delinquencies. 

New  York,  May  26,  185*7. 

To-morrow,  it  may  be  presumed,  will  be  too  busy  for  writing. 
I  take  to-day  therefore  for  farewells  to  you  and  all  your  house. 

My  address  is :    W.  A.  and  G.  Maxwell  c6  Co.,  Liverpool? 

Every  thing  preparative  has  been  ordered  very  favourably. 

There  is  something  serious  in  such  separations,  which  I  feel 
just  now  ;  in  better  moments  we  will  remember  one  another.2 

1  Dr.  Alexander,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  youngest  child,  embarked 
in  the  steamer  Baltic,  for  Liverpool,  May  27th. 

2  The  frequent  allusions  which  have  occurred  in  the  letters  of  this  and 
other  chapters,  to  their  writer's  interest  in  the  American  Tract  Society,  will 
make  acceptable  the  following  notice  communicated  to  me  by  the  Kev.  Dr. 
Hallock,  one  of  its  Secretaries : 

"  The  memory  of  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander  is  precious  to  the  Executive 
Committee  and  officers  of  the  American  Tract  Society.  As  his  father,  Dr. 
Archibald  Alexander,  was,  from  the  formation  of  the  Society  in  1825  till 
his  death  in  1851,  an  unwavering  friend,  supporter,  and  counsellor,  making 
valuable  contributions  to  the  list  of  its  publications  by  his  pen,  and  acting 
for  three  years  as  a  member  of  its  Publishing  Committee,  so  the  son,  in 
similar  relations  and  by  almost  all  the  same  means,  gave  the  Society  his 
cordial  and  efficient  co-operation. 

"When,  in  1842,  a  public  deliberative  meeting  of  the  Society's  Board 
and  friends  was  held  for  three  days  in  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  Dr.  James 
W.  Alexander,  who  was  then  at  Princeton,  communicated  an  able  document 
on  a  momentous  topic,  with  the  bearing  of  which  his  wide  range  of  reading 
and  observation  made  him  familiar,  '  The  Evils  of  an  Unsanctified  Liter- 
ature.' The  document  was  read  to  the  meeting  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Potts,  and 
was  published  in  a  volume  comprising  ten  other  documents  presented  at 
that  meeting,  and  a  record  of  its  proceedings. 

"  In  1845,  when  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  retired  from  his  labours  as  a 
member  of  the  Society's  Publishing  Committee,  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander, 
who  was  then  pastor  in  New  York,  was  elected  as  his  successor  ;  and  ful- 
filled the  duties  of  the  office  for  three  years,  when  the  pressure  of  his  official 
duties  in  the  ministry  compelled  him  to  retire,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Magie  suc- 
ceeded him  in  that  office. 

"  Dr.  Jiimes  W.  Alexander,  soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  Amer- 
ican Messenger,  in  1842,  commenced  writing  for  it  valuable  but  anonymous 
articles,  which  were  continued,  from  time  to  time,  to  the  number  of  thirty 
or  forty  articles,  all  on  great  and  momentous  themes  pertaining  to  the  com- 


1851—1857.  237 

mon  salvation.  In  this  Avay  alone,  addressing  each  month  not  far  from  two 
hundred  thousand  families,  he  conveyed  messages  of  Christian  love  to 
millions  of  men  quite  beyond  the  reach  of  his  preaching  or  other  written 
works. 

"  The  Society  published  in  their  series  his  excellent  tract  on  Kevivals  of 
Religion ;  showing  that  by  true  revivals  of  religion  God  is  glorified,  the 
plan  of  redemption  accomplished,  the  Church  raised  to  its  highest  pros- 
perity, and  that  such  an  extension  of  the  Church  is  demanded  by  the  pres- 
ent state  of  our  nation ;  embodying,  with  singular  discernment,  a  brief, 
comprehensive  sketch  of  the  history  of  revivals  from  Apostolic  days. 

"  The  Society  also  publish  his  volume  of  seventeen  revival  tracts, 
originally  issued  under  the  modest  title  of  "  Wayside  Books,"  in  successive 
numbers  during  the  progress  of  the  revival  of  1858,  when,  in  his  high  posi- 
tion as  pastor  of  the  church  in  the  Fifth  Avenue,  he  wished  not  only  to 
benefit  his  own  people,  but  others,  by  bearing  his  testimony  in  favour  of  the 
good  work,  but  to  give  individual  souls  in  the  various  stages  of  awakening 
or  quickening  under  Divine  influence,  the  needed  instruction,  counsel,  and 
guidance. 

"  The  very  titles  of  these  seventeen  tracts  (one  of  them  written  by  an 
intimate  fellow-labourer  in  the  ministry)  show  their  high  evangelical  char- 
acter and  aim,  and  the  wide  range  of  usefulness  to  which  they  are  adapted, 
and  in  which  they  will  doubtless  long  continue  to  give  what  may  be  almost 
regarded  as  their  author's  dying  testimony  to  the  truth  and  excellency  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ.  They  are  :  The  Revival ;  Seek  to  Save  Souls  ;  Pray 
for  the  Spirit ;  The  Unawakened  ;  Harden  not  your  Heart ;  Varieties  in 
Anxious  Inquiry  ;  Looking  unto  Jesus  ;  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  Sinner ; 
0  for  more  Feeling ;  Have  I  come  to  Christ  ?  My  Teacher,  my  Master  ; 
My  Brother ;  Sing  Praises ;  The  Harvest  of  New  York ;  Compel  them  to 
Come  in ;  Help  the  Seaman  ;  To  Firemen. 

"As  counsellors  in  all  questions  of  doubt  and  perplexity,  Dr.  James  W. 
Alexander  and  his  father  were  uncommon  men — single-hearted,  far-seeing, 
calm,  practical,  judicious — and  favoured  was  the  friend,  the  benevolent  insti- 
tution, the  congregation,  the  church,  or  the  community,  who  could  resort 
to  them  and  receive  their  heaven-guided  lessons  of  wisdom.  Pleasant  were 
they  on  earth,  and  it  is  a  cheering  anticipation  that  we  may  meet  them  with 
all  the  redeemed  in  the  world  above." 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

LETTERS    DURING  HIS    SECOND    VISIT  TO  EUROPE1 

1857. 

Liverpool,  June  11,  1857. 
Through  God's  mercy  we  arrived  here  in  safety  on  the  7th, 
after  what  seamen  call  a  very  favourable  passage.  We  found 
valuable  friends  on  board,  and  have  also  found  numerous  acquaint- 
ances of  ourselves  or  our  friends,  in  this  town.  I  had  really 
forgotten  how  cool  the  weather  is  here.  We  have  been  under 
the  necessity  of  having  fires  every  evening,  and'  I  shudder  with 
cold  most  of  the  time.  Though  my  cough  is  less,  it  has  not  left 
me.  We  have  just  returned  from  the  Exhibition  of  the  "  Art 
Treasures  "  at  Manchester — sixty  miles  going  and  returning  since 
morning ;  so  much  for  English  railways.  The  structure  itself 
is  fine,  and  much  resembling  the  Crystal  Palace.  The  value  of 
the  paintings  is  reckoned  by  scores  of  millions  of  pounds. 
Every  great  public  and  private  collection  in  England  has  given 
its  gems.  Without  being  a  connoisseur  I  was  ravished  with  the 
sight  of  the  great  works  of  the  greatest  masters.  Twenty  or 
thirty  Raphaels !  English  aristocracy  owns  more  of  Italian 
art  than  Italy  itself.  Among  the  moderns,  I  was  not  prepared  to 
be  so  delighted  as  I  am  with  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds.  All  his  great 
works  are  here.  You  learn  to  recognize  them  at  once,  and  their 
gracefulness  is  indescribable.  The  gallery  of  water-colours  opens 
quite  a  new  field  of  art  to  me.  Few  of  the  sculptures  awaken 
me  much.  Canova's  all  seem  to  be  injured  by  mannerism.  I 
more  admire  Chantrey,  Marshall,  and  Gibson.  Hogarth's  paint- 
ings added  very  little  to  my  pleasure  in  his  engravings.  Gains- 
borough's best  pieces  are  enchanting. 

1  In  making  up  this  chapter  I  have  followed  the  same  course  as  in  the 
letters  of  the  visit  of  1851,  and  for  the  reasons  given  in  the  prefatory  note 
of  Chapter  XI. 


1857.  239 

Leamington,  June  13,  1857. 

We  left  Liverpool  at  11,  and  came  by  Crewe,  Wolverhamp- 
ton, Birmingham,  and  Coventry.  Haymaking  is  going  on,  and 
we  saw  and  heard  a  lark  ascend,  and  give  his  delicious  song. 
Leamington  is  the  cleanest  and  most  brilliant  place  I  ever  saw. 
Every  thing  has  a  miniature  look.  The  trim  houses,  neat  shop- 
fronts,  white  flags,  and  perfectly  pure  streets,  affect  me  with  a 
sense  of  being  in  a  play-place.  I  can  hardly  think  it  real.  Eng- 
lish neatness  here  becomes  almost  Dutch.  I  forgot  to  say  that 
the  everlasting  succession  of  beauties,  in  hedgerow,  field,  and 
meadow,  with  unvaried  culture  and  perfect  green,  produces  at 
length  the  effect  of  gazing  on  a  pretty  face  without  expression. 
One  longs  for  a  bare  spot,  a  morsel  of  rude,  brushy  land,  or  a 
small  piece  of  bad  road. 

June  14. — We  have  been  to  All  Saints,  the  old  parish-church, 
large  and  full.  We  were  ushered  in  through  the  singing-boys 
to  a  seat  in  the  choir  immediately  behind  one  of  the  reading- 
pews.  The  service  was  given  cathedral-fashion.  Mr.  Bowen, 
the  curate,  preached  an  evangelical  sermon  from  the  Rich  Man 
and  Lazarus.  Soldiers  went  home  from  church  to  martial  music. 
The  rooks  were  cawing  in  their  nests  among  the  tops  of  the  trees 
as  we  came  to  our  inn. 

Such  has  been  the  popularity  of  the  Springs  here,  that  the 
place  numbers  15,000  inhabitants.  There  are  two  Leamington 
seasons  in  the  year ;  the  chief  one  being  in  winter,  as  is  true  also 
of  Brighton ;  the  other  is  in  the  hunting-time.  The  Cheshire 
hounds  have  a  famous  meet  in  that  county,  but  all  this  is  a  fox- 
•  hunting  district.  Lord  Lonsdale  (as  we  guess  it  was)  told  us 
that  railways  have  greatly  facilitated  hunting  by  carrying  men 
and  even  horses  to  the  meets.  He  said  the  lands  on  our  way 
rented  for  about  three  pounds  an  acre,  but  some  in  better  districts 
for  five  pounds. 

I  have  formerly  noted  the  practice  of  having  a  little  hymn- 
book  for  the  particular  church.  The  one  here  was  full  of  our 
most  evangelical  hymns,  "  Just  as  I  am  "  and  the  like.  In  no 
New  England  town  have  I  ever  remarked  a  more  exact  and  still 
observance  of  the  Sabbath.  Invalid  persons  are  trundled  to 
church  in  bath-chairs,  as  an  everyday  thing ;  most  wrorthy  of 
imitation  among  us.  The  throngs  of  people  in  the  street  are 
perfectly  well-dressed,  and  all  with  brilliant  red  and  white  com- 
plexions. As  with  us  the  complexion  runs  often  into  pale  and 
yellow,  so  here  the  faulty  visages  are  red,  crimson,  scratchy, 
erysipelatic — there  are  many  such.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
the  purest  English  is  spoken  in  these  midland  counties.  I  detect 
very  little  provincial  in  the  guards  or  waiters,     Nothing  like 


240  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUKOPE. 

mendicity  or  even  poverty  has  met  my  eye  at  Leamington  Priors. 
A  little  to  the  north-west  is  Baxter's  Kidderminster,  and  a  short 
journey  eastward  is  Doddridge's  Northampton.  Worcester  and 
Edgehill  are  not  far  off,  and  if  we  took  the  old  mail-route,  we 
should  go  through  the  forest  of  Arden.  In  this  town  of  so  many 
thousands,  there  are  doubtless  many  "  brethren,"  but  how  shall 
I  find  them  out  1  Every  thing  in  the  church-way  is  set  and 
petrified.  I  went  into  a  shop  for  tracts,  but  the  woman  looked 
like  a  nun,  and  the  books  all  smacked  of  Oxford. 

London,  June  15,  1857. 

We  left  Leamington  about  10  for  London,  via  Rugby.  At 
R.  we  saw  the  church,  but  could  not  see  the  school.  The  whole 
country  along  our  way  was  full  of  hay-making  and  sheep-shear- 
ing. As  we  neared  Olney,  I  sang  "  Begone  unbelief"  in  mem- 
ory of  John  Newton,  and  much  of  the  scenery  on  the  Ouse  was 
pleasant  as  of  the  very  sort  which  prompted  so  many  passages 
of  the  Task.  These  impressions  were  not  the  less  strong,  be- 
cause I  own  my  prevalent  mood  has  been  somewhat  sombre, 
ever  since  I  left  America. 

It  is  now  10  P.  M.,  but  the  boys  are  in  full  caper  in  the 
street  below,  and  there  is  still  a  lingering  blush  in  the  horizon. 
People  here  knock  and  ring.  All  servants  ring,  except  the  post- 
man, who  gives  two  knocks.  Coals  are  brought  to  the  door  in  a 
cart,  but  in  sacks,  and  each  of  these  is  emptied  down  a  hole  in  the 
sidewalk  ;  it  is  a  cleaner  and  even  quicker  operation  than  ours. 
The  free-and-easy  prevails  all  over  England  in  regard  to  vehicles, 
pony-chaises,  phaetons,  flies,  &c.  You  see  two  rosy  girls  drive 
up  to  a  railway-station,  and,  perhaps,  take  a  relative  into  their 
low-wheeled  drag.  Numerous  cases  have  been  observed  by  us 
of  a  pony  drawing  four  adults  in  a  sort  of  buggy,  and  two  look- 
ing backwards.  But  then  all  the  roads  are  as  smooth  as  this 
paper. 

4  Bernard  St.,  Russell  Square,  ) 
London,  June  18,  1857.  [ 

Last  evening  I  attended  an  anniversary  soiree  of  the  Regent 
Square  and  Somerstown  Sunday  Schools,  held  in  SomerstowTi,  a 
neighbourhood  much  like  the  Eive  Points.  Lady  and  gentlemen 
teachers  present  for  a  tea-drinking.  Then  up  stairs,  where  a 
meeting  lasted  two  and  a  half  hours.  Dr.  Hamilton  in  the 
chair,  who  received  me  with  great  warmth.  Numerous  speeches. 
Of  course,  I  made  an  address.  Hamilton's  gifted  vocabulary 
flowed  in  my  behalf.  The  cheers  and  "  hears  "  were  a  little 
appalling  to  me ;  but  good  nature  and  a  disposition  to  be  pleased 


1857.  241 

marked  every  thing.  I  thought  the  talent  displayed  by  these 
teachers  very  remarkable.  The  heartiness  and  almost  convivial 
glee  of  the  meeting  were  unlike  what  we  have  at  such  times. 

In  our  immediate  vicinity  is  the  vast  but  unfinished  cathe- 
dral of  the  Irvingites.  London  is  their  Jerusalem,  being  the 
seat  of  their  twelve  apostles  and  seven  churches.  They  have 
two  daily  services,  and  I  have  been  to  their  even-song.  The 
church  is  a  sublime  one.  About  sixty  persons  were  present,  of 
whom  part  were  clergy  in  rich  and  varied  robes.  The  chief  one, 
who  was  forward  and  apart,  near  the  altar,  was  wrapped  in  a 
heavy  dark  cloak  over  his  alb,  with  a  stole ;  he  took  the  lead, 
and  was  either  angel  or  bishop.  The  service  was  chanted  cathe- 
dral-wise, and  most  delightfully.  Altogether  it  was  a  very 
solemn  affair.     Much  incense  was  used. 

June  21.  Sunday. — Very  warm.  Dr.  Hamilton's  church. 
The  text  was  Proverbs  viii.  1.  It  was  an  admirable  sermon. 
He  began  it  by  comparing  the  choice  of  Hercules  with  the  choice 
of  Solomon.  A  shower  having  come  up,  I  went  in  the  afternoon 
to  the  neighbouring  church  of  the  Apostles  (Irvingite)  in  Gordon 
Square.  A  sermon  of  an  hour  was  first  preached  by  Mr.  John 
Wells,  on  the  "  procession  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  It  was  read, 
was  well-delivered,  and  very  theological  and  orthodox,  until  near 
the  close  he  declared  that  the  day  of  miracles  and  prophecy  had 
returned.  Then  followed  the  regular  even-song,  which  was  alto- 
gether distinct.  The  big  ones  sat  in  common  seats  during  the 
sermon  with  purplish  cassocks  and  small  capes — three  having 
lace  sleeves  ;  but  during  the  vespers,  all  were  in  the  choir,  which 
is  of  immense  size.  There  were  twenty,  exclusive  of  the  singing- 
boys  in  white.  The  Angel  or  Bishop  (Mr.  Heath)  had  a  purple 
cloak  over  his  alb,  and  performed  his  part  to  admiration.  Of 
the  rest,  some  had  yellow  and  some  red  stoles,  (or  scarfs,)  and 
all  had  albs  or  white  dresses.  I  heard  one  pray  in  the  spirit,  one 
prophesy,  and  three  give  the  word  of  exhortation.  The  organ 
and  Gregorian  chant  were  in  perfection  ;  all  being  in  good  train- 
ing, and  the  congregation  (about  a  thousand)  generally  joining. 
The  sound  rolled  majestically  through  the  Gothic  vaults  of  the 
great  edifice,  which  is  quite  a  marvel  of  modern  architecture. 
The  incense,  the  intoning,  and  the  bowing  to  the  altar,  are  per- 
fectly popish,  but  the  service  and  ceremony  are  very  fine  and  im- 
pressive.    I  do  not  believe  they  have  better  music  at  St.  Paul's. 

London,  June  23,  1857. 
The  new  buildings  of  Lincoln's  Inn  are  noble.     In  the  fine 
library  I   found  numbers  studying   and   compiling.     A  whole 
alcove  and  more  is  devoted  to  American  works,  [on  Law.]     Then 
VOL.  II. — 11 


242  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

to  the  Middle  and  Inner  Temples.  How  ancient  and  beautiful 
these  gardens,  walks,  and  green  trees,  opening  on  the  river  and 
full  of  associations  from  Shakspeare  downward  !  Professor  L., 
of  King's  College,  who  accompanied  me,  greatly  admires  Ameri- 
can jurisprudence,  and  amidst  all  his  compilations  says  that 
American  reports  are  most  useful  to  him.  He  may  be  called  a 
disciple  of  Story's,  whose  entire  works  he  showed  me.  In  the 
four  Inns  there,  are  lectures,  Monday  on  Common  Law,  Tuesday 
on  Civil  Law,  Wednesday  on  Constitutional  Law,  Thursday  on 
Equity,  Friday  on  Real  Estate. 

After  all  this,  it  was  highly  proper  that  I  should  go  to  Smith- 
field.  I  made  my  approach  by  Skinner  Street  and  the  Old 
Bailey,  by  Snow  Hill  and  Giltspur  Street,  near  St.  Sepulchre's 
and  the  Compter.  This  is  one  of  the  mustiest  and  most  delicious 
parts  of  old  London  ;  for  here  enters  Hosier  Lane,  (Swift  speaks 
of  the  "  veriest  cockney  of  Hosier  Lane,")  and  Cock  Lane,  famous 
for  Dr.  Johnson's  and  Wesley's  visit  to  the  ghost.  And  here  is 
Pye  Corner,  where  the  fire  of  1666  stopped.  The  great  area  of 
Smithfield,  vast  indeed,  remains,  and  the  innumerable  stalls  are 
left,  but  the  glory  is  departed.  Not  only  are  there  no  martyrs, 
like  John  Rogers,  but  there  are  no  beasts.  I  saw  a  timid  flock 
of  sheep  looking  out  of  Cock  Lane,  like  intruders,  but  the. .prin- 
cipal reminiscence  of  former  days  is  hay  and  straw,  and  the 
advertisements  of  butcher-tools,  cattle-medicine,  &c ;  besides 
advertisements  of  two  lost  children.  I  took  the  pains  to  count 
the  parish  vagrants,  posted  as  having  deserted  their  families,  and 
found  the  number  thirty-one.  All  this  end  of  town  is  old,  black, 
and  profoundly  suggestive.  The  smell  is  peculiar,  and  was 
doubtless  known  to  Shakspeare  and  Bunyan. 

The  strawberries  are  very  plenty  and  very  large,  and  the 
English  way  is  to  serve  them  in  the  hulls,  and  eat  them  out  of 
hand,  dipping  in  powdered  sugar. 

I  heard  Dean  Trench  read  prayers  at  Westminster  Abbey, 
and  saw  him  preach  in  a  surplice  and  scarlet  hood.  He  is  a 
robust,  hale,  good-looking  Englishman,  with  much  of  that  "  holy- 
tone  "  which  belongs  to  all  readers  here. 

The  funerals  are  solemn  mockery.  The  hearse  is  surmounted 
with  immense  plumes  or  bunches,  as  big  as  a  man,  and  I  have 
seen  a  dozen  persons  in  black,  perched  on  the  top,  driving  full 
tilt  to  act  as  mutes.  I  can't  get  over  the  horse-flesh  of  Hyde 
Park.  I  never  saw  such  blood,  condition,  and  grooming.  In  the 
streets  one  sees  the  biggest  and  the  least  horses  in  the  world. 

London,  June  29,  1857. 
I  have  heard  the  wonderful  Spurgeon.     I  am  told  the  effort 


1857.  243 

was  feeble,  for  him.  He  has  none  of  those  captivating  intonations 
which  we  remember  in  Summerfield  and  others  ;  neither  should 
I  judge  him  to  have  any  pathos.  His  voice  is  incomparable,  and 
perfect  for  immense  power,  sweetness,  and  naturalness.  His 
pronunciation  is  admirable,  with  the  never-failing  English  eyther, 
knowledge,  wroth,  &c.  Though  very  like  his  likenesses,  he  becomes 
almost  handsome  when  animated.  His  gesture  is  sparing  and 
gentlemanlike.  I  detect  no  affectation.  The  tremendous  virtue 
of  his  elocution  is  in  outcry,  sarcasm,  and  menace,  and  his  voice 
improves  as  it  grows  louder.  I  seriously  think  his  voice  the 
great  attraction.  His  prayers  were  concise  and  solemn ;  a  shade 
too  metaphoric.  His  short  exposition  was  so-so  in  matter,  but 
well-delivered.  He  preceded  his  sermon  by  a  shot  at  Lord 
Lyndhurst's  late  remarks  on  the  obscene  Print  Bill,  and  said : 
"  Holywell  Street  had  at  length  found  an  advocate  in  West- 
minster Palace."  He  requested  the  people  in  the  gallery  (there 
are  three  one  over  another,)  not  to  lean  forward.  He  said  you 
could  tell  a  Dissenter  in  church,  by  his  sitting  down  before  the 
hymn  was  over.  During  the  sermon  he  described  broken-down 
preachers,  spitting  blood,  going  to  the  continent  and  travelling 
at  other  people's  expense.     This  did  not  please  me,  for 

"  Who  e'er  felt  the  halter  draw, 
With  good  opinion  of  the  law  ?  " 

He  told  a  very  funny  story  of  a  minister  with  a  rich  wife. 
He  was  very  severe  on  the  establishment,  and  rather  intimated 
that  the  gospel  was  very  little  preached.  In  this  part  of  the 
discourse,  he  preached  himself.  Notwithstanding  all  this  and 
his  dreadful  onslaught  on  written  sermons,  I  think  his  work 
here  matter  of  the  greatest  thankfulness.  He  preaches  a  pure 
gospel,  in  the  most  uncompromising  manner,  with  directness, 
power,  and  faithfulness  ;  and  he  preaches  it  to  hundreds  of 
thousands,  to  beggars  and  princes.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  say  what 
they  come  for.  They  seem  to  be  led  of  God.  All  strangers 
go.  Some  of  the  nobility  are  always  there.  Church  ministers 
abound  in  every  assembly.  I  ought  to  have  said  there  is  nothing 
that  savours  of  the  rude  or  illiterate.  Such  a  building  I  would 
beg  a  year  to  have  in  New  York,  for  some  stentor.  It  is  the 
beau-ideal,  being  the  theatre  of  Surrey  Gardens,  where  Jullien 
has  his  concerts.  It  will  hold  ten  thousand  seated.  Every  aisle 
and  corner  was  filled  by  a  dense  mass  of  standing  persons  num- 
bering perhaps  a  thousand.  The  attention  was  unbroken.  What 
struck  me,  was  the  total  absence  of  the  ill-dressed  classes.  A 
person  behind  me  pointed  out  actors,  Waterloo  officers,  noble- 
men, &c.  Old  Hundred  by  about  ten  thousand  voices  was  really 
congregational   singing.     His   sermon  was  fifty  minutes,  Ezek. 


244  DURING    HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

xxxvi.  37 — on  the  connexion  of  prayer  with  blessings.  1.  Fact. 
2.  Reasons.  The  first  head  was  admirable ;  as  scriptural, 
simple,  chaste,  direct,  winning,  and  full  of  Christ,  as  one  could 
wish.  Only  I  wondered  all  the  while  why  it  drew  the  masses 
so.  Then  he  began  to  suffer  with  the  terrible  heat ;  said  so  ; 
and  evidently  lost  his  strength  of  body  and  mind.  The  appli- 
cation was  common-place,  but  his  felicitous  language  and  glorious 
voice  will  carry  along  any  thing.  I  am  persuaded  he  seeks  to 
save  souls,  and  believe  that  he  is  as  much  blessed  to  that  end, 
as  any  man  of  our  day.  My  childish  recollections  of  Larned, 
represent  him  as  much  such  a  speaker.  Spurgeon  is  a  blended 
likeness  of  Prof.  Atwater,  and  Mr.  Bartine,  the  Methodist.  His 
eyes  are  disproportionally  small.     In  many  points  of  assurance, 

dogmatism,  conceit,  and  sarcasm,  he  reminds  one  of  ,  to 

whom  he  is  greatly  superior  in  gentlemanlike  bearing  and 
absence  of  nasal  twang,  while  he  falls  far  below  him  in  learning, 
original  illustration,  and  I  think  inventive  genius.  But  Spur- 
geon preaches  the  blessed  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God. 

You  know  my  passion  for  London  :  it  is  next  to  impossible 
to  get  away,  though  the  feeling  of  heat  is  as  great  as  it  would 
be  at  New  York,  while  the  mercury  is  about  77°.  Drives  into 
the  environs  are  very  sweet.  All  the  banks  of  Thames  are  lovely. 
No  words  can  describe  the  verdure,  the  cottages,  the  roses,  the 
.green  lanes,  the  field-paths,  the  hay-making,  the  parks. 

The  thoughts  are  very  serious  which  one  has  amidst  the 
most  favourable  circumstances,  in  a  foreign  land.  I  trust  they 
are  not  without  spiritual  profit.  My  friends  at  home  are  cer- 
tainly not  less  in  my  mind.  The  feeling  of  being  so  much  a 
truant  is  very  oppressive  to  me  at  times.  After  all,  I  would  a 
thousand  times  rather  be  at  home. 

The  speakers  whom  I  heard  in  the  House  of  Commons,  were 
the  Attorney -General,  Mr.  Henley,  (a  fine,  blunt  John  Bull.) 
Mr.  Collier,  (a  fine  orator,)  and  Mr.  Rolt.  As  I  never  heard 
Randolph  say  more  than  one  word,  viz.,  ;'  Palgrave,"  so  all  1 
ever  heard  Palmerston  say,  is  :  "  Because  they  (the  Proctors) 
are  to  be  swept  from  the  earth."  I  was  mightily  struck  with 
the  gentlemanly  tone  of  the  debate,  and  the  subdued  and  delicate 
manner  in  which  adverse  opinion  was  stated,  even  when  the  argu- 
ment was  point-blank  in  opposition. 

This  was  the  day  for  our  visit  to  the  Crystal  Palace.  It  is 
far  nobler  than  the  original  one,  forty-four  feet  higher,  and  with 
three  transepts.  As  it  takes  a  volume  to  describe  it,  I  will  bring 
that  with  me,  for  little  can  be  done  in  a  letter.  The  park  and 
gardens  and  fountains  are  on  prodigious  scale.  Even  within  the 
building  every  sort  of  tropical  tree  and  plant  is  growing,  and 


1857.  245 

there  is  almost  as  much  vegetable  matter  as  any  thing  else. 
Landscape  gardening  is  producing  its  chef  d'ceuvre  without.  In 
a  wild  part  of  the  grounds,  you  have  models  of  life  size,  and 
in  appropriate  surroundings,  of  all  the  hideous  creatures  of  the 
early  formations,  pterodactylus,  hylceosaurus,  ichthyosaurus  and 
all.  On  our  way,  E.  stopped  me  and  said  :  "  O  look  what  a 
noble  little  boy  !  "  We  presently  found  it  was  Prince  Arthur, 
who,  with  two  sisters,  was  viewing  the  palace.  We  heard 
two  excellent  orchestral  concerts,  stayed  all  day,  and  all  for  a 
shilling.  The  pleasantest  thing  was  the  great  number  of  the 
lower  class.  On  reaching  lodgings,  I  found  cards  of  Messrs. 
Dallas,  Senr.  and  Junr.,  [the  American  Minister  and  son,]  and 
a  letter  from  the  Earl  of  Waldegrave,  expressing  regret  that  his 
son  was  not  in  town.1 

I  have  seen  all  the  Inns  of  Court,  and  of  the  Inns  of  Chan- 
cery, Clement's  Clifford's,  Furnival's,  Thavie's,  and  Staple. 
Strand  Inn  is  pulled  down.  Barnard's  I  cannot  find.  The  only 
remaining  ones  of  the  nine,  Lyon's  and  New  Inn,  I  will  look 
for.  With  Christ's  Hospital  some  of  these  are  my  favourite 
spots.  Some  say  the  very  first  wool-staplers  of  London  lived 
at  what  is  now  Staple  Inn.  Such  an  antiquity  would  not  abide 
a  year  in  New  York.  Even  in  London  such  cool,  moist,  monas- 
tic spaces .  are  preserved  only  by  belonging  to  guilds  or  other 
corporations. 

London,  July  3,  1857. 
The  House  of  Lords  is  superb,  but  bad  for  hearing.  Lords 
appear  in  morning-dress — many  with  hats  on ;  some  lounging, 
and  one  asleep.  Law  Reform  was  up.  I  was  glad  to  hear 
Brougham  at  length.  He  is  erect,  and  agile,  though  very  gray. 
The  manner  of  a  vehement  old  preacher.  Able  and  emphatic. 
Lord  Chancellor  Cranworth  spoke,  leaving  the  woolsack.  His 
voice  and  manner  that  of  the  late  President  Maxwell,  [of  Vir- 
ginia.] Lord  Fitzwilliam  spoke;  tall,  thin,  quakerish,  hat  over 
eyes.  I  afterwards  saw  him  canter  off  on  a  spirited  horse,  brought 
by  a  groom  in  white  livery ;  the  Earl  is  75.  Lord  Campbell 
spoke.  Without  his  [Judge's]  wig,  looks  bluff  and  hearty;  dark 
hair,  baldish  ;  age  76.  Afterwards  they  went  into  committee, 
Redesdale  in  the  chair.     I  also  heard  him  speak.     Then  came  on 

1  The  son  of  the  Earl  is  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Samuel  Waldegrave,  now 
canon  of  Salisbury,  and  author  of  several  excellent  religious  works.  Of  one 
of  these — "  New  Testament  Millenarianism  " — Dr.  Alexander  gave  a  synop- 
sis in  the  Repertory,  July,  1856.  Mr.  Waldegrave's  book  has  many 
acknowledgments  of  the  value  of  Dr.  J.  A.  Alexander's  "  Isaiah,"  and 
eome  letters  passed  between  the  two  authors. 


246  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO    EUROPE. 

a  second  reading  of  Lord  Campbell's  bill  about  immoral  publica- 
tions. He  spoke  with  much  animation.  Lord  Lyndhurst  made 
a  few  remarks.  He  looks  young  when  sitting,  with  hat  on, 
having  a  youthful  wig  ;  but  when  he  walks,  his  spindling,  failing 
shanks,  betray  85  years.  I  had  pointed  out  to  me  the  Duke 
of  Argyle  ;  red  head,  slender,  strutting  ;  fine  forehead.  Lord 
Nelson  rather  foppish.  Lord  Shaftesbury  youngish  and  graceful. 
Lord  Wensleydale  (Park)  very  burly  and  strong.  I  heard  some 
very  poor  speaking.  The  general  look  of  the  Lords  reminded 
me  of  Virginia  gentlemen  ;  quite  so  in  manner  ;  but  more  neat- 
ness of  dress,  though  not  more  simplicity,  in  most.  The  fine 
hale  condition  of  so  many  old  Lords,  speaks  well  for  English 
climate,  dinners,  sports,  and  general  habits.  The  law-lords  have 
no  easy  times.  After  a  long  day  on  the  bench,  Campbell  comes 
to  the  Lords'  and  makes  speeches  ;  he  has  no  Scotch  accent,  of 
which  Brougham  has  much.  Shaftesbury  is  56.  His  son,  Lord 
Ashley,  is  in  the  House  of  Commons.  S.  is  the  great  philan- 
thropist of  the  aristocracy.  I  have  never  been  in  Parliament, 
without  hearing  America  mentioned.  In  connexion  with  law- 
reform,  it  is  always  honourably.  The  Lord  Chancellor,  Lynd- 
hurst, Brougham,  Campbell,  and  Fitzwilliam,  all  agree  in  urging 
simpler  forms.  They  are  now  hammering  at  complications  of 
the  mortgage.  Contrary  to  the  genius  of  English  law,  they 
seek  to  make  the  transfer  of  real  estate  as  easy  as  the  transfer 
of  bank-stock.  I  saw  two  bishops,  both  in  and  out  of  rig.  Their 
undress  is  nobly  beautiful ;  with  their  robes  and  lawn  they  look 
like  FalstafF  in  the  buck-basket.  Lord  Ellenborough  made  a 
speech  of  some  length  on  India.  He  is  66  ;  tall  and  stout,  heavy 
voice,  more  than  the  usual  stammer,  little  of  the  peculiar  tin- 
pan,  palatal  utterance,  which  makes  Granville  resemble  the  lower 
classes.  It  appears  to  be  quite  the  thing  for  members  to  go 
home  on  horseback. 

We  went  to  Albert  Smith's  Ascent  of  Mont  Blanc,  Picca- 
dilly. It  lasted  two  hours,  and  was  a  union  of  first-rate  paint- 
ing with  irresistible  humour.  Indeed,  I  never  heard  any  thing 
so  comic  as  his  songs  and  dialogues  "  up  the  Rhine." 

Smith  is  one  of  the  Punch  set.  The  entertainment  is  modish, 
the  rooms  elegant. 


London,  July  6,  1857. 

At  6^  yesterday  I  sought  out  Baptist  W.  Noel's  chapel  in 
John  Street,  near  Gray's  Inn.  As  I  approached  I  heard  a  man 
say  it  was  "  ordinance  day,"  a  dissenting  phrase,  which  I  hap- 
pened  to  understand.     The  chapel    is  old   and    old-fashioned  ; 


1857.  247 

showing  what  the  Ranstead  Court  Tabernacle  may  have  been 
copied  from.  Galleries  on  all  four  sides,  and  very  wide ;  seats 
under  the  gallery  lengthwise ;  pulpit  high  ;  vestry-end  thrown 
in  by  moving  a  partition  ;  full  house  of  plain  but  earnest  people. 
Precentor  gave  out  hymns  and  notices.  Mr.  Noel  is  a  thin-faced 
pale,  refined,  American-looking  man.  I  recognize  the  incompar- 
able elocution  which  I  admired  so  much  in  '51.  I  also  perceived 
afresh  that  the  higher  you  go  in  society  here,  the  more  the  talk 
is  like  that  of  educated  men  at  home ;  say  of  Charleston.  I 
don't  say  Boston,  because  of  the  Yankee  bens,  and  dooty,  and 
stoodent ;  nor  yet  of  Virginia,  because  of  the  R — phobia,  as 
Dr.  Rush  used  to  call  it.  Otherwise,  it  is  more  like  Virginia. 
He  used  no  notes,  and  in  an  hour's  preaching  never  broke  into 
any  intonations  which  would  sound  wrong  if  he  had  been  speaking 
to  three  people,  by  his  fireside.  He  was  on  Matt.  xxv.  25 — 29, 
the  Institution.  It  was  simple  and  chaste,  but  scholarly  ;  deeply 
interesting  and  even  delicious,  but  not  impassioned  ;  no  fancy, 
no  illustration  ;  eminently  didactic  and  parenetic.  Altogether  I 
must  place  it  among  the  most  pleasing,  useful,  and  holy  discourses 
I  ever  heard.     He  made  a  bold  declaration  of  free-communion. 


Brighton,  July  13,  1857. 
Brighton  itself  is  a  large  place,  with  much  elegance  of  struc- 
ture, and  all  the  appliances  of  sea-bathing.  The  air  is  like  New- 
port. Just  before  our  windows  (Pier  Hotel)  is  a  drive  frequented 
by  ceaseless  processions  of  gentry  in  every  kind  of  vehicle, 
ladies  with  grooms,  donkeys,  goat-carriages,  foot-folk,  and  just 
beyond,  still  very  near  us,  the  sea-beach,  with  rows  of  the 
machines  out  of  which  they  bathe.  The  surf  is  much  less  than 
at  Newport.  There  are  innumerable  children  wading  in  the  low 
tide.  One  pleasant  thing  is  the  total  absence  of  that  glare  which 
prevails  on  our  beach.  The  streets,  moreover,  are  watered  with 
such  English  faithfulness,  that  there  is  no  dust.  Remember  it 
is  not  the  "  season "  at  Brighton.  That  begins  in  October. 
Walking  and  driving  on  the  beach  are  here  in  their  perfection. 
The  parade  is  three  miles.  The  high  banks  are  paved  and  pali- 
saded, so  as  to  be  charming.  A  pier,  highly  ornamented,  juts 
out  into  the  sea,  on  the  widened  end  of  which  a  band  of  music 
plays  in  the  evening.  So  gay  and  brilliant  a  spectacle  I  never 
saw  out  of  Paris.  I  no  longer  wonder  at  the  popularity  of 
Brighton,  nor  at  the  fondness  of  George  IV.  for  it.  The  stone 
and  brick  buildings  give  a  look  of  permanence,  wanting  in  our 

1  A  church  in  Philadelphia,  built  for  Independents,  but  afterwards  the 
Seventh  Presbyterian. 


248  DURING    HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

summer-resorts.  It  is  a  wonder  Brighton  is  not  always  full  of 
people,  but  they  go  by  thousands  to  the  continent.  England  is 
over-peopled,  and  they  flee  from  one  another.  Watering  places 
at  home  compromise  them.  As  Albert  Smith  says  of  Baden- 
Baden,  "  all  the  English  get  up  from  the  table  at  once,  because 
each  one  is  afraid  he  shall  make  a  blunder,  and  each  one  wants 
to  be  a  greater  swell  than  the  others." 

The  beautiful  downs,  or  wavy  hills,  which  mark  all  the  coast, 
afford  charming  eminences,  and  the  perfect  roads  tempt  to  drives, 
especially  as  villages,  plantations,  and  meadows  with  ancient 
hedges,  are  numerous.  The  high,  solid  drive  for  miles,  on  the 
brink,  is  totally  novel  and  the  effect  is  surprising.  Long  streets 
and  squares  are  built  up  uniformly  with  the  cream-coloured 
"  composition  "  fronts,  which  bulge  out  so  as  to  afford  window- 
views  both  ways.  The  beach  is  divided  into  inclined  planes  of 
perfect  smoothness,  with  low  partitions.  Here  the  machines  are. 
The  old  granny  who  waits,  assists  the  practitioner,  who  is  under 
cover  till  the  instant  of  dashing  into  deep  water.  There  is  noth- 
ing of  the  social  bathing  and  aquatic  fracas  which  makes  much 
of  the  fun  in  America.  It  is  a  separate,  exclusive,  Anglican 
immersion.  Brighthelmstone,  which  is  the  full  Anglo-Saxon 
name,  was  a  British  settlement.  Flemish  men  settled  here  800 
years  ago.  It  became  famous  as  a  resort  about  100  years 
ago.  See  Madame  d'Arblay  for  later  popularity.  In  Madame's 
day  hoops  were  worn,  as  again  now.  George  IV.  came  here  in 
1782,  and  this  made  Brighton.  It  is  confidently  said  that  the 
high  paved  promenade  is  the  finest  in  the  world.  So  much  does 
uniform  building  prevail  that  whole  rows  look  like  palaces, 
and  it  resembles  Swiss  or  French  architecture.  The  Downs 
extend  fifty  or  sixty  miles.  Their  exposures  show  pure  chalk, 
and  like  all  hills  of  chalk,  they  are  beautifully  rounded  and 
covered  with  fine,  close,  velvet  turf.  The  great  peculiarity 
of  these  hills  is  the  graceful  serpentine  curve  formed  by  their 
contour,  and  the  plush  surface  of  short  grass  which  precisely 
resembles  a  fine  rug  in  its  feel. 

We  took  a  drive  on  the  10th  to  the  Devil's  Dyke,  five  miles. 
The  sea  was  almost  always  in  view  as  we  climbed  from  one 
graceful  ascent  to  another.  As  if  by  special  order,  a  sky-lark 
was  scarcely  ever  out  of  hearing,  though  often  out  of  sight. 
We  would  hear  the  laughing,  ecstatic  song,  long  before  we  could 
descry  the  tiny  creature  as  he  looked.  Then  he  would  come 
into  view,  mounting  higher  and  yet  higher,  and  drifting  a  little 
adown  the  wind,  so  as  to  get  before  us,  but  often  just  overhead, 
in  a  passion  of  joy,  fainter  and  fainter  to  the  ear,  and  dashed  to 
pieces  by  the  wind,  till  at  length  with  circles  lessening  every 


1857.  249 

moment  he  would  drop  down  to  the  earth.  When  we  reached 
the  summit,  where  there  is  an  inn,  the  sudden  view  was  amazing. 
You  are  astonished  that  a  few  hundred  feet  should  open  such  an 
expanse.  Before  us  is  the  whole  Weald  of  Sussex,  a  plain  100 
miles  by  40,  like  the  parterres  of  a  garden.  With  the  naked 
eye  we  saw  the  isle  of  Wight.  They  tell  us  that  sixty  churches 
are  in  sight.  I  cannot  express  the  thronging  suggestions.  In 
some  degree  of  purity,  from  all  these  churches  has  for  centuries 
ascended  the  song  "  Thou  art  the  King  of  glory,  O  Christ !  " 
It  was  beauty  rather  than  sublimity,  though  even  the  sublime 
was  caused  by  extent,  and  by  the  wide  prospect  of  the  Channel 
from  Beachy  Head  to  Portsmouth. 

The  little  hamlet  of  Stanmer  is  the  prettiest  about  Brighton. 
The  old  houses  of  the  peasants  are  absolutely  hidden  with  run- 
ning plants  and  flowering  shrubs.  On  one  we  saw  currants 
trained  to  run  even  over  the  roof,  and  bearing  red  fruit  there. 
You  will  judge  from  the  length  of  my  twaddle,  that  we  are  en- 
gaged in  the  dolce  far  niente.  We  have  the  delightful  prospect 
of  Mr.  Stewart's1  company  all  through  Scotland,  Germany,  and 
Switzerland.     This  is  matter  of  great  thankfulness. 

Vextnor,  Isle  of  Wight,  July  17,  1857. 
The  resemblance  between  the  Isle  of  Wight  and  Staten  Island 
is  very  striking ;  but  the  parts  of  the  isle  which  we  have  seen, 
are  beyond  any  word-picturing.  To  say  that  the  fields  and 
woods  are  of  a  soft  green,  all  moist  and  pure,  and  without  any 
mixture  of  fading  or  decay,  even  now  in  the  dog-days,  would  be 
only  to  say  that  it  is  England.  But  Wight  has  very  peculiar 
features.  The  north  and  south  parts  are  unlike ;  the  north  being 
all  garden  and  the  south  broken  and  wild.  For  ten  miles  from 
Eyde,  southward,  every  route  was  as  beautiful  as  any  park  or 
pleasure-ground.  The  roads  were,  of  course,  hard  and  smooth  ; 
but  they  were  also  hedged,  and  ever  winding,  and  ever  changing 
level,  and  ever  and  anon  entering  some  quaint  village  or  hamlet, 
or  bringing  us  suddenly  in  view  of  the  sea.  We  passed  the  church 
and  rectory  of  Legh  Richmond.  No  exaggeration  need  be  feared 
as  to  the  cottage-life ;  no  fancy  of  yours,  however  melodramatic, 
could  make  a  picture  to  exceed  these  one-story,  old,  thatched 
dwellings,  half  hidden  in  creepers,  and  parti-coloured  with 
flowers.  The  romance  of  hill,  dale,  copse,  glen,  cliff,  spring, 
dark    shady  lane,  .and   look-out  to  the  sea,  cannot  be  carried 

1  The  Rev.  Charles  S.  Stewart,  who  had  joined  our  travellers  in  London, 
and  whose  kind  attentions  and  agreeable  society  are  frequently  and  affec- 
tionately referred  to  in  many  letters. 

VOL.  II. 11* 


250  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

further.  The  fields,  as  Emerson  says,  look  as  if  finished  v  ith 
the  pencil,  rather  than  the  plough.  In  considering  the  scenery  of 
this  back  part  of  the  island  it  occurs  to  me  that  it  exemplifies 
the  production  of  great  effects  by  combination  of  few  elements ; 
as  the  ancient  Greek  painter  had,  they  say,  but  three  colours  on 
his  palette.  In  this  little  corner  of  a  little  island,  effects  are  pro- 
duced which  are  really  Alpine ;  as  if  the  Creator,  in  his  over- 
flowing bounty,  had  determined  to  show  his  child  on  a  small 
*  scale,  how  he  sometimes  works  on  a  large  one. 

We  visited  the  smallest  church  in  England,  if  not  in  the 
world,  called  of  old  St.  Lawrence-under-Wuth.  Till  a  late 
enlargement,  it  was  25x12. 

On  the  16th  Mr.  Stewart  and  I  determined  to  circumnavigate 
the  island — a  sail  of  about  70  miles.  In  order  to  commence  it, 
however,  we  must  needs  go  thirteen  miles  to  Ryde.  At  1 1  we 
went  on  board  a  small  steamer  and  proceeded  westward.  The 
company  was  genteel.  I  soon  cottoned  to  an  Anglican  clergy- 
man, who  cheered  our  whole  voyage  by  his  clever  and  witty  talk. 
We  had  a  capital  view  of  Osborne  House,  Norris  Castle,  (the  seat 
of  Bell— "Life  in  London,")  Hurst  Castle,  Lymington,  Yar- 
mouth, &c.  Where  the  island  begins  to  turn  southward,  the 
scene  becomes  very  remarkable.  The  chalk  cliffs  are  cut  straight 
up  and  down,  and  assume  fantastic  contours  and  colours,  like 
cornices,  like  walls,  like  mantels,  like  tapestries,  like  ruled  music- 
lines  for  giants.  The  streaks  of  ore,  in  and  near  Alum  Bay 
and  the  Needles,  are  of  many  hues,  and  the  formations  unlike  any 
thing  I  ever  beheld.  The  Needles  are  exactly  like  monstrous 
icebergs,  and  they,  with  the  rocks,  present  a  spectacle  not  only 
interesting  but  sublime.  Ventnor  showed  nobly  on  the  terraced 
cliffs  of  the  south  point,  but  it  is  too  fresh  and  American-looking 
to  compare  with  such  thatched,  hedged,  embosomed  spots  as 
Bowchurch  or  Godshill.  We  made  our  periplus  in  4  hours  30 
minutes. 

Next  day  we  made  a  pilgrimage  to  Legh  Richmond's  place, 
Brading.  We  saw  his  church,  and  the  grave  of  Jane,  "  the 
Young  Cottager,"  and  then  by  a  delightful  drive  over  high  com- 
manding downs,  to  Arreton,  where  we  saw  another  old  church, 
and  the  grave  of  "  the  Dairyman's  Daughter."  We  also  called 
at  her  cottage,  now  occupied  by  her  nephew,  and  saw  her  Bible, 
&c.  After  dinner  we  went  to  tea  at  Mrs.  Pelham's,  by  her  kind 
invitation.  Her  grounds  join  her  brother-in-law's,  Lord  Yar- 
borough's,  and  we  strayed  over  the  whole — an  earthly  Paradise 
which  only  great  wealth  can  produce.  Here*  she  introduced  us 
to  her  pastor,  the  Rev.  Charles  Livingston,  rector  of  the  tiny 
church.     Mrs.   Pelham   is  a  grand-daughter  of  the  duchess  of 


1857.  251 

Manchester,  and  cousin  of.  Lord  John  Russell  and  of  the  duchess 
of  Wellington.  Mr.  Livingston  lives  in  a  superb  place  on  an 
ornamented  cliff,  commanding  the  sea.  It  gave  him  pleasure  to 
hear  of  his  relatives  in  America ;  and  he  several  times  related 
the  story  of  his  ancestor  of  the  Kirk  of  Shotts.  He  spent  a 
long  evening  at  our  lodgings,  and  awaited  our  stage-coach  at  the 
avenue  of  his  house  to  pronounce  a  blessing  on  us. 

Some  of  the  best  descriptions  of  the  scenery  of  the  isle  are 
in  Richmond's  three  tracts.  For  example,  in  the  "  Negro  Ser- 
vant "  he  paints  a  series  of  scenes,  which  we  instantly  recognize, 
though  he  does  not  name  them.  They  are  the  Down  between 
Allerton  and  Newport,  the  vale  of  the  Medina,  the  Solert,  South- 
ampton, and  Alum  Bay.  I  shall  never  hear  the  name  of  the  Isle 
of  Wight  without  a  thrill  of  recollections,  nor  without  gratitude 
for  having  been  allowed  so  leisurely  and  thorough  a  survey. 
Moreover,  there  my  cough  seemed  to  be  suspended,  if  not 
ended. 

Paris,  July  24,  1857. 

I  am  overwhelmed  with  the  greatness  of  the  changes  in  Paris, 
[since  1851.]  The  mere  extension  of  the  rue  de  Rivoli,  with 
rows  of  palatial  edifices,  is  but  a  part.  Entire  boulevards  have 
been  opened,  with  names  gratifying  to  the  Emperor,  as  B.  de 
Strasbourg,  B.  de  Sebastopol,  &c.  Two  grand  objects  are  plainly 
in  view,  the  holding  Paris  as  a  great  walled  encampment,  and 
the  filling  of  the  people  to  the  brim  with  amusement.  Without 
a  nocturnal  drive  no  one  comprehends  Paris.  The  world  has  no 
such  turn-out  of  population  ;  no  word  but  swarming  gives  any 
idea  of  it.  As  we  approached  the  Boulevards,  where  the  great 
cafes  seem  one  complex  of  glass,  mirrors,  and  light,  the  rows  on 
the  broad  pavements  were  often  ten,  twenty,  perhaps  thirty  deep. 
Among  these  thousands,  we  heard  nothing  like  outcry,  observed 
no  rudeness,  and  detected  no  signs  of  drunkenness.  People  drive 
out  after  dinner,  and  the  stream  of  carriage-lamps  continues  till 
midnight. 

Mr.  Stewart  visited  the  Emperor  at  Plombieres,  and  was 
received  by  him  in  such  a  manner  as  would  have  been  impossible 
at  Paris  ;  dining,  walking,  and  chatting  with  him  for  three  hours, 
with  every  mark  of  sincere  friendship  and  the  absence  of  all 
ceremony.1 

Macon,  (Saone  et  Loire,)  July  28,  1857. 

Here  we  are,  having  come  at  one  stretch  (from  Paris)  275 
miles.     This,  and  the  region  we  have  passed  lately,  is  the  country 

1  The  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart  had  known  and  befriended  the  Emperor  during 
his  stay  in  the  United  States,  in  his  early  career. 


252  DURING    HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

of  the  famed  Burgundy  wine.  "  Corn  and  wine  "  are  given  to 
these  plains  in  abundance.  The  country  wine  is  weaker  than 
cider,  and  more  refreshing.  I  never  saw  a  town  of  uglier  houses. 
In  no  instance  do  we  see  any  flowers,  or  plants,  trained  over  the 
doors  and  windows.  Apricots  and  figs  are  by  bushels,  and  the 
country  wine  is  without  charge.  The  people  seem  quiet,  innocu- 
ous, and  stolid — that  is  not  precisely  the  word — unambitious  and 
uninquiring.  On  this  blazing  day  I  look  everywhere  for  what 
we  call  a  shade-tree  ;  I  see  nothing  but  the  stiff  rows  of  poplars, 
and  these  in  places  where  there  are  no  houses.  There  is  a 
promenade,  with  shadeless  trees  and  no  grass. 

Points  observable  in  our  rapid  tour  yesterday  :  All  champaign 
country  for  200  miles.  No  cottages,  no  barns,  no  lanes,  or  cross 
roads,  no  divisions,  no  groves,  and  almost  no  beasts  of  burden, 
except  the  human  ones.  Women  universally  the  majority  of 
workers  in  the  harvests.  Country  fertile,  thoroughly  tilled,  and 
pleasing  for  a  first  view,  but  unutterably  monotonous.  People 
seem  quiet,  like  so  many  sheep.  In  a  few  instances  I  descried  little 
edifices,  which  I  have  no  doubt  were  Protestant  temples,  and  the 
sight  was  affecting.  A  little  bread  and  a  little  wine  seem  to  be 
the  fare  of  the  peasantry,  who  are  universally  temperate.  Cha- 
lons-sur-Saone  is  a  fine  town,  the  Cabillonum  of  Ca3sar ;  it  is 
known  to  have  been  visited  by  Augustus,  Constantine,  Attila, 
and  the  Saracens. 

Geneva,  July  29 — August  6,  1857. 

Delightful  place  ;  one  can't  help  breathing  the  air  of  Protes- 
tantism and  freedom.  The  lake  and  environs  and  mountains 
are  as  lovely  as  Rousseau,  Cooper,  and  Byron  have  described. 
I  drove  to  Dr.  Malan's,  at  Vendceuvre,  a  beautiful  hamlet.  The 
venerable  man  was  sitting  with  his  wife  and  daughter.  At  the 
Bergues  I  found  Dr.  Tyng,  returning  from  Palestine.  What  a 
pity  that  the  very  best  descriptions  of  the  Leman  and  its  shores 
are  in  Rousseau's  worst  work  !  There  are  few  places  I  ever  saw 
in  which  I  could  more  willingly  reside.  Shops,  libraries,  &c, 
are  abundant ;  there  is  the  best  of  Protestant  society  and  preach- 
ing ;  schools  numerous  and  good ;  mild  winters  and  luscious 
fruits  ;  neighbourhood  of  Paris,  the  Rhine,  and  Italy  ;  a  perfect 
laissez-faire  as  to  the  way  in  which  you  shall  live. 

Dr.  Malan  said :  "  Most  of  your  countrymen  have  What  I 
call  the  American  venom — they  want  to  feel  before  they  believe." 
For  a  place  of  its  size,  Geneva  has  an  air  of  polite  letters  and 
refined  art,  which  reminds  one  of  Athens.  Like  Athens  it  is 
also  a  resort  for  many  nations.  We  had  a  beautiful  view  of 
Mont  Blanc  from.  Dr.  Malan's,  and  afterwards  from  Col.  Tron- 


1857.  253 

chin's  beautiful  place.  On  a  steamboat  excursion  around  the 
lake  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  "William  Turrettini,  lineal  de- 
scendant of  the  great  three;  he  is  an  eminent  lawyer  and  legis- 
lator, and  a  pious,  orthodox  man.  The  arch-duchess  Marie  of 
Russia  was  on  board,  with  forty-five  in  party  ;  a  handsome 
woman,  with  a  handsome  daughter. 

On  Sunday  I  heard  Dr.  Malan ;  who  is  certainly  eloquent, 
though  he  evidently  speaks  without  the  least  preparation.  The 
congregation  was  about  eighty.  At  seven  we  had  a  service  in 
our  own  room,  which  was  very  delightful.  Dr.  Tyng  expounded 
John  xxi.  The  present  government  of  Geneva  is  radical,  Fazy 
being  President.  They  favour  Papists.  Protestant  and  Popish 
interests  are  about  in  equilibrio.  At  the  treaty  of  Turin, 
Geneva  obtained  increase  of  territory,  but  with  it  an  accession 
of  Papists.  The  Sabbath  is  much  profaned  here ;  for  an  age  the 
elections  of  the  Canton  have  been  held  in  the  cathedral  on  a 
Sunday.  There  is  a  Greek  chapel  here,  entirely  for  the  con- 
venience of  a  sister  of  the  late  Emperor  Nicholas.  The  princess 
goes  there  on  Sunday,  for  some  formal  cause,  and  then  rapidly 
drives  to  one  of  the  French  churches. 

Geneva  is  full  of  old  covered  alleys  or  passages,  running  clear 
through  piles  of  buildings.  They  probably  have  some  connexion 
with  the  defences  of  other  times.  One  finds  a  remarkable 
number  of  ancient  noble  houses  degraded  into  factories  and 
dwellings  for  the  poor.  They  are  too  massive  to  be  pulled 
clown,  as  would  be  done  in  the  United  States.  I  found  one  this 
morning,  of  grand  proportions,  with  a  defaced  blazonry  over  the 
door.  No  one  could  tell  me  what  it  was  formerly,  (it  is  now  an 
iron  warehouse,)  but  a  little  street  back  of  it,  named  la  rue  de 
vieux  qpllege,  reveals  the  story. 

I  have  been  at  the  cathedral,  and  once  more  saw  the  canopy 
under  which  Farel,  Calvin,  and  Knox  preached.  They  also  have 
Calvin's  professional  chair.  I  suppose  no  place  of  its  size  has 
half  as  many  book-shops  as  Geneva,  and  1  have  never  seen  a 
place  so  stocked  with  beautiful  prints  and  engravings.  The 
truffles  of  all  this  region  of  the  Rhone  are  fine,  succulent,  and 
savoury.  Every  variety  of  fruits  in  market ;  mulberries,  im- 
mense yellow  and  crimson  gages,  strawberries,  raspberries,  pears, 
plums,  apricots,  and  such  potatoes  as  rival  Ireland ;  sold  chiefly 
by  a  poor,  withered-looking  set  of  brown  women,  sitting  on  the 
ground,  many  with  goitres,  and  though  in  this  Alpine  land, 
devoid  of  rosy  freshness  and  all  grace.  At  our  breakfast  we 
have  honey,  black  cherries,  and  very  large  figs. 

Geneva  is  a  sweet  home-like  place,  which  I  am. sorry  to  think 
I  shall  never  see  again. 


254  DURING   HIS    SECOND    VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

Berne,  August  7,  1857. 
It  is  surprising  how  many  persons  speak  English,  and  how 
many  Russians  we  meet.  The  Bernese  are  far  better  looking  as 
a  people  than  the  Genevese.  Among  the  latter,  even  the  young 
women  look  haggard  and  withered.  Here  there  is  much  of  the 
blonde  character,  which  belongs  to  the  better  sort  of  Germans. 
Berne  is  a  strange,  solid,  grotesque,  middle-age  place,  built  so 
mountainously  that  nothing  but  an  earthquake  could  well  alter 
it.     The  view  of  the  Oberland  Alps  is  very  fine  in  good  weather. 


Ixterlaken,  August  9 — 20,  1857. 

Interlaken  lies  between  the  lakes  Thun  and  Brienz.  Never 
since  Niagara  have  my  descriptive  talents  been  more  tasked  and 
baffled.  The  village  combines  every  thing,  both  old  and  new, 
which  the  most  romantic  fancy  could  demand  in  Swiss  architec- 
ture. The  streets  crooked,  the  houses  tumbled  about  with  all 
lines  but  straight  ones,  in  a  way  to  drive  a  Philadelphian  mad, 
the  eaves  overhanging,  stones  on  the  roofs,  every  characteristic 
which  we  see  in  the  stone  villages.  All  this  in  a  little  circular 
basin  quite  surrounded  by  irregular  mountains,  with  the  Jungfrau 
in  full  sight  from  our  windows.  This,  as  the  most  ravishing  spot 
in  Switzerland,  has  been  seized  on  by  the  English.  In  the  height 
of  the  season,  I  reckon  there  are  two  thousand  of  them  here.  I 
sit  and  muse  with  a  sort  of  childish  admiration  at  these  great 
and  lovely  works  of  God,  now  half-veiled  with  clouds  and  mists, 
the  fantastic  changes  of  which  make  a  new  picture  every  minute. 
The  thought  of  my  clear  and  honoured  father's  pleasure  in  such 
sights,  often  comes  to  me ;  he  sees  better  than  these — perhaps 
these  also.  The  hour  at  which  I  write,  allowing  for  longitude, 
is  that  of  morning  service  in  our  church,  a  season  which  I  til  ways 
remember  with  a  sense  of  communion.  Our  Sabbaths  abroad 
have  been  memorable,  and  not  the  less  so  for  the  mingling  of 
pages  from  God's  two  great  records.  I  have  just  read  the  whole 
of  Ezra,  hard  by  the  Jungfrau. 

For  the  first  time  (August  11)  I  heard  a  band  of  Swiss  girls 
sing  Alpine  songs,  with  that  peculiar  falsetto  voice  which  is  called 
yodling.  It  was  sweet,  wild,  and  in  such  surroundings,  delightful. 
I  cannot  think  there  is  any  more  lovely  place  than  this  on  the  face 
of  the  earth ;  a  vale,  a  river,  two  lakes,  a  wall  of  mountains,  snow 
Alps  beyond,  ^English  shops,  society  and  service,  clear  air  and 
luxurious  accommodation.  A  trip  on  horseback  into  the  Ober- 
land gave  me  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  snow-peaks,  mountain 
paths,  avalanches,  alp-horns,  singing-girls,  ranz-des-vaches,  cas- 
cades, &c.     The  cow-bells  of  the  innumerable  cattle  are  large 


1857.  255 

and  musical,  and  every  cow  has  one,  so  that  the  sound  while  they 
graze  is  peculiar. 

Baden-Baden,  August  23 — 31,  185V. 

I  never  dreamed  of  such  a  Vanity-Fair.  The  Champs  Elysees 
afford  no  such  concentration  of  trees,  lamps,  dresses,  music, 
crowds,  and  fashion  as  the  promenade  before  the  Conversations- 
Saal  here ;  all  in  full  dress ;  a  ball-room  out  of  doors,  and  the 
numbers  1,000  to  3,000 ;  nothing  heard  but  French.  The  waters 
are  about  160°  Fahrenheit. 

The  Anglicans  keep  up  service  here,  and  in  a  Roman  Catholic 
church.  When  I  entered  the  door,  I  thought  I  had  been  mis- 
directed. The  epistle  and  gospel  our  British  brethren  must  always 
read  at  the  altar ;  and  here  the  two  parsons  had  the  regular 
thing,  with  all  its  mantel-furniture,  candles,  and  framed  papers, 
more  tawdry  than  usual.  While  I  say  this,  I  must  do  honour  to 
the  English  for  everywhere  keeping  up  the  service  of  God,  and 
for  the  frequency  and  decorum  of  their  attendance.  How  pro- 
found and  distressing  is  my  impression  of  the  irreligion  of  these 
countries  !  No  Sabbath  and  apparently  no  grace  !  The  boors 
are  so  ground  to  the  earth,  that  they  look  like  slaves.  Blessed 
Americans,  sua  si  bona  norint!  I  am  refreshed  by  a  handful  of 
precious  German  tracts,  (some  by  Ryle,)  which  Dr.  Marriott, 
of  Basle,  sets  forth.  That  hot  but  sincere  man  does  much  good  ; 
and  among  these  epicures  and  Sadducees  (Phil.  iii.  18, 19)  every 
thing  is  notable,  that  tends  towards  the  saving  of  the  soul.  Wo 
is  me,  if  I  seek  it  not  more  zealously  on  return.  A  series  of 
tracts  in  large  print,  by  old  Andrew  Read,  entitled  "  Cottage 
Tracts,  or  Christ's  Welcome  to  all  comers,"  is  very  fine. 

You  must  consult  Sir  Francis  Head,1  or  some  of  the  guide- 
books, about  Baden-Baden.  I  had  no  idea  of  the  grand  scale  on 
which  every  thing  is  conducted.  It  is  a  lap  of  earth  among  high, 
near,  and  round  hills,  which  are  cut  into  innumerable  walks  and 
drives.  The  water  is  drunk  hot  as  well  as  used  externally.  But 
the  great  thing  is  raving,  idolatrous,  expensive  pleasure.  The 
princes  of  all  the  continental  states  are  to  be  seen  here  during 
the  season.  Every  moment  we  look  for  the  king  of  Flanders, 
and  a  cloth  is  already  laid  for  his  feet.  People  suffer  as  much 
with  heat  as  in  America. 

Our  windows  are  just  beside  the  front  door,  so  we  see  royalty 
[king  of  Belgians]  whenever  he  goes  or  comes.  The  king  is  a 
good-looking  old  gentleman  ;  he  is  well  made  up  with  black  wig, 
but  no  whiskers  or  moustache  ;  full  suit  of  black,  an  orange 
something   under  his   waistcoat.     Legs  a  little  shaky.     In  the 

2  "  Bubbles  from  the  Brunnen  of  Nassau."  / 


256  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

afternoon  a  coach  and  four  postilions,  footman  and  outriding 
groom,  drove  up.  Two  ladies  in  white  muslin  got  out.  The 
king  descends — grand  uncovering  and  bowing.  He  ascends  the 
coach,  leaving  one  of  the  ladies.  These  are  the  princesses  of 
Prussia,  who  have  a  summer-house  here.  The  king  traveh 
incog.,  as  Count  d' Ardennes ;  his  suite  consists  of  seventeen  per 
sons. 

The  gambling-scene  at  the  Conversation  Hall  is  very  stirring 
A  woman  very  eager  and  prominent,  booking  her  profit  and  loss 
Mothers  showing  boys  and  girls  how  to  stake.  The  roulette- 
table  is  just  such  as  I  have  seen  in  my  childhood,  with  sweat 
cloth,  &c. 

In  Switzerland  I  thought  much  of  Wordsworth's  poetry  con- 
cerning it,  and  of  Scott's  Anne  of  Geierstein.  On  the  Ehine  I 
consider  Byron's  stanzas  descriptive  of  the  same  better  than  any 
painting.  Goethe  often  occurs  to  me.  People  get  to  be  great 
polyglots  here.  I  often  hear  the  same  person  speak  three  lan- 
guages in  as  many  minutes.  The  African  servant  of  a  Russian 
prince  has  just  been  talking  fluently  under  our  window  in  Ger- 
man, Italian,  and  French  ;  he  says  he  is  from  Central  Africa. 
The  princess  Helena  of  Russia  is  here,  and  the  Emperor  is  to 
visit  a  camp  at  Stuttgart  next  month.  We  have  had  the  best 
instrumental  music  I  ever  heard,  from  the  band  of  the  28th 
regiment  of  Austria,  now  at  the  neighbouring  city  of  Rastadt. 

The  more  I  view  Baden,  the  more  I  see  its  walks  to  be  inex- 
haustible ;  they  wind  around  all  parts  of  the  valley,  and  creep 
up  the  numerous  hill-sides,  with  clumps  of  trees,  gravel-paths, 
parterres  of  flowers,  and  well-placed  seats.  The  Old  Castle  has 
a  grand  site,  and  is  a  fine  ruin.  Every  thing  Mrs.  Radcliffe 
could  desire  is  afforded  by  this  crumbling,  ivy-covered  castle. 
So  long  has  it  been  vacant  that  numerous  trees  of  the  largest 
size  grow  within  the  walls.  On  our  way  home,  we  went  to  the 
New  Castle,  such  only  by  comparison.  It  surmounts  the  acro- 
polis of  the  town.  The  old  margraves  of  the  Palatinate  lived 
on  the  high  place  till  1471,  when  the  modern  Schloss  was  built. 
It  was  burnt  by  the  French  in  1689,  but  restored.  The  dungeons 
are  horrible  ;  subterranean  vaults  of  great  extent  through  which 
we  groped  with  candles.  The  contrast  to  the  inhabited  parts  is 
striking  ;  here  the  rooms  are  brilliant.  The  young  couple  now 
reigning  live  chiefly  at  Carlsruhe,  but  their  private  apartments 
here  are  very  comfortable.  The  Orphan  House  of  Baden  was 
founded  by  Stultz,  the  famous  London  tailor,  who  was  made  a 
nobleman  by  his  prince. 


1857.  257 

Heidelberg,  September  1,  1857. 
The  woman  who  accompanied  us  as  guide  through  this  castle 
of  castles,  and  who  spoke  good  English,  was  a  most  agreeable 
and  accomplished  person  ;  thoroughly  versed  in  history  and 
literature,  and  quite  intimate  with  Bryant  and  Longfellow.  I 
heard  some  capital  singing  at  St.  Peter's,  and  a  very  legal  sermon 
from  a  very  young  divine.  The  Church  is  Reformed.  Here  we 
have  more  Germanisms  of  the  table — raw  meat,  rolled  boiled 
pudding  of  meat,  sourkrout,  fish  after  flesh,  sausage  and  omelette. 
I  went  to  the  University  and  Library  before  breakfast. 

Frankfort  on  the  Main,  September  2 — 1,  1857. 

This  is  a  noble  city.  The  Zeil  is  a  broad  street,  resembling 
Broadway  in  cheerfulness,  brilliancy,  business,  and  crowd  ;  it  is 
wider,  and  the  trottoirs  twice  as  wide.  We  are  next  door  to 
Rothschild's  town  residence.  Statues  in  honour  of  Goethe  and 
of  the  three  inventors  of  printing  adorn  our  neighbourhood.  To 
crown  all  it  is  full  Frankfort-fair;  and  the  booths,  shows,  and 
tantarara,  beat  all  since  I  saw  Greenwich  Fair  in  1851. 

The  deep  gloom  apparent  everywhere  in  the  English,  about 
the  Indian  mutinies,  awakens  my  sincere  sympathy.  How  I  wish 
America  could  at  least  speak  some  words  of  neighbourly  cheer 
on  this  great  occasion  ;  it  would  be  profoundly  felt  by  the  mag- 
nanimous part  of  the  British  people. 

The  Romer  is  a  famous  old  building.  Hero  the  Senatus  was 
sitting,  with  men  in  scarlet  at  the  door.  I  did  homage  to  the 
magistracy  of  a  great  city-commonwealth.  I  saw  the  Golden 
Bull  of  1356,  the  fundamental  law  of  the  German  empire ;  it  is 
in  Latin,  and  'perfectly  well  kept.  The  banqueting-hall  is  sur- 
rounded by  full-lengths  of  fifty-two  emperors,  the  last  filling  the 
last  niche.  Since  Car.  V.  they  are  portraits.  In  this  Kaisersaal 
the  new  emperor  was  always  feasted,  while  princes  waited  on 
him.     Some  Prescott  or  Motley  is  wanting  for  this  subject. 

Every  available  broad  street  and  area  is  occupied  by  the 
(Michaelmas)  fair ;  miles  of  shops,  booths,  and  stalls.  The  Jewrs 
predominate  in  this  Feast  of  Tabernacles.  Imagine  twenty 
Bear-markets,  all  in  one,  with  tents  and  sheds  for  the  stalls,  and 
twenty  different  languages.  I  suppose  it  is  chiefly  for  exchanges, 
and  for  giving  and  receiving  orders  ;  but  it  is  far  more  stirring 
than  the  got-up  World's  Fairs,  and  has  antiquarian  relations  of 
high  interest.  1  see  many  Russian  advertisements  and  stores  of 
Russian  books.  The  show  and  mountebank  department  is 
extremely  broad.  In  the  presence  of  many  a  miles  gloriosits, 
order  wTas  perfect.  Every  thing,  all  over  town,  came  to  a  dead 
stop   at   9   30'.     I  went  to  see  the  house  of  Goethe's  birth,  a 


258  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

truly  patrician  old  pile,  seven  windows  across.  The  earlier 
parts  of  his  autobiography  and  his  Wilhelm  Meister  came  very 
strongly  before  me.  I  see  hair-dye  advertised  of  "  a  celebrated. 
American  chemist,  Dr.  Wanylliam."  I  have  seen  forged  labels 
for  wares  in  unmistakable  German-English.  American  gum- 
shoes (Gummijschuhen)  grace  the  fair.  I  traversed  the  Jews' 
Quarter.  Formerly  this  old  Jewry  was  locked  up  every  night. 
The  houses  are  tall  and  rickety,  mysteriously  dark  and  judaically 
dirty,  and  seem  squinting  and  nodding  towards  one  another. 
There  are  six  thousand  Jews  in  Frankfort.  We  have  suffered 
much  and  unexpectedly  from  heat,  but  never  from  musquitoes, 
bugs,  beetles,  or  those  dire-voiced  crickets,  katydids,  and  night- 
frogs,  which  have  been  my  dread  from  my  infancy  ;  the  dryness 
and  wholesomeness  of  the  night  air  is  likewise  creditable.  But 
O  how  I  long  for  home,  and  for  the  glory  of  all  lands ! 

At  the  Public  Library  (200,000  volumes)  saw  Marchesi's 
fine  statue  of  Goethe,  also  Cranach's  portrait  of  Luther  and 
wife,  some  autographs  of  Luther,  and  a  pair  of  his  shoes.  Then 
around  the  former  ramparts  where  now  .are  fine  avenues,  to  the 
Bethmann  Museum,  and  saw  Dannecker's  Ariadne.  In  the  even- 
ing, during  a  direct  interview,  a  young  lady  of  St.  Gall,  aged  21, 
and  of  very  good  manners,  addressed  Mr.  Stewart  in  German 
and  Italian,  and  conversed  with  me  in  French.  She  is  going  to 
Hamburg,  and  then  to  England.  Her  stature  is  eight  feet  five 
inches.  She  is  attending  the  Fair.  The  giantess  is  pretty- 
behaved,  and  shook  hands  at  parting. 

Wiksbadek,  September  5 — 7,  1857. 

First  impressions  of  Wiesbaden  are  favourable.  It  is  natu- 
rally less  picturesque  than  Baden,  and  improved  in  a  less  pic- 
turesque manner,  but  with  more  elaborate  beauty.  The  strong 
points  are  a  dozen  boiling  springs,  covered  promenades  near 
them,  Kursaal  with  cafes,  billiards,  rouge-et-noir,  le  roulette,  and 
immense  colonnades,  the  court  within  shady  and  with  fine  jets, — 
behind  is  a  grand  promenade,  where  thousands  take  coffee  and 
ices  to  the  almost  perpetual  sound  of  music  ;  an  artificial  lake  with 
fountain,  rustic  bridges,  innumerable  seats  in  numerous  groves, 
walks  winding  and  climbing  up  into  the  eminences,  a  capital  grand 
ducal  residence,  extraordinary  cheapness  of  living.  The  com- 
pany is  evidently  two  or  three  carats  coarser  than  that  of  Baden. 

Church  in  the  Ducal  Palace,  a  temporary  chapel  off  the  riding 
school.  No  sermon,  but  1  enjoyed  the  service  greatly.  A  large 
congregation  ;  among  them  Sir  Frederick  Thesiger.  At  dinner 
to-day  (10th)  ten  Presbyterians  of  us  sat  together.  We  are 
commonly  waked  by  a  hymn-tune.     When  I  rise  I  see  the  Koch- 


1857.  259 

brunnen  steaming  about  fifteen  yards  off*.  The  procession  of  all 
nations,  holding  tall  glass  cups  of  hot  water,  which  many  carry 
half  a  mile,  is  amusing.  They  do  it  all  to  music.  So  perpetu- 
ally are  we  amidst  English  talk,  that  I  must  needs,  from  my 
imitative  ear,  pick  up  some  brogues,  though  I  shall  not  intention- 
ally carry  home  any  English  pronunciations.  We  are  now 
eating  the  first  ripe  grapes.  The  white  are  like  the  Chasselas 
of  our  hot-houses,  but  with  a  more  rich  raisin  flavour.  The  carp 
of  the  hot  brooks  are  fine  and  healthy,  testifying  well  of  the 
bath ;  they  serve  it  after  the  meat.  The  Germans  have  no 
moral  scruples  connected  with  gambling.  The  toy-shops  contain 
little  roulette-tables  and  sweat-cloths,  which  enter  the  youth 
early  in  the  sport.  Probably  I  have  had  a  better  glimpse  of 
continental,  and  especially  German  life,  than  I  could  have  had  in 
months  at  ordinary  places.  My  good  opinion  of  the  Germans, 
in  all  social  relations,  is  much  increased,  and  I  think  far  more 
highly  of  their  comforts  than  I  did.  As  to  religion,  I  have  little 
means  of  judging.  The  negative  marks  are  very  black.  The 
gambling  here  is  more  eager,  hot,  and  vulgar  than  at  Baden. 
The  order  of  these  countries,  in  things  which  they  choose  to 
order,  is  marvellous.  Every  street-noise  is  prevented,  and  every 
inn  and  cafe  is  cleared  at  the  "  police-hour."  All  the  gambling 
regulations  are  by  Ducal  authority  ;  not  only  a  tarif  of  cabs  is 
settled  by  the  same  power,  but  every  donkey-ride  to  this  or  that 
place  is  rated,  and  the  very  order  of  dances  in  the  balls  at  the 
Kursaal  is  prescribed  in  a  placard,  signed  by  the  Grand  Duke's 
Commissary.  Accidents  to  vehicles  are  severely  punished.  Pla- 
cards prescribe  where  wheels  shall  be  locked  and  paces  slackened. 
The  Grand  Duchy  contains  about  360,000  souls,  half  Romanists. 
Of  Langenschovalbach  nothing  can  be  added  to  Sir  Francis 
Head's  "  Bubbles  " — a  work  full  of  entertainment,  and  less  exag- 
gerative than  I  once  thought.  I  refer  you  to  it  for  this,  Schlangen- 
bad,  and  Wiesbaden,  as  no  one  can  say  as  well  what  he  has  said. 
The  Springs  are  powerfully  chalybeate,  delightfully  cool,  and 
sparkling  with  effervescence.  The  taste  is  far  more  winning 
than  that  of  the  Congress  Spring.  The  baths  are  celebrated  for 
their  tonic  character.  The  L.  is  much  what  the  Red  Sweet 
[of  Virginia]  would  be,  if  artificially  improved.  The  surround- 
ing eminences  strongly  resemble  American  forests.  The  bath 
is  incomparable  for  velvet  softness,  and  the  water  is  exported  as 
a  cosmetic. 

Coblenz,  September  9 — 11,  185T. 
We  had  a  very  fine  afternoon  from  Biebrich,  down  the  Rhine, 
to  this  place.     The  four  hours  were  of  almost  painfully  exquisite 


260 


DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 


interest :  the  earth  has  no  such  shores.  Our  windows  face  the 
Gibraltar  of  the  Rhine,  Ehrenbreitstein.  This  fortress  has  cost 
five  millions  of  dollars  in  its  reconstruction.  It  can  hold  100,000 
men.  I  arose  in  the  night,  and  saw  the  waning  moon  in  the 
high  heaven,  and  Orion  just  ascending  obliquely  over  the  grand 
fortress.  Byron's  descriptions  of  Rhine  scenery  are  to  me 
beyond  any  lengthened  detail  in  prose,  or  even  any  painting. 
What  a  power  of  true  poetry  !  I  feel  it  here  on  the  spot.1  See 
his  stanzas  beginning  "  On  the  banks,"  &c,  and  "  The  castled 
crag  of  Drackenfels."  We  have  visited  the  famous  castle  of 
Stolzenfels,  (Rock  of  Pride,)  now  a  summer  residence  of  the 
King  of  Prussia.  Thence  to  Ems,  the  most  ancient  of  the  aristo- 
cratic Brunnen  of  Nassau.  The  water  is  somewhat  warmer  than 
the  Red  Sweet. 


1  The  coincidence  of  the  place  and  the  subject,  induces  me  to  insert  on 
this  page  the  following  lines  by  the  late  Professor  J.  Addison  Alexander, 
which  were  "  literally  composed,  though  certainly  not  written,  on  recrossing 
the  Rhine  at  Coblenz,  after  an  absence  of  several  months  to  the  eastward." 
This  was  during  "  a  sleepless  night  in  the  month  of  March,"  1834. 

STAGE-COACH    STANZAS. 

Thou  art  a  king  among  the  streams, 

Thou  river  deep  and  broad, 
In  regal  pomp  thy  surface  gleams — 

To  man,  but  not  to  God. 


I  hail  thee  as  an  ancient  friend, 

And  as  I  cross  thy  line, 
My  democratic  knee  I  bend, 

To  greet  thee,  royal  Rhine. 

The  day  and  hour,  when  last  we  met, 
Come  o'er  me  like  a  dream, 

And  then  I  saw,  I  see  thee  yet, 
Unchanging,  changeful  stream. 

The  rush  of  waters  o'er  thy  bed 
Distracts  my  labouring  brain — 

Forever  dying,  never  dead — 
Buried  and  born  again. 

What  is  the  secret  of  thy  life  ? 

What  holds  thy  channel  fast, 
Amidst  the  elemental  strife, 

The  earthquake  and  the  blast  ? 

Why  is  it  that  the  swollen  tide, 
Which  ever  northward  sweeps, 

So  warily  on  either  side 

Its  well-marked  station  keeps  ? 

Why  dost  thou  not,  old  Rhine,  at  length 

Break  thy  ignoble  chains, 
And  mustering  all  thy  mighty  strength 

Submerge  the  adjacent  plains  ? 


Thy  full  deep  current  bold  and  proud, 

In  his  almighty  view, 
Is  but  the  sprinkling  of  a  cloud, 

A  drop  of  morning  dew. 

Though  thou  shouldst  empty  every  rill, 
And  drain  the  neighbouring  land, 

Thy  giant-waters  could  not  fill 
the  hollow  of  his  hand. 

The  same  almighty  hand,  that  drives 

Thy  current  to  the  sea, 
Can  well  control  it,  when  it  strives, 

And  struggles  to  be  free. 

And  if  at  times  that  hand  grows  slack, 
And  lets  thee  do  thy  worst ; 

He  brings  thee  still  at  pleasure  back, 
And  rules  thee  as  at  first. 

So  when  I  bend  my  stubborn  knee, 
To  greet  thee,  royal  Rhine, 

I  render  homage,  not  to  thee, 
But  to  thv  liOrd  and  mine. 


1857.  261 

Cologne,  September  11,  1857. 

On  the  steamer  from  Coblenz  was  Macaulay,  (soon  to  be 
Baron,)  and  I  fear  I  studied  him  more  than  the  Rhine.  He 
greatly  resembles  In  man's  portrait :  stout,  broad,  and  stalwart, 
but  pale  and  slightly  flaccid  in  cheeks  ;  bluish  gray  eye ;  gray 
hair  and  whisker  ;  blue  surtout  and  cap,  plaid  waistcoat  and  gray 
trousers ;  about  five  feet  six  ;  gold  spectacles  near  the  end  of  nose. 
Very  arch  but  subdued  smile  sometimes.  An  ugly  but  distingue 
man  with  him  who  read  "  Cicero  de  Republica,"  while  the  Baron 
read  a  vellum-covered  Italian  book,  seemingly  a  history,  inter- 
changeably with  Murray,  [Guide-book.]  They  ha-ha'd  cheerily 
over  some  of  Cicero's  passages.  Only  one  or  two  points  at- 
tracted Macaulay ;  such  as  the  Seven  Mountains,  Drackenfels 
and  the  Dom.  I  expected  talent  in  his  face,  but  I  was  delighted 
with  its  moral  traits,  tranquil  content,  gentleness,  and  benignity 
— the  last  finely  displayed  towards  an  infant.  I  am  sure  he 
would  break  into  tears  sooner  than  into  laughter.1 

Four  hundred  men  are  working  on  the  cathedral.  The  row 
of  windows  presented  by  the  late  King  of  Bavaria  is  superb,  but 
nothing  to  the  ancient  glass.  Then  to  St.  Ursula's  and  the  oste- 
ology of  the  11,000  virgins — to  St.  Peter's  to  see  Rubens's  great 
painting  of  St.  Peter's  death.  In  all  these  churches,  as  through- 
out Prussia,  the  children  (Catholic)  are  gathered  every  morning 
before  school  hours.  I  heard  a  thousand  sing  German  hymns  at 
Coblenz.     This  tells  powerfully  on  the  next  generation. 

Spa,  September  12,  1S57. 
We  have  to-day  passed  from  Prussia  to  Belgium.  The 
country  is  beautiful ;  unlike  all  we  have  recently  seen,  and  very 
like  England  in  hedgerows  and  verdure,  especially  about  Aix-la- 
Chapelle,  which  lies  in  a  picturesque  way  beside  a  charming  hill. 
Spa  is  very  famous  in  old  Chesterfieldiari  times,  and  is  still 
visited  by  kings,  dowagers,  and  vieux  moustaches.  The  water  is 
carried  all  over  Europe,  as  containing  the  most  extraordinary 
mixture  of  iron  and  effervescence.  The  Germans  are  great 
tipplers  of  mineral  waters,  and  those  of  other  Springs  are  brought 
to  each  and  sold  in  bottles.  All  agree  in  giving  the  palm  to  the 
genuine  Seltzer-water  from  Niederselters,  in  Nassau.  It  is  a 
most  refreshing  beverage,  greatly  useful  to  pulmonary  patients. 
It  is  used  at  tables  to  correct  the  acid  of  the  white  wines.  I 
have  seen  no  one  at  table  yet  who  did  not  drink  wine,  but  I  have 
seen  no  intoxication.  The  labouring  classes  are  hard  driven.  A 
chambermaid  at  Frankfort  gets  $18  a  year.     Women  are  seen 

1  Lord  Macaulay  died  Dec.  28,  1859. 


262  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

yoked  with  cows  in  the  plough.  Nine-tenths  of  hay  and  harvest 
are  carried  on  women's  heads,  and  a  horse  is  not  seen  in  one  field 
of  a  thousand.  Women  work  at  railway  excavations  in  gangs. 
These  remarks  apply  less  to  Belgium,  and  not  at  all  to  Hoi 
land.  Belgian  agriculture  has  a  noble  appearance ;  a  neatness 
like  the  English,  but  in  kind,  in  extent,  in  absence  of  cattle,  roads, 
and  division,  altogether  French.  No  spot  is  in  a  state  of  nature ; 
weeds  and  brush  quite  unknown.  Root-crops  are  predominant  at 
this  season.  I  see  a  blue  clover,  not  known  in  America.  A 
great  deal  of  tobacco  is  grown  on  the  Rhine,  making  good  light 
cigars.  Indian  corn  is  frequent,  but  low,  straggling,  and  with 
irregular  ears.  It  is  hard  to  think  how  large  a  portion  of  these 
crops  goes  to  the  crown.  A  crazy  bridge,  a  rutty,  rough,  or 
stony  road,  or  a  miry  spot,  I  have  not  seen,  unless  in  the  Alps. 
No  apprentice  or  field-hand  goes  from  one  hamlet  to  another, 
without  falling  under  the  municipal  argus.  The  creatures  seem 
ruddy  and  merry.  As  a  sort  of  indemnity,  the  government  offers 
numerous  public  and  accessible  pleasures ;  parks,  music,  bands 
of  singers,  illuminations,  Sunday  frolics.  The  grand  instrument, 
however,  of  subjugation  is  the  priesthood.  You  will  hear  it  said 
that  the  hold  of  Popery  on  the  masses  is  declining ;  in  my  opinion 
the  reverse  is  probably  true,  and  I  see  an  advance  in  six  years. 
The  priests  are  more  numerous  and  obtrusive,  the  churches  are 
fuller,  and  especially  the  rising  race  is  more  under  their  hand. 
Belgium  is  politically  liberal,  but  religiously  priest-ridden.  The 
English  service  is  performed  at  every  principal  place  by  a  regular 
chaplain  every  Sunday.  At  least  ten  thousand  persons  hear  the 
gospel  in  English,  on  the  Continent,  every  Lord's  day. 

Antwerp,  September  14 — 15,  1857. 
The  country  from  Spa  hither  through  Louvain  and  Mechlin, 
is  flat  but  garden-like ;  people  contstantly  dressing  the  crops 
with  spades,  hoes,  rakes,  and  the  hand.  Our  hotel  is  just  over 
from  the  great  Notre  Dame.  I  was  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  great  tower,  405  feet  high,  when  the  bells  began 
to  play  before  the  stroke  of  seven  ;  it  was  in  parts,  and  several 
minutes  long.  As  I  thus  stood,  in  the  dreamy  twilight,  in  the 
irregular  area  in  front  of  the  majestic  pile  and  surrounded  by 
quaint  old  gables,  I  felt  the  impression  to  be  deeper  than  even 
at  Cologne.  But  these  architectural  emotions  with  me  are  not 
religious,  as  are  those  of  Chamonix,  the  Jungfrau,  or  the  Natural 
Bridge,  [Virginia.]  This  piling  of  man's  hand  is  Babel-like.  I 
am  deadly  sick  of  popish  ceremonies  and  of  all  liturgical  aping 
of  them,  and  approximations  to  them.  Read  John  Owen  on 
Liturgies  ;  read  it ;  read  it ! 


1857.  263 

I  went  to  early  mass  in  the  cathedral ;  there  were  some 
hundreds,  as  it  is  a  jubilee  and  octave  of  the  something,  with 
plenary  indulgence,  &e.  The  music  was  seraphic.  I  have  always 
thought  men's  voices  in  a  vaulted  cathedral  attained  the  musical 
acme.  The  five  aisles  came  out  well  in  the  morning  gray.  The 
number  of  Rubens's  chefs  cfoeuvre  which  are  in  Antwerp  is  stun- 
ning. Though  I  had  seen  many  of  his  works,  I  really  had  never 
conceived  of  his  power  till  now.  The  Magdalene  in  his  Cruci- 
fixion is,  in  Reynolds's  judgment,  the  best  profile  extant.  In  the 
"  Doctors  in  the  Temple,"  he  has  given  likenesses  of  Luther,  Cal- 
vin, and  Erasmus,  all  fine,  and  the  first  admirable.  At  the  superb 
old  church  of  St.  Jacques  we  saw  a  funeral  and  three  masses 
all  at  once.  Different  parts  were  in  progress,  and  while  the  bell 
jingled,  a  beadle  was  trotting  us  about  and  explaining  the  pic- 
tures ;  but  whenever  a  tired  lady  took  a  gentleman's  arm,  it  was 
arrested — it  would  have  been  promenading.  There  are  ninety- 
nine  bells  in  the  great  tower,  one  of  which  it  takes  sixteen  men 
to  ring. 

At  St.  Andrew's  we  saw  the  wonderful  pulpit  of  wood- 
carving,  representing  the  calling  of  Andrew  and  Peter  from  their 
nets.  We  had  seen  many  such  things  and  despised  them,  but 
this  is  a  noble  piece  of  sculpture.  The  figures  are  of  life-size ; 
the  boat  is  real ;  the  net  and  fishes  marvellous ;  the  manner  in 
which  the  pulpit  and  stairs  are  concealed  in  rocks  and  trees  is 
most  ingenious,  and  the  expression  of  the  forms  and  faces 
masterly.     The  whole  is  about  30x20x15  feet. 

Most  of  the  Walloons  understand  me  when  I  speak  German. 
The  great  favourite  among  their  writers  is  Hendrik  Conscience, 
who  has  ennobled  the  Flemish  tongue  as  Burns  did  the  Scotch ; 
a  genial  story-letter  for  the  people ;  a  Goldsmith  in  ease,  a 
Franklin  for  adages,  and  a  Scott  for  nationality  :  so  they  pre- 
tend. His  whole  works  are  publishing  here,  about  20  volumes, 
18mo,  being  out.  He  has  just  been  made  viceroy  of  Flanders, 
and  is  considered  as  having  given  himself  to  the  Catholic,  or 
retrograde  party. 

Bruges,  September  16,  1857. 

There  is  certainly  no  spot  so  redolent  of  grandeur  in  decay. 
Once  the  Tyre  or  New  York  of  the  continent,  it  stands  with  its 
rows  of  towering,  tottering,  ghastly  palaces  and  halls,  a  builded 
desert.  The  streets  remind  me  of  London  before  dawn.  Great- 
ness and  beauty  are  in  these  streets.  I  would  have  missed  any 
thing  rather  than  this. 

The  region  we  have  just  passed  through  is  acknowledged  to 
be  the  most  highly  cultivated  in  Europe ;  small  properties — 700 


264  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO    EUROPE. 

passed  in  18  miles — not  metaphorically  but  literally  tilled  like 
a  garden — hundreds  of  women  on  their  knees,  weeding  with 
the  hand. 

Brussels,  September  17 — 18,  1857. 
We  breakfasted  at  Ghent ;  saw  old  churches,  old  streets,  and 
marks  of  that  wealth  which  existed  in  Ga?id,  when  its  great  native 
Charles  V.  said  he  could  put  all  Paris  in  his  gand,  (glove.)     To- 
morrow we  part  with  Mr.  Stewart. 

London,  September  19 — 23,  1857. 

To  get  back  to  green,  clean,  cool,  Christian  England,  is  just 
like  enchantment.  The  verdure  seemed  an  illusion,  and  "  we 
were  like  them  that  dream,"  (with  words  following.1)  At  the 
"  Old  Slip  "  in  Dover,  we  resumed  our  familiarity  with  tea, 
toast,  sole,  big  basins,  thick  towels,  soap  and  joogs  of  'ot  water. 
When  we  last  saw  the  green  meads  of  Kent,  we  undervalued 
them,  being  just  from  the  Isle  of  Wight ;  but  coming  now  from 
rich  but  russet  Flanders  and  Normandy,  where  are  no  grazing 
herds  and  flocks,  and  no  detached  cottages,  we  were  in  amaze. 

On  Sunday  (20th)  to  Mr.  Noel's,  and  heard  Mr.  Muncaster, 
of  Manchester,  a  Congregationalist,  one  of  the  clearest,  ablest, 
and  most  theologic  sermons  I  ever  heard.  The  singing  was 
delightful ;  precentor  and  [Lowell]  Masonic  plain-song.  My 
soul  was  melted  within  me  by  the  fellowship  of  so  many  un- 
mistakably devout  persons.  Mr.  Noel  sat  below  in  his  pew  ; 
an  American  face  strangely  reminding  me  of  my  father's,  at 
the  age  of  forty.  Blessed  Sabbath — blessed  gospel — and  blessed 
England  still !  More  than  "  the  ten "  are  found  in  London. 
Prayers  for  Indian  brethren  very  touching,  and  infinitely  better 
than  the  "  prayer  in  War  and  Tumult," 2  which  we  have  been 
hearing.  To  get  away  from  printed  prayers  and  repetitions,  is 
like  Alpine  air  after  a  chapel  full  of  torch-smell  and  incense. 
The  Dissenters  in  England  have  universally  abandoned  standing 
in  prayers,  so  far  as  I  see.  As  I  cannot  consent  to  irreverence 
in  worshipping  God,  I  am  as  frequently  an  object  of  note  as  in 
our  prayer-meetings  at  home,  where  grown  men  pray  sitting,  and 
sometimes  staring.  Two-thirds  of  the  Episcopalians  also  sit. 
The  Germans  and  Scotch  all  stand.  To  such  as  kneel  I  feel  much 
respect.     I  heard  Mr.  Noel  in  the  evening,  (Philip,  i.  23.)     Lan- 

1  "Then  was  our  mouth  filled  with  laughter,  and  our  tongue  with 
singing."  "  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us ;  whereof  we  are 
glad." 

2  In  the  "Book  of  Common  PrayeV." 


1857.  265 

guage  simple  but  masterly,  half  an  hour  without  a  gesture,  but 
very  bewitching ;  voice  that  of  a  parlour-talk  ;  perfect  English, 
delivered  with  an  absolute  absence  of  all  alien  intonation.  In 
this  respect  he  is  a  study.  A  holy  gentleness,  with  an  almost 
death-bed  solemnity  ;  experimental,  mature,  evangelical,  and 
spiritual ;  very  fervent  towards  the  close.  No  manuscript. 
When  he  stopped,  I  was  like  Adam  with  the  angel.1  His  dulcet 
notes  remind  me  of  the  Bruges  carillons.  I  think  Noel's  idea 
of  preaching  the  right  thing ;  just  talking  over  the  Word.  My 
own  father  was  not  more  simple.  Only  deep  and  long  experience 
could  have  brewed  such  a  sermon.  The  only  man  I  ever  heard 
preach  with  so  little  clamour  was  Dr.  J.  P.  Wilson. 

After  what  I  deemed  adequate  knowledge  of  London  fog,  I 
am  this  morning  (21st)  surprised  ;  perhaps  I  ought  to  call  it 
smoke,  for  it  is  not  wet ;  it  fills  the  street  so,  that  I  see  every 
object  through  a  medium  the  colour  of  weak  rum  and  water. 
Over  the  top  of  this  fog,  the  sun  is  brightly  reflected  in  the  three- 
pair  windows  opposite.  I  record  with  feeling,  that  for  now  118 
days  I  have  not  lost  an  hour  or  a  meal  by  sickness. 

I  saw  a  young  lady  driving  a  carriage  through  the  jam  of 
High  Holborn  and  Oxford  street,  with  a  liveried  servant  by  her 
side.  The  shaded  sun  and  autumnal  temperature,  without  any 
decay  of  verdure,  are  just  the  thing  for  me.  Sun  comes  out 
fine.  I  just  missed  the  annual  exhibition  of  the  Blue  Coat  school 
and  its  900  boys.  I  was  actually  within  the  cloisters,  but  could 
get  no  ticket.  The  subject  of  one  of  the  scholar's  hexameters 
was  Funis  Electricus. 

After  viewing  so  many  Gothic  buildings,  I  have  this  result : 
My  interest  in  them  is  scarcely  that  of  beauty  in  form ;  it  is  the 
dim  association  of  history.  Look  at  the  matchless  row  of  painted 
windows  in  the  south  aisle  of  Brussels  cathedral,  or  the  minute 
finish  of  Freiburg — how  intense,  how  continued,  how  widespread 
the  sentiment  which  could  produce  such  results  !  The  greatness 
of  the  mechanism  is  often  astonishing.  Above  all,  the  English 
cathedrals  are  wondrous.  Carlyle  says,  what  I  often  think  of  in 
reference  to  better  and  Christian  things  and  ages,  which  seem 
barren  from  want  of  record,  "  greater  men  have  lived  in  England 
than  any  of  her  writers;  and,  in  fact,  about  the  time  when  these 
writers  appeared,  the  last  of  those  was  already  gone." 

American  affairs  are  as  much  in  men's  mouths  as  Indian  ;  and 
the  comments  are  not  always  courteous.  Renewed  reading  of 
the  newspapers  renews  my  opinion,  that  those  who  have  only 

1  "  So  charming  left  his  voice,  that  he  a  while 

Thought  him  still  speaking,  still  stood  fixed  to  hear." 

Paradise  Lost,  VIII. 
VOL.  II. 12 


266  DURING   HIS    SECOND    VISIT   TO    EUROPE. 

this  way  of  judging  (that  is,  nine-tenths  of  the  English)  cannot 
but  despise  America.  The  articles  inserted  are  about  Kansas, 
Slavery,  Repudiation,  Burdell,  Walker,  and  especially  the  Mor- 
mons. IPimporte,  we  are  a  century  ahead  of  them.  The  Times 
shows  up  the  fogy  ism  which  has  ruined  India.  Even  now  they 
are  waked  up  to  no  real  energies  of  reparation.  Louis  Napoleon 
must  laugh  in  his  sleeve.  1  believe  no  court  in  Europe  is  so 
lullabied  with  Lord  Chamberlainism.  Large  numbers  are  per- 
petually busy  about  the  pleasures  of  the  Queen  and  Prince 
Consort. 

York,  September  24,  1857. 

We  took  the  Great  Northern  Railway  at  11,  and  arrived  at 
5  15' — 101  miles.  The  points  which  most  interested  me  were 
Marston  Moor,  Newark,  and  Scrooley,  where  the  little  group 
lived  who  went  to  Holland  and  then  to  New  Plymouth.  For 
twenty  miles  around  York  all  is  flat  as  a  prairie.  Glimpses  of 
this  pure  white  Minster,  which  you  would  say  was  built  yester- 
day. But  I  am  sick  of  what  they  call  Christian  Art ;  it  is  all  an 
inferior  stage  of  progress.  This  is  the  shooting  season.  At 
every  station  hares,  grouse,  and  hampers  of  game  were  handed  in 
or  out.  The  number  of  hares  one  sees  in  the  fields  is  surprising. 
Every  clay  my  provocation  increases  at  the  tone  in  which 
English  people  speak  of  and  to  Americans :  it  is  ignorantly 
patronizing ;  they  think  of  our  advancement,  precisely  as  we  do 
of  that  of  Liberia. 

The  Minster  shines  with  a  sort  of  celestial  grandeur  and 
beauty  after  the  continental  cathedrals.  The  east  window,  the 
chapter-house,  and  the  side-aisles  are  unique. 

Melrose,  September  25,  1857. 
We  left  York  at  nine,  and  steamed  through  Newcastle  and 
Morpeth  to  Berwick.  Here  we  left  the  main  line,  and  ran  up 
the  Tweed  to  this  place,  passing  Kelso,  an  enchanting  spot.  We 
saw  the  Abbey  with  a  glory  of  sunset  breaking  through  its  West 
window.     At  Abbotsford  we  heard  a  robin-red-breast  sing. 

Edinburgh,  September  26 — 30,  1857. 
Prince's  street,  where  we  are,  looks  right  across  the  green 
ravine  to  the  lofty  houses  of  the  Old  Town.  I  never  saw  any 
thing  more  novel  or  beautiful  than  the  play  of  thousands  of  lights 
as  seen  in  the  populous  hill-side  from  these  front  windows  of 
ours,  flinging  themselves  not  into  right  lines,  but  constellations. 
The  Sabbath  quiet  is  almost  beyond  belief.  Only  one  vehicle 
lias  passed  this  house  in  the  three  hours  I  have  been  in  our 


1857.  267 

sitting-room.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  our  fathers,  whose 
truth  abides  here,  and  who  has  made  this  the  happiest  great  city 
on  the  globe  !  We  have  had  great  comfort  by  the  way  in  read- 
ing good  tracts,  the  varieties  of  which  are  very  remarkable,  both 
in  England  and  Scotland.  One  finds  here  much  more  frequently 
than  with  us,  those  views  in  print  which  wrere  so  much  our 
fathers'  views,  and  which  are  so  little  prominent  in  some  Old- 
School  preachers  ;  I  mean  views  combining  sovereign  freeness 
of  gospel  grace  with  inward  spirituality  and  rest  of  soul. 

On  the  Sabbath  I  heard  Dr.  Bruce  at  Free  St.  Andrew's. 
Sermon  on  Christ's  two  quellings  of  storms  in  Matt.  viii.  and 
xiv.  General  doctrine,  that  afflictions  are  ordered  not  only  to 
try  our  faith,  but  to  try  our  utmost  faith ;  in  the  second  case, 
Jesus  let  them  go  alone.  It  was  a  profound  piece  of  experience, 
viewed  philosophically  ;  strong  meat ;  dense,  witty  at  times, 
unexpected  turns  like  Foster ;  no  elegance  of  manner,  but  im- 
mense impression.  The  prayers  were  almost  inspired.  Ah  here 
is  the  true  Eutaxia,  without  printed  worship  !  At  2  I  went  to 
Free  St.  John's.  Strangers  (how  truly  I  comprehend  the  term  !) 
are  admitted  only  after  the  first  singing.  I  found  myself  waiting 
in  a  basement  with  about  500  others.  At  length  I  was  dragged 
through  a  narrow  passage,  and  found  myself  in  a  very  hot,  over- 
crowded house,  near  the  pulpit.  Dr.  Guthrie  was  praying.  He 
preached  from  Isai.  xliv.  22,  "  Return  unto  me,  for  I  have  re- 
deemed thee."  It  was  fifty  minutes,  but  they  passed  like  noth- 
ing. I  was  instantly  struck  by  his  strong  likeness  to  Dr.  John 
IT.  Rice.  If  you  remember  him  you  have  perfectly  the  type  of 
man  he  is ;  but  then  it  is  Dr.  Rice  with  an  impetuous  freedom 
of  motion,  a  play  of  ductile  and  speaking  features,  and  an  over 
flowing  unction  of  passion  and  compassion,  which  would  cany 
home  even  one  of  my  sermons  ;  conceive  what  it  is  with  his 
exuberant  diction  and  poetic  imagery.  The  best  of  all  is,  it  was 
honey  from  the  comb,  dropping,  dropping,  in  effusive  gospel 
beseeching.  I  cannot  think  Whitefield  surpassed  him  in  this. 
You  know  while  you  listen  to  his  mighty  voice,  broken  with 
sorrow,  that  he  is  overwhelmed  with  the  "  love  of  the  Spirit." 
He  has  a  colleague  and  preaches  only  in  the  afternoon.  As 
to  manner,  it  is  his  own,  but  in  general  like  Duff's,  with  as  much 
motion,  but  more  significant,  and  less  grotesque,  though  still 
ungraceful.  His  English,  moreover,  is  not  spoiled  so  much. 
The  audience  was  rapt  and  melting.  It  was  just  like  his  book,1 
all  application,  and  he  rose  to  his  height  in  the  first  sentence. 

I  disliked  the  singing  at  Dr.  Guthrie's  ;  a  choir,  with  twiddling 

1  Either  "  The  Gospel  in  Ezekiel,"  or  "  The  City,  its  Sins  and  Sorrows  : 
a  series  of  Sermons  from  Luke  19  :  41." 


268  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO   EUROPE. 

tunes ;  a  clear  retrocession  towards  the  way  which  is  becoming 
unsavoury  even  to  New  England.  The  singers  were  in  pews 
near  the  pulpit,  and  I  saw  an  advertisement  in  the  lobby  for  a 
tenor  singer.  They  sing  well  with  precentor  at  Free  St.  An- 
drew's. 

It  is  worth  while  to  come  here  to  learn  how  a  Sabbath  may 
be  kept.  This  great  inn  (Royal  Hotel)  has  table  d'hote  at  5,  to 
give  rest  to  servants.  The  beautiful  avenues  of  the  New  Town 
are  thronged  with  grave  but  cheerful  people,  evidently  with  their 
faces  Zionward,  and  most  of  them  with  Bible  in  hand.  I  have  a 
great  desire  that  H.  should  some  day  spend  some  months  in 
Scotland  to  learn  how  to  preach,  catechize,  and  do  pastoral  duty. 
Gladly  would  I  forego  for  him  all  that  the  continent  has  to  offer, 
for  the  sake  of  this. 

In  reflecting  on  the  two  great  and  precious  sermons  of  yester- 
day, I  wonder  at  the  beautiful  diversity  of  gifts.  They  were  as 
unlike  as  an  apple  and  a  pine-apple.  I  have  no  remembrance 
of  any  preaching  so  analytically  experimental  as  Dr.  B.'s,  except 
my  own  dear  blessed  father's.  At  each  step  he  seemed  to  assume 
all  that  an  ordinary  preacher  would  have  preached,  and  to  go  on 
beyond  that.  His  prayers  were  the  same  ;  so  searching  in  con- 
fession that  I  winced,  and  so  paternal  and  pastoral  in  intercession, 
that  I  could  not  but  fancy  his  hand  feeling  all  around  and  gather- 
ing sorrows  out  of  every  heart  to  bring  before  God.  His  stern- 
ness in  no  degree  modified  the  graciousness  of  his  gospel  freedom, 
as  I  have  too  often  seen  to  be  the  case  with  rigorous  casuists  in 
America.  The  Bruces  have  been  ministers  ever  since  the  famous 
Bruce,  who  rebuked  King  James. 

Mr.  Dickson's  house  [see  p.  156]  is  a  museum  of  Sunday 
School  illustrations.  His  garret  is  filled  with  matters  from 
Palestine,  beautifully  arranged  and  with  appropriate  Scriptures. 
As  a  single  instance,  you  see  in  one  series  flasks  of  water  from 
Siloam,  and  four  other  places,  a  bunch  of  wheat  from  Zion,  and 
one  of  barley,  a  plate  of  vine-leaves,  a  pomegranate,  a  phial  of 
oil,  a  pot  of  honey  from  Jerusalem,  a  loaf,  iron  and  copper  ore — 
then  the  passage  Deuteronomy  viii.  7 — 9.1  He  has  a  hortus- 
siccus  of  Palestine  plants  ;  minerals  picked  by  himself,  and  400 
views,  which  he  sketched ;  enough  being  finished  in  oils  to  line 
his  back  parlour.  In  a  tour  of  two  months,  he  left  no  spot  west 
of  Jordan  without  a  sketch.  Dr.  Guthrie  is  the  link  between 
evangelical  religion  and  the  aristocracy.     People  of  all  sects  go. 

1  ;'  A  land  of  brooks  of  water,  of  fountains,  and  depths  that  spring  out 
of  valleys  nnd  hills ;  a  land  of  wheat,  and  barley,  and  vines,  and  pomegran- 
ates ;  a  land  of  oil-olive  and  honey  ....  A  land  whose  stones  are  iron, 
and  out  of  whose  hills  thou  mayest  dig  brass." 


1857.  269 

Nobility  coming  down  from  London  and  stopping  here,  cannot 
pass  without  hearing  him.  They  are  willing  to  pay  any  sum  for 
pews,  in  order  to  secure  an  occasional  hearing.  Dr.  G.  called 
on  me,  and  was  very  cordial.  Look  at  the  "  Fortunes  of  Nigel " 
and  conceive  him  telling  the  story  of  Richie  Moniplies'  brag  con- 
cerning Edinburgh  to  George  Heriot ;  telling  it  too  in  broad 
Scotch,  and  at  a  window  overlooking  the  Nor'  Loch,  or  ravine. 
Dr.  G.  tells  me  he  was  sent  in  his  youth  to  the  Sorbonne  for 
education. 

Americans  might  well  be  amused  to  consider  that  the  United 
Presbyterians,  who  joined  very  invidiously  in  the  cry  send  back 
the  money,  (of  the  slaveholders,)  should  now  be  the  only  body 
which  has  slaveholders  in  its  communion ;  a  fact  concerning  their 
Calabar  Mission. 

I  have  seen  twenty  times  as  much  drunkenness  here  in  a  day, 
as  in  the  wine-countries  in  ten  weeks ;  indeed  I  saw  but  one  such 
in  them,  and  he  was  only  merry. 

Edinburgh,  October  1,  1857. 

Auld  Reekie1  indeed,  but  the  sun  is  breaking  out  in  a  way 
that  is  peculiar.  I  regard  Scotland  as  the  flower  and  crown  of 
all  our  tour.  I  could  contentedly  and  profitably  have  spent  my 
whole  time  in  Britain.  Emerson  says  you  can't  see  England  in 
a  hundred  years ;  and  I  have  often  told  Stewart  that  the  grand 
requisite  for  travelling  successfully  would  be  to  live  as  long  as 
Methuselah.  One  great  advantage  here,  is  the  short  distances. 
Much  as  you  have  read  of  the  country,  you  would  be  surprised  at 
this.  Thus  you  go  from  Liverpool  to  Manchester  in  an  hour ; 
from  Edinburgh  to  Glasgow  in  an  hour  and  a  half;  and  ever}^- 
where  towns  and  other  localities,  often  famous,  follow  one  another 
with  rapidity.  Every  nook  and  brook  and  hill  and  mansion  has 
its  name,  and  in  Scotland  these  are  embalmed  in  ballads  and 
legends.  The  position  of  a  "  minister  "  here  is  high.  I  remem- 
ber something  of  similar  observance,  when  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia were  smaller,  towards  Dr.  Mason,  Dr.  Green,  and  Dr. 
Wilson ;  but  Guthrie,  Candlish,  Bruce,  Lee,  Bonar,  Tweedie,  to 
say  nothing  of  residuaries,  are  looked  at  all  the  length  of 
Prince's  street. 

The  institution  of  the  dinner  is  potent  in  Great  Britain,  and 
Edinburgh  has  a  traditional  geniality  of  intercourse,  after  the 
day's  work  is  done.  There  is  a  free  and  happy  mingling  of 
copresbyters  here,  like  nothing  known  to  me  elsewhere.  Both 
Guthrie  and  Lee  (before  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Lords) 

1  Scotch  for  smoky. 


270  DURING   HIS    SECOND   VISIT   TO    EUROPE. 

have  formally  ascribed  the  "  canny  "  character  of  the  Scotch,  not 
simply  to  their  being  trained  on  the  Scriptures,  and  to  their 
reading  Solomon,  but  particularly  to  the  custom  of  using  the 
book  of  Proverbs  as  a  reading-book.  The  Anglo-Saxon  words 
and  short  sentences,  where  books  are  rare,  made  it  the  thing  for 
the  children.  There  is  a  pious  weaver  mentioned  in  Guthrie's 
"  Gospel  in  Ezekiel  "  as  a  man  of  prayer.  The  Doctor  said  to 
us  "  this  man  prayed,  not  as  one  going  to  heaven,  but  as  one  just 
come  out  of  heaven.  He  would  sit  in  his  loom  and  super- 
intend our  education.  And  what  we  read  was  such  pith  as  '  he 
that  hateth  suretyship  is  sure,'  &c." 

The  deep,  I  may  say  awful  impression,  made  by  the  events 
in  India  in  their  religious  aspect,  is  very  observable  in  the  pray- 
ers. Generally  Scotchmen  do  not  give  free  vent  to  their  inward 
experience  in  talk.  I  hardly  ever  was  more  solemnly  wrought 
on  by  a  prayer,  than  by  Bruce's  about  this  distress  ;  and  not 
least  by  his  tender  thanksgivings  for  the  spiritual  good  already 
done  to  bereaved  and  other  suffering  persons. 

I  like  the  Free  Church  Tract  and  Book  arrangement.  They 
publish  nothing,  but  keep  up  the  machinery  of  supply  from 
all  sources,  colportage,  &c.  They  have,  for  example,  6,000 
different  tracts,  including  the  American.1 

1  The  same  day  on  which  this  letter  was  written,  Dr.  Alexander,  with  his 
wife  and  child,  left  Edinburgh  for  Glasgow.  A  short  tour  in  the  highlands, 
which  was  in  their  plan,  was  prevented  by  bad  weather,  and  a  week  was 
spent  in  Glasgow  in  delightful  Christian  intercourse  with  many  of  its  princi- 
pal clergymen  and  others.  They  then  proceeded  to  Liverpool,  and  em- 
barked in  the  steamship  Baltic  for  New  York. 

It  is  no  more  than  a  proper  testimony  to  the  liberality  of  the  congrega- 
tion to  their  pastor  to  state,  that  of  the  sum  placed  by  them  at  his  com- 
mand for  this  journey,  nearly  three  thousand  dollars  remained  untouched. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

LETTERS    DURING    THE    REMAINDER    OF    HIS 
PASTORATE    IN    NEW    YORK. 

1857—1859. 

New  York,  October  26,  1857. 
Through  the  tender  merc}^  of  our  God,  we  readied  the  wharf 
about  5  yesterday,  and  home  about  7.  Our  passage  was  short 
for  a  return,  being  eleven  days,  but  very  rough  and  even  stormy, 
so  that  our  wheels  were  all  but  denuded  of  paddleboxes  on  our 
arrival.  The  "  Baltic  "  and  her  captain  (Comstock)  are  all  that 
could  be  wished.  The  vessel  is  staunch  and  noble,  and  I  have 
seldom  had  more  sublime  emotions,  than  when  standing  on  the 
high  poop  I  watched  the  plunge  of  the  fore-parts,  and  the  succeed- 
ing rise,  with  a  spring  and  buoyancy  of  motion  that  seemed  to 
mock  at  the  roaring  ocean.  I  caused  our  little  boy  to  observe 
how  apt  is  the  Bible  figure  Ps.  xciii.  I  preached  yesterday,  the 
first  time  since  May.1  How  deeply  grateful  we  ought  to  be, 
that  during  six  months'  absence,  no  case  of  indisposition  has 
occurred  in  our  circle  here ;  all  alive  and  all  well ;  let  the  God 
of  our  salvation  be  exalted  !  I  was  everywhere  a  most  reluctant 
traveller,  and  drew  a  lengthening  chain.  My  own  general  health 
is  almost  robust ;  and  yet  I  have  the  same  catch  in  my  throat. 
I  had  not  seen  an  American  paper  for  a  long  time,  and  very 
seldom  at  all,  so  that  I  had  much  to  learn  on  my  arrival.  In 
our  ship's  company  of  160,  we  had  some  pleasing  characters. 
A  Major  Copeland  of  Boston  was  with  us,  returning  from  Sebas- 
topol,  (which  he  calls  Say'-vast-o'ple,)  after  contracting  to  raise 
the  sunken  ships.    I  knew  of  only  one  Englishman.     Major  Win. 

1  This  was  in  the  ship.  The  text  was  1  Peter  iv.  3.  On  the  next  Lord's 
day  (Nov.  1)  he  preached  to  his  own  congregation,  at  both  services,  from 
Habakkuk  iii.  17,  18. 


272  DURING    THE    REMAINDER    OF    HIS    PASTORATE. 

Preston  of  S.  C.  was  also  a  passenger.  Beyond  all  expectation, 
our  boys  were  waiting  us,  one  having  come  from  Princeton,  and 
the  other  from  Freehold.  On  looking  at  the  papers,  I  find  my- 
self sadly  behindhand,  and  in  church-matters  quite  unable  to 
enter  into  the  spirit  of  the  fight.  Say  some  words  of  sincere 
kindness  from  us  both  to  our  A.  friends.  I  do  not  know  whether 
they  got  any  account  of  my  very  delightful  visit  to  their  kinsman, 
the  Rev.  Charles  Livingston,  rector  of  St.  Lawrence's,  Ventnor 
Cove,  Isle  of  Wight,  one  of  the  best  men  I  saw  during  my  exile. 
He  is  rather  proud  of  his  North  River  connexions,  and  asked 
numerous  questions  about  them.  Several  deaths  have  occurred 
during  the  six  months  ;  among  them  were  Mr.  Rufus  Daven- 
port, perhaps  our  oldest  man,  and  Mr.  James  Struthers,  who 
was  an  elder  elect,  and  so  far  as  human  judgment  goes,  one  of 
the  most  spiritual  Christians  in  our  church.  The  people  have 
generally  returned,  and  are  in  a  promising  state,  as  to  attend- 
ance ;  1  even  hope  for  more,  as  there  is  a  marked  reviving  of 
religious  interest  during  the  six  months  of  our  absence.  It  will 
take  me  some  days  to  get  the  heavy  roll  of  the  ship  out  of  my 
brain  ;  I  don't  remember  ever  to  have  felt  it  so  much.  Paix  te 
so  it ! 

New  York,  November  3,  1857. 

I  am  glad  you  think  of  coming  this  way.  After  fast-day, 
preparatory  lecture  and  communion,  (next  Sabbath,)  I  shall  feel 
a  little  more  ease  of  mind  than  now.  I  hitched  at  once  into  the 
old  rut,  wrote  two  full  sermons  last  week,  and  have  been  hard 
at  visiting  ever  since  my  return.  I  am  fleshier  than  need  be, 
and  harder  than  my  wont,  having  roughed  it  in  all  weathers,  and 
borne  twice  as  much  fatigue  as  in  '51  :  but  the  ring  of  irrita- 
tion,  phlegm,  and  strangle  in  my  pipes  remains  much  as  before ;  I 
mean  D.  v.  to  speak,  &c„  exactly  as  if  it  wasn't  there,  till  some- 
thing decisive  stops  me. 

November  4th. — Good  democratic  turn  in  the  election  here. 
The  new  law,  prescribing  glass  globes  for  the  ballots,  and  forbid- 
ding ticket-booths  within  150  yards,  has  wrought  much  quiet ; 
yet  our  plebs  is  very  much  in  ferment.  London  amazed  me 
more  than  ever  by  its  size,  being  a  sort  of  world.  People  of 
one  part  have  no  knowledge  of  people  in  another.  This,  how- 
ever, is  much  the  case  in  New  York.  To-day  my  walk  lay  by 
the  intersection  of  4th  and  10th  streets  ;  I  suppose  thousands 
would  be  surprised  to  hear  that  these  parallels  meet. 

The  clergy  here  seem  all  to  be  in  good  case,  notwithstanding 
complaints  of  hard  work.  In  Scotland,  and  I  suppose  in  England 
too,  the  dinner-institution,  always  at  six,  wrhen   work    is   over, 


1857—1859.  273 

with  the  free,  hearty  converse  of  numerous  friends,  non  sine 
Baccho,  tends  to  give  a  corpulency  and  a  crimson,  which  make 
American  clerks  seem  slim  in  comparison.  Pastoral  visiting  in 
the  cities  is  less  practised  than  with  us,  but  elders'  visiting  much 
more.  Deacons  were  nearly  obsolete  at  the  Disruption ;  the 
Free  Church  has  made  a  point  of  reviving  them,  but  the  Kirk 
remains  as  before,  and  many  in  the  United  Presbyterian  Church 
formally  rejected  them  as  needless.  At  baptisms,  the  fathers 
stand  in  a  row,  before  the  minister ;  the  mothers  sit  in  some 
neighbouring  pew ;  the  children  are  kept  behind  the  pulpit-stair, 
or  in  a  room  hard  by,  till  the  moment  of  affusion.  Very 
sensibly,  a  napkin  hangs  over  the  rail.  The  above  is  an  induction 
from  two  particulars.  The  reading  of  sermons  has  greatly 
increased  among  the  Scotch,  and  greatly  decreased  among  the 
Evangelicals  in  England.  Sitting  in  prayer  is  all  but  universal 
among  the  Dissenters,  and  widely  prevalent  in  the  Church,  though 
under  pretence  of  kneeling.  In  Scotland,  the  prayer  after  sermon 
is  usually  as  long  as  the  one  before,  dwelling  on  intercession,  &c. 

New  York,  November  16,  1857. 
Lonesome,  indeed,  is  this  habitation,  as  my  wife  and  children 
are  in  the  Jerseys,  and  the  dreary  easterly  rain  makes  egress 
undesirable  for  sore  throat  folks.  Natheless,  I  have  spent  most 
of  the  day  abroad,  as  the  arrears  of  visits  (occasioned  by  my 
absence)  to  cases  of  trouble  are  very  large.  If1  I  had  received 
your  queries  anent  Maidenhead  during  my  first  and  longest 
sojourn  in  London-town,  I  think  I  should  have  run  down 
to  see  it,  as  many  trains  go  every  day  ;  it  is  22^-  miles  W.,  up 
the  Thames,  from  London  27  by  railway,  right  bank,  in  Berk- 
shire, and  in  1851  had  3,607  population.  It  is  partly  in  Bray 
parish,  (vide  Vicar  of  ditto,)  and  partly  in  Cookham,  and  is 
reached  by  the  Great  Western  Railway.  The  living  is  in 
diocess  of  Oxon.  It  is  one  long  street,  neat,  paved,  and  like  all 
English  towns  of  thrift,  lighted  with  gas  ;  it  is  not  exactly  on 
the  river  bank,  being  on  the  Bath  Road.  It  used  to  be  called 
South  Ealington,  and  between  the  bridge  and  town  you  find  a 
relic  of  antiquity  in  almshouses  for  eight  poor  men  and  their 
wives.  The  aforementioned  bridge  has  seven  stone  arches,  and 
three  smaller  arches  of  brick  at  each  end.  The  railway  crosses 
Thames  at  Maidenhead,  by  a  magnificent  viaduct.  The  market 
is  on  Wednesday,  chiefly  for  corn.  The  scenery  just  above,  is 
beautiful.     Near  are  Cliefden,  seat  of  the  Marquis  of  Stafford, 

1  What  follows  was  in  answer  to  inquiries  I  made   of  him,  (for  the  his- 
tory of  the  Trenton  church,)  as  to  the  town  in  England  from  which  the  old 
name  of  the  present  village  of  Lawrenceville  was  taken. 
VOL.  II. — 12* 


274:  DURING   THE   REMAINDER    OF   HIS    PASTORATE. 

and  Taplow  Court,  seat  of  the  Earl  of  Orkney.  At  the  Grey- 
hound Inn,  Charles  I.  took  leave  of  his  family.  Shortly  before 
arriving  at  Maidenhead,  you  pass  Salt  Hill,  famous  for  the  Eton 
Montem,  which  was  abolished  in  1848,  and  after  clearing  the 
town,  you  go  through  Maidenhead  Thicket.  I  ought  to  say 
Maidenhithe  is  the  transition-name ;  hyth  or  hyd,  as  a  termina- 
tion, denoting  a  landing,  or  accessible  bank.  My  nearest  ap- 
proach was  at  Windsor  and  Eton,  and  I  dare  say  I  saw  it  in  both 
visits  from  the  top  of  Windsor  Castle.  Of  all  these  towns  and 
villages  in  the  valley  of  the  Thames,  the  same  general  observa- 
tions will  hold  good  ;  they  are  in  summer  embowered  in  green, 
with  a  moist  delicate  look  about  trees  and  herbage,  which  strikes 
an  American  as  peculiarly  enchanting ;  and  though  all  the  trees 
are  plantations,  they  are  so  dexterously  placed,  and  often  so 
ancient  and  cherished,  that  the  full,  round  "  bourgeoning  "  of 
their  heads  affords  a  noble  relief  to  peeping  towers  and  spires. 
The  old  towns,  if  irregular,  are  romantic  and  quaint,  and  you 
see  numerous  buildings  of  which  the  pattern  at  least  is  as  old 
as  the  Conquest.  Instead  of  Ealington,  I  note  that  some  give 
Arlington  as  the  former  name.  In  the  26  of  Edward  III.  it  was, 
nevertheless,  incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  "  Fraternity  or 
Guild  of  the  Brothers  and  Sisters  of  Maiden  HitheP  When 
coaching  or  riding  were  the  modes  of  locomotion  on  this  great 
highway  between  London  and  Bristol,  Maidenhead-thicket  was  in- 
fested by  footpads.  The  story  of  the  Vicar  of  Bray  (between 
Maidenhead  and  Windsor)  is  found  in  an  old  song,  and  in  Fuller  ; 
he  changed  his  religion  four  times  regno  Henry  VIII.,  Elizabeth, 
James  I.,  and  Charles  I.,  living  and  dying  "  Vicar  of  Bray." 
(For  above  valuable  facts,  we  are  indebted  to  Black's  Picturesque 
Tourist  in  England  ;  Knight's  Geogr.  of  Brit.  Empire ;  and 
Hughson's  London  and  Neighbourhood,  1808,  6  vols.  8vo.) 

I  continue  to  cough,  and  begin  to  think  I  shall  as  long  as  I 
preach,  yet  I  am  well  up  in  colour,  fat  and  paunch,  eat  well,  drink 
kindly,  sleep  so-so,  and  altogether  am  in  good  case  to  retire  on 
a  pension,  turn  president,  go  to  Congress,  or  negotiate  a  loan  in 
Europe. 

New  York,  Dece?nber  14,  1857. 

I  scarcely  recover  from  the  stunning  effect  of  the  tidings.1 

In  such  cases  the  mind  falls  back  on  former  impressions,  and  I 

find  my  ties  with  the  Doctor  closer  than  I  had  thought.     I  knew 

him  as  a  child,  and  then  on,  during  many  years,  including  my 

1  Of  the  sudden  death  of  our  mutual  friend,  one  of  the  elders  of  the 
Trenton  church,  Dr.  Francis  A.  Ewing,  several  times  mentioned  in  the  first 
volume. 


1857—1859.  275 

residence  in  Trenton.  His  early  religious  experience  was  re- 
vealed to  me  in  detail. 

New  York,  January  1,  1858. 

I  and  we  wish  thee  and  thine  a  happy  New  Year  in  every 
high  and  good  sense.  There  were  sixty  murders  and  one  hang- 
ing in  this  city  in  1857.  My  motto  text  is  :  "  Thy  kingdom 
come."  I  have  been  reading  a  lately  found  account  of  Bossuet's 
last  days,  by  his  private  secretary.  It  appears  that  for  years  the 
Bible  was  his  chief  study.  His  secretary  read  the  gospel  of 
John  again  and  again  to  him,  and  the  seventeenth  chapter  sixty 
times,  when  the  bishop  was  on  his  death-bed. 

Lying,  stealing  and  bribery,  perjury,  covetousness  and  rapine, 
make  things  sometimes  look  to  me  like  some  prophetic  tableaux. 

The churches  are  using  terrible  blast-bellows  to  get  up 

artificial  heat  in  our  city  and  neighbourhood.  Our  light  mate- 
rials catch,  and  I  am  often  anxious  in  the  attempt  to  hold  on  our 
regular  way.  I  know  twenty  young  people,  whom  I  could 
foment  into  any  given  amount  of  excitement  in  two  weeks. 
What  amazes  me  is,  that  the  men  who  apply  these  methods,  at 
set  times,  are  at  other  times  as  little  raised  above  worldly 
thoughts  and  deeds  as  common  folks. 

New  York,  February  5,  1858. 
Yesterday  I  was  invited  to  survey  a  clerical  class  of  gymnasts, 
beating  the  air,  &c,  under  Prof.  Langdon,  an  Englishman. 
There  were  seven,  viz.,  Drs.  Hutton,  Hitchcock,  IT.  Smith,  Cham- 
bers, Cook,  Field  and  Ganz.1  It  was  funny ;  coats  off,  and  all 
together,  sometimes  so — sometimes  so.  [Here  were  outline 
sketches  of  the  postures.]  Part  of  it  would  have  answered 
Spurgeon's  description  of  a  male  dance.  They  laboured  (as  the 
Shakers  say)  for  an  hour :  it  was  evidently  fine  exercise.  A  blind 
woman  is  playing  the  fiddle  very  well  in  the,  streets ;  we  saw 
one  lead  an  orchestra  in  Switzerland.  It  is  dreadful  to  observe, 
after  all  our  glorying  contrast  of  Protestant  with  Catholic  coun- 
tries, how  deep  is  the  popular  degradation  of  London  and  Edin- 
burgh. Pauperism  in  our  own  cities  is  becoming  an  institution. 
The  number  of  books  in  France  on  the  subject  is  amazing.  If 
Col  well  [page  166]  had  given  us  what  he  knows  in  this  department 
of  literature,  without  his  crotchets,  he  would  have  done  great 
service.  I  am  in  great  doubt  whether  the  doctrine  against  casual 
alms  (e.  g.  at  the  door)  is  not  sacrificing  plain  scripture  to 
doubtful  theories  of  economic  science. 

1  He  afterwards  himself  practised  the  "  Langdonies." 


276  DURING   THE   REMAINDER   OF   HIS    PASTORATE. 

New  York,  March  1,  1858. 
March  comes  in  like  a  wet,  half-grown  lamb.  I  record  with 
a  sense  of  dependence  that  the  last  sign  of  my  cough  has  left 
me  for  about  three  weeks,  and  that  I  am  more  fleshy.  An  undue 
and  irregular  beating  of  the  heart,  though  lessened,  remains.  I 
am  nearly  fifty-four  years  old,  (March  13.)  In  the  serious 
retrospect  of  life,  I  see  nothing  so  dark  as  my  sins  ;  nor  did  they 
ever  seem  more  hateful.  We  admit  seven  on  examination,  and 
eight  on  certificate.  Preaching  is  assuming  a  more  prominent 
place  than  heretofore.  A  great  danger  is  lest  a  go-ahead,  joyous, 
auction-like,  unreverent  elation  take  possession  of  the  [daily] 
prayer-meetings.  Up  town  this  has  been  very  much  avoided  by 
the  lead  which  ministers  have  taken.  Did  I  write  of  visits  I  am 
paying  every  day  or  two  to  the  Eoman  Catholic  Hospital  of 
St.  Vincent  de  Paul  ?  A  young  medical  student,  a  pay-patient, 
is  there  recovering  from  typhoid  fever,  and  was  baptized  by  me. 
There  are  twelve  sisters  of  charity,  and  120  beds.  This  young 
man  has  been  nursed  in  the  best  manner  conceivable.  I  have 
seen  five  or  six  of  the  ladies,  including  the  superior.  They  have 
treated  me  with  a  very  graceful  courtesy,  and  are  altogether  a 
winning  generation.  The  tidings  of  the  revival  on  every  side 
certainly  tends  to  set  people  a-thinking  about  their  souls  ;  which 
is  a  point  gained.  I  feel  it  overshadowing  my  own  mind,  and 
opening  ways  of  address  to  the  careless,  as  well  as  shutting  me 
up  to  the  most  important  class  of  subjects.1 

New  York,  April  2,  1858. 
I  have  generally  discredited  people  who  say  they  have  no 
time  to  write,  but  lately  I  have  been  tempted  to  plead  that  excuse. 
Though  I  have  aimed  to  keep  down  and  regulate  excitement 
among  us,  and  have  had  no  additional  service  but  an  exhortation 
on  Monday  to  such  as  seek  instruction  on  points  connected  with 
conversion,  I  perpeive  such  a  degree  of  inquiry  as  has  never  met 
me  in  my  ministry.  The  number  of  declared  inquirers  is  not 
more  than  twenty-five,  and  most  of  these  have  dates  a  good  way 
back ;  but  the  feelings  of  communicants  and  the  indescribable 
tone  of  assemblies,  are  new  to  me.  From  the  start  I  have  held 
myself  ready  to  adapt  measures  to  emerging  demands  ;  I  how- 
ever feel  glad  I  have  pursued  the  repressive  method ;  which,  by 

1  About  this  time  he  wrote  "  The  Revival  and  its  Lessons,"  a  series  of 
eleven  tracts,  published  by  Randolph.  A  large  number  of  these  were  dis- 
tributed at  the  police  stations.  The  one  addressed  to  firemen  was  sent  to 
each  of  the  engine  houses  in  sufficient  number  to  furnish  a  copy  to  each 
member  of  the  department.  A  late  Edinburgh  paper  advertises  the  fifth 
thousand  of  the  "  Revival  Lessons."     See  page  237. 


1857—1859.  277 

the  way,  has  lost  me  sundry  good  opinions  even  among  my  own 
flock.  Study  I  cannot,  being  run  down  by  persons,  many  of 
whom  I  never  knew,  in  search  of  counsel.  The  uptown  prayer- 
meetings  are  very  sober  and  edifying.  I  am  told  that  the  general 
tendency  in  all  is  to  increased,  decorum.  The  openness  of  thou- 
sands to  doctrine,  reproof,  &c,  is  undeniable.  Our  lecture  is 
crowded  unendurably — many  going  away.  The  publisher  of 
Spurgeon's  sermons,  says  he  has  sold  a  hundred  thousand.  All 
booksellers  agree,  that  while  the  general  trade  is  down,  they 
never  sold  so  many  religious  books.  You  may  rest  assured  that 
there  is  a  great  awakening  among  us,  of  which  not  one  word 
gets  into  the  papers ;  and  that  there  are  meetings  of  great  size, 
as  free  from  irreverence  as  any  you  ever  saw.  I  have  never 
seen  sacramental  seasons  more  tender  and  still  than  some  meet- 
ings held  daily  in  churches  in  our  part  of  town.  The  best 
token  I  have  seen  of  revival  was  our  meeting  of  Presbytery.  I 
never  was  at  such  a  one.  Brethren  seemed  flowing  together  in 
love,  and  reported  a  great  increase  of  attention  in  all  their 
churches — and  this  within  a  very  few  days.  The  inquiring  con- 
dition among  ourselves  is  strange,  and  all  but  universal ;  God 
grant  it  may  be  continued,  or  exchanged  for  true  grace  in  them 
all. 

We  are  just  setting  up  a  daily  (nightly)  prayer-meeting  in 
our  Mission  Chapel  for  the  poor,  (really  not  nominally.)  It  is 
superintended  by  a  Committee  of  about  ten  leading  gentlemen, 
under  sanction  of  the  session.  Among  the  numerous  cases  of 
persons  seeking  me  as  pastor,  most  of  the  inquirers  have  been 
inquiring  long.  Numbers  are  often  given  rashly  ;  no  man  knows 
how  many  arc  convinced ;  perhaps  thirty  such  are  known  to  me  ; 
I  lay  little  stress  on  registration  in  this  matter,  and  deprecate 
publicity.  I  have  found  it  a  good  way  to  appoint  a  certain  hour 
every  day,  for  persons  willing  to  be  talked  with.  Never  have  1 
felt  so  much  the  need  of  plain  elementary  instruction  as  to  the 
simplest  matters  in  religion.  The  greater  the  excitements  around 
us,  the  more  I  see  the  absolute  necessity  of  knowledge.  People 
come  to  me,  who  have  not  even  the  meaning  of  justification. 

New  York,  April  15,  1858. 
The  attendance  on  the  union  meetings  here  is  not  lessened. 
Last  week  the  meeting,  which  embraces  Potts,  Van  Zandt,  Hutton, 
Prentice,  A.  D.  Smith,  &c,  was  at  our  church.  The  house  wras 
filled.  Every  day  but  one  it  was  as  solemn  and  tender  as  most, 
communion  seasons.  Constant  attendance  for  weeks  leaves  my 
judgment  unaltered,  that  it  is  bad  to  throw  the  meeting  open  for 
whomsoever  to  speak  and  pray. 


278  DUKING   THE   REMAINDER   OF   HIS    PASTORATE. 

New  York,  April  29,  1858. 

While  it  is  in  my  mind  I  will  jot  down  something  about 
Finney,  whom  I  heard  last  night  at  Cheever's.  Assembly  mid 
dling.  F.  looks  sound  and  well,  but,  of  course,  older.  He 
preaches  in  spectacles,  and  with  a  "  brief,"  which  he  mentions  : 
"  my  little  brief,  here."  Manner  much  subdued.  Voice  ringing 
and  capital,  but  with  Yankee  twang  and  nasality.  Perfectly 
colloquial  and  lawyerlike ;  avoiding  every  big  word,  and  as 
plain  as  any  one  could  be  talking  to  children.  Says  the  same 
thing  over  and  over  and  over,  sometimes  pausing  between,  with 
a  singular  effect  on  attention  and  memory.  Doctrinal  and 
argumentative,  but  not  hortatory ;  with  numerous  anecdotes 
and  illustrations.  Text  was  :  "  This  is  the  record,"  &c.  His 
sermon  (exceptis  excipiendis)  might  have  been  preached  by  the 
Erskines  or  McCheyne.  It  was  all  about  Christ  and  believing. 
E.  g.,  "  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  believe."  "  There  is  the  record: 
God  has  given  his  Son."  "  He  says  not  '  I  will  give  so  and  so, 
if  you  do  so,  &c,,'  but  God  hath  given"  "  You  are  all  looking 
inward  for  feelings  and  experience,  before  believing.  Believe 
first.  Believe  the  record.  Then  you  will  have  feelings."  Fig- 
ure :  A  New  1  ork  beggar.  Steamer  bring  news  of  a  great  dona- 
tion to  him  ;  £10,000.  Certificate  of  deposit  in  Wall  St.  put 
in  his  hands.  But  he  does  not  believe  it.  '  I  am  no  rich  man  ; 
rich  men  have  fine  clothes,  money,  coach  and  horses,  my  experi- 
ence is  all  the  other  way.'  "  "  Belief  of  the  record  brings  soul 
into  union  with  Christ,  and  experience  ensues."  He  was  able 
and  tremendous  against  infidels.  The  interest,  though  intellectual, 
was  intense.  I  find  his  plan  and  all  the  details  graven  in  my 
memory.  He  keeps  up  the  obsolete  custom  of  an  Inquiry 
Meeting,  after  sermon. 

Seriousness  prevails  among  us.  I  have  had  no  extra  meet- 
ings, except  four  exhortations  on  doctrines  connected  with  con- 
version, &c.  The  best  means  I  have  alighted  on  is  an  hour  given 
out  to  receive  persons  seeking  direction  every  day.  This  has 
brought  many,  and  some  very  often  ;  and  the  interviews  have 
been  sometimes  long  and  always  private.  I  expect  to  take  in  on 
examination  more  than  thirty-five,  and  less  than  fifty.  The  daily 
prayer-meetings  are  unabated  in  interest.  Long  attendance  in 
no  degree  reconciles  me  to  the  license  given  to  A  B  or  C,  to  teach 
or  pray  ;  nor  to  the  advertisements  requesting  prayer.  The 
presence  of  numerous  ministers  in  fraternity,  and  their  frequent 
remarks  and  expositions,  produce  a  good  impression. 

New  York,  May  7,  1858. 
I  am  on  the  Committee  of  Examination  of  the  Senior  Class 


1857—1859.  279 

in  Princeton,1  and  expect  to  go  thither  on  Tuesday.  During 
that  sojourn  I  wish  to  run  down  for  an  hour  or  so  to  your  me- 
tropolis. I  feel  it  almost  necessary  to  interrupt  the  tension  of 
thought  and  feeling.  Our  Session  has  admitted  fifty-seven  on 
examination,  and  four  on  certificate.2  The  majority  are  persons 
with  whom  1  have  been  dealing  for  years.3  I  know  of  no  abate- 
ment in  religious  interest.  The  noon-day  prayer-meeting  (this 
week  in  the  1st  Church)  was  crowded.  There  must  have  been 
twenty  ministers  yesterday  ;  still,  solemn,  and  tender ;  more  like 
a  communion  than  a  prayer-meeting. 

May  10. — The  whole  lower  floor  of  our  church  was  filled  with 
communicants  yesterday.  Dabney's  sermon  (by  appointment  of 
the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions)  was  a  marvellous  one,  for  logic, 
weight,  and  scholarship.  Mary  S.,  one  of  the  loveliest  of  our 
new  converts,  died  on  the  morning  of  the  communion. 

New  York,  May  19,  1858 
Last  night  [Tuesday]  I  concluded  my  series  on  Acts  ;  sixty- 
eight  lectures.  I  have  never  put  any  one  in  my  place,  and  never 
substituted  any  other  passage.  The  attendance,  has  constantly 
increased.  In  no  instance  have  I  ever  penned  a  line  in  prepara- 
tion for  them.  In  the  latter  parts  I  have  been  unspeakably  aided 
by  Addison's  Commentary.  Professor  M.  is  here  under  medical 
care,  but  one  of  those  cases  religiously  which  refresh  the  soul. 
A  Jeffersonian-infidel,  then  a  Channing-Unitarian,  now  I  doubt 
not  (though  he  doubts)  a  childlike  Christian.  He  is  a  silver- 
haired  old  gentleman,  of  the  true  school. 

I  have  no  plans  for  the  summer.  My  brain  needs  rest. 
Spurgeon's  fourth  volume  shows  improvement.  The  selection 
is  made  here,  out  of  the  "  Pulpit,"  which  contains  all  he  ever 
utters.  He  preaches  out  of  doors  everywhere  but  in  London, 
where  he  fears  the  tumultuous  consequences. 

New  York,  May  26,  1858. 

In   three   days    I   have   had  three   funerals.     One  wras  our 

penultimate  African,  set.  97^.     Funeral  in  Black  church.     Sang 

four  verses   of    a  Long  Metre  to  "  China,"  [Common  Metre.] 

The  entire  congregation  effected  synalsepha  and  ecthlipsis  of  the 

1  In  1851  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  Thus 
his  name  stands  on  the  catalogue  as  a  student,  tutor,  professor,  and  trustee. 

2  The  whole  number  of  new  communicants  received  in  the  years  1858-9, 
was  125  on  examination ;  32  on  certificate.  These  numbers  include  those 
who  worshipped  at  the  Mission  Chapel. 

3  Among  those  who  came  to  their  first  communion  on  this  occasion,  Dr 
Alexander  had  the  happiness  of  receiving  one  of  his  sons.  Another  son 
had  lately  received  his  license  as  a  probationer  for  the  ministry. 


280  DURING    THE    REMAINDER    OF   HIS    PASTORATE. 

redundant  syllables  with  great  skill,  and  the  singing  was  delight- 
ful. The  General  Assembly  dissolved  on  Tuesday.  The  im- 
pression on  New  Orleans  was  favourable.  A  young  Cuban  has 
just  called  to  get  advice  about  religion,  previously  to  his  starting 
for  Paris,  where  he  will  learn  physic.  Great  numbers  must  have 
their  views  of  religion  modified  by  residence  here.  I  fear,  how- 
ever, often  with  skeptical  results.  The  Cesarean  simplicity  of 
Thiers's  histories  increases  as  he  goes  on.  What  ]3oint-blank 
lying  he  convicts  Napoleon  of ! 

New  York,  June  7,  1858. 

Having  passed  through  a  winter  of  unexampled  employment 
with  perfect  health,  I  am  seized  with  a  severe  cough  upon  the 
accession  of  summer.  A  conspiracy  was  detected  yesterday  of 
the  "  Forty  Thieves,"  East  River  Mohocks,  to  break  up  a  mission 
school  by  sending  rowdies  to  make  a  noise,  and  then  having  a 
gang  without.  The  captain  of  the  police  had  wind  of  this,  and 
placed  the  entire  force  of  the  ward  in  the  station-house,  and 
undress  detectives  in  every  neighbouring  lot  and  resort;  so  they 
were  dispersed. 

P.'s  discourse  at pleased  numbers,  not  including  "  P.  P. 

of  this  Parish."  His  speech  was  commonplaces  garnished  with 
sophomore  rhetoric  ;  no  method  ;  no  force,  except  in  terms  ;  no 
tincture  of  letters,  and  every  here  and  there  a  demagogical  lug- 
ging in  of  the  dear  demos,  and  their  wrongs  at  the  hands  of 
science,  &c.     It  wras  well  delivered. 

Henry  returned  to-day  from  a  very  useful  trip  to  the  extreme 
North,  where  he  has  been  fly-fishing  in  Moosehead  Lake.  Even 
after  Adirondack  and  Lake  Superior,  he  gives  these  mountains 
and  lakes  the  palm.  He  lay  out,  i.  e.  in  birch  shanties,  five  nights, 
and  brought  home  (with  young  Auchincloss)  eighty  pounds  of 
trout  in  ice.     The  largest  brook-trout  was  three  pounds. 

New  York,  July  10,  1858 
Addison  is  somewhere  in  town  ;  but  he  takes  his  carpet-bag 
and  determines  during  his  walk  whether  and  whither  he  shall  go. 
During  his  vacation  he  is  all  the  time  moving.  My  congrega- 
tion is  almost  all  gone,  but  the  church  will  not  be  closed. 
Samuel's  and  my  flock  will  lie  down  together.  We  shall  to- 
morrow receive  one  on  certificate,  and  sixteen  on  examination. 
When  will  an  American  Statesman  furnish  three  such  volumes, 
^s  those  of  Gladstone  on  Homer  *?  !     Herodotus  is  also  coming 

1  "  Studies  in  Homer  and  the  Homeric  Age,"  by  the  Hon.  W.  E.  Glad- 
stone, member  of  Parliament  for  Oxford  University,  and  Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer.  v 


1857—1859.  281 

out,  under  the  Rawliiisons,  with  all  the  elucidations  of  Egypt 
and  Nineveh.  The  sea-breeze  has  made  the  evenings  and  nights 
perfectly  comfortable  all  this  month,  though  the  clays  were  broil 
ing  a  fortnight  ago.1 

Princeton,  August  9,  1858. 

Affairs  at  the  Branch  went  on  much  as  usual  after  your  exit. 
I  preached  at  Redbank ;  a  very  nice  little  church.  I  have  not, 
for  a  long  time,  seen  so  much  talking  and  laughing  in  church. 
Religious  revival  has  not  much  visited  that  country. 

During  our  period  of  epistolary  commerce,  now  =x-f-2 
years,  no  event  has  occurred  so  startling  as  the  Oceanic-cable.  I 
am  stupefied.  Yet,  after  all,  the  practical  results  may  be  less 
momentous  than  is  said.  I  hope  V.  R.  will  send  a  religious 
sentiment,  for  it  will  be  in  every  one's  mouth.  Still  more  do  I 
pray  that  it  may  augur  and  promote  everlasting  peace  in  the 
English-speaking  world.2 

Weary,  weary,  am  I  of  these  [theological]  controversies  de 
lana  caprina.  1  have  a  peculiar  position ;  being  in  favour  of 
strict  subscription,  but  to  a  very  short  creed.  If  at  any  time 
you  would  like  to  inspect  the  views  of  the  Plymouth  Brethren, 
or  Darby ites,  I  can  lend  you  some  able  and  pleasing  tracts  of 
theirs.  Gosse,  the  naturalist,  and  Tragelles,  the  biblical  critic, 
belong  to  them. 

New  York,  September  V,  1858. 
Almost  for  the  first  time  in  our  lives,  we  old  folks  are  Darby- 
and-Joan-ing  it  at  home,  without  any  progeny.  It  happens, 
without  plan,  that  all  our  young  are  at  Princeton.  I  stayed  at 
Saratoga,  after  I  had  become  more  than  conviva  satur.  The 
Daily  prayer-meetings  prevail  there ;  and,  from  the  great  conflux 
of  clergy  and  laity,  the  good  and  evil  of  that  institution  are  very 
prominent.  I  met  there  Drs.  Woodbridge  of  Hadley,  Bullock 
of  Kentucky,  Fowler  of  Utica,  Parker  of  China,  Worcester  of 
Salem,  Cook  of  Boston,  Magoon  of  Albany,  Ludlow  of  Po'keep- 
sie,  Chauncey  of  Highbridge,  Buddington  of  Brooklyn,  and  Cleave- 

land  of  New  Haven.     At  our  house  lodged  ,  the  gambler 

of  New  York,  McCormick  of  the  reaping  machine,  and  Christy 
of  the  Minstrelsy.  The  last  is  a  well-behaved,  grave-looking 
man,  who  drives  a  pair  of  milk-white  Arabian  horses,  the  gift  of 

1  The  correspondents  met,  during  this  month,  at  Long  Branch. 

2  The  Queen's  Message  was  a  mere  congratulation  upon  "the  successful 
completion  of  the  great  international  work  ;  "  but  the  English  directors  of 
the  company  had  added  to  their  magnetic  announcement  of  the  supposed 
union  of  the  two  countries  by  telegraph,  the  quotation :  "  Glory  to  God  in 
the  highest :  on  earth  peace  :  good  will  toward  men." 


282  DURING   THE   REMAINDER   OF   HIS   PASTORATE. 

some  potentate  to  our  President.  I  have  been  very  well.  Our 
church  is  very  thin,  most  of  the  hearers  "being  strangers.  We 
have  been  very  much  stirred  up  and  entertained  lately,  by  the 
visit  and  speeches  of  Jno.  McGregor,  Esq.,  of  London,  on  the 
Open-air-preaching,  ragged-schools,  and  other  philanthropies  of 
England.  He  is  a  barrister  of  the  Middle  Temple,  a  downright, 
rapid,  witty,  merry  speaker,  whose  description  of  low  life  in 
London  and  the  means  of  dealing  with  it,  was  sometimes  almost 
in  the  Dickens  vein.  It  appears  from  his  statements,  that 
hundreds  of  open-air  discourses  are  delivered  simultaneously  in 
London,  by  laymen,  who  do  not  sing,  or  pray,  or  even  take  off 
the  hat.  He  lays  great  stress  on  all  these  particulars.  Has 
himself  spoken  about  five  hours  every  Sunday,  for  several  years. 
From  his  own  mode,  and  the  incidental  specimens,  these  dis- 
courses, in  the  endeavour  to  gain  attention,  are  in  great  danger 
of  losing  all  reverence,  tenderness,  and  unction.  They  are,  how- 
ever, a  good  deal  like  Latimer's  preachings  at  Paul's  Cross. 
Many  of  the  plans  would  require  great  modification  for  America, 
in  regard  to  such  differences  as  these :  the  immense  over-peopling 
of  Britain,  the  homogeneousness  of  the  upper  and  lower  classes 
as  to  nation,  all  being  English,  (and  this  applies  to  all  such  efforts 
as  "  Hearts  and  Hands,")1  and  the  certain  and  complete  protection 
afforded,  by  London  police.  Yet  his  appeals  were  awakening  in 
a  high  degree.  After  I  am  dead  and  gone,  I  feel  sure  our  cities 
will  have  large  and  elegant  free  churches.  I  would  not  object  to 
sumptuousness,  if  it  went  to  elevate,  solace,  and  enrich  the  poor. 
Trench's  book  on  the  authorized  version  is  delightful.  Our 
communion  is  coming  on,  with  only  three  on  examination.  My 
volume  of  sermons  is  nearly  printed,  but  will  not  be  out  I 
suppose,  before  November.2  I  have  never  sent  a  book  to  press 
with  as  little  self-gratulation.  What  a  purgatorial  spot  is  Staten 
Island,  "  where  every  prospect  pleases,  and  only  man  is  vile."  3 
The  governor  fulminates  on  paper,  but  I  do  not  see  what  good  will 
come  of  it.  The  Bench,  which  used  to  be  our  resource  when  the 
populace  was  corrupt,  now  lets  the  ringleaders  slip  through.  I 
have  little  hope  even  of  tardy  justice  in  the  way  of  mulct.  I  have 
been  halting  on  one  foot  several  weeks ;  perhaps  sprain — perhaps 
rheumatism — I  guess  no  further.  My  brother's  East  Eiver 
mission  school  has  grown  entirely  out  of  their  accommodations. 
A  number  of  the  most  prominent  children,  who  sing  hymns 

1  A  recent  book  on  duties  to  the  humbler  classes. 

2  "Discourses  on  Common  Topics  of  Christian  Faith  and  Practice,"  pub- 
lished by  Scribner. 

3  The  allusion  is  to  the  repeated  burning  of  buildings  in  the  course  of 
erection  for  a  public  hospital  for  contagious  diseases. 


1857—1859.  283 

about  Jesus,  are  Israelites.     I  heard  them  sing  the  ditty,  "  Where, 
oh  where  are  the  Hebrew  children  1 " 

I  most  earnestly  wish  that  these  frequent  prayer-meetings, 
which  have  now  grown  into  regular  feasts  and  fasts,  could  have 
infused  into  them  some  scriptural  instruction. 

New  York,  October  7,  1858. 
South  [Sermons]  has  always  been  a  stand-by  of  mine ;  a 
powerful  accuser,  even  to  gall,  and  as  im-Christlike  in  temper  as 
if  no  gospel  had  ever  appeared.  By  an  association  of  contraries, 
I  think  of  A.  N.  Groves,  a  Plymouth-ist,  a-  missionary  on  his 
own  hook,  whose  life  is  out  by  Nisteel.  I  do  not  think  I  ever 
came  across  a  holier,  lovelier,  less  worldly  person.  I  do  not 
think  I  ever  was  so  much  rebuked  by  a  human  composition. 
We  admit  twenty-two  on  examination,  from  Mr.  Howell's  Mis- 
sion work  ;  two  Germans,  three  Dutch,  three  English,  the  rest 
Scotch  and  Irish ;  all  promising,  all  respectable  working-folk. 
He  must  have  gathered  some  sixty  thus.  I  think  J.  A.  A.  has 
excelled  in  his  commentary  on  Mark.  I  awTait  completion,  before 
I  make  a  sermon  out  of  the  cable.1  Our  sham  Crystal-Palace  is 
no  more.  The  greatest  loss  [by  its  destruction]  is  probably 
that  of  poor  inventors.  No  wonder  ships  may  burn,  when  a 
building  of  iron  and  glass  is  consumed,  with  a  hundred  workmen 
and  two  thousand  visitors  in  it,  a  reservoir  next-door,  and  crack 
fire-engines  all  ready  inside. 

New  York,  November  23,  1858. 
The  weather  is  dismal.  On  Sunday  night  it  seemed  very 
much  against  our  Opera-house  service ;  but  the  door-keeper 
estimates  the  attendance  at  3,000.2  No  doubt,  on  a  clear  night, 
the  applicants  will  be  6,000.  Numbers  sat  in  the  lobbies  and 
saloons,  of  the  very  class  who  are  never  seen  in  church.  The 
collection  covered  the  wdiole  expense,  with  15  per  cent.  over.  I 
wish  I  could  see  a  free  church  to  hold  just  as  many,  and  as  easy 
to  speak  in.  Our  fault-finders,  however,  who  spy  the  evil  in  all 
plans  of  others,  and  suggest  none  of  their  own,  find  objection 
to  this  night-meeting  also.  Carlyle's  book3  is  very  funny  in 
parts,  but  as  a  whole  is  as  unreadable  as  a  bill  in  chancery. 
The  daily  prayer-meetings  down  town  keep  up  with  great 
spirit,  having  an  influx  of  strangers  ;  our  uptown  ones  have  no 

I  Several  clergymen  had  preached  and  printed  discourses  on  the  Ocean 
Telegraph,  upon  its  first  promise  of  successful  operation. 

II  "The  Academy  of  Music"  was  opened  on  the  evening  of  November 
list  for  a  series  of  religious  services.  Dr.  Alexander  preached  on  that 
occasion  from  Rev.  xxii.  17. 

3  "  Frederick  the  Great." 


284  DURING    THE   REMAINDER    OF   HIS    PASTORATE. 

revival  character,  but  simply  the  grave  and  occasionally  tendei 
character  of  an  ordinary  large  meeting  of  Christians.  Sawder's 
translation  reads  like  a  travesty  :  "  And  after  breakfast  Jesus 
says  to  Simon  Peter,  Simon,  son  of  John,  do  you  you  love  me  1 
And  Simon  replied,  Yes,  Lord,  you  know  that  I  am  your  friend." 
2KavSaAi£€T<n  is  always  rendered  "  offended  with  me,"  &c.  The 
tendency  in  our  churches  here  is  to  gather  enormously  in  a  few 
favourite  spots.  I  have  never  succeeded  in  getting  a  single  man 
to  leave  us,  for  the  purpose  of  building  up  weak  churches,  and  I 
have  had  every  occasion  to  ask  it  and  press  it.  As  population 
moves  up,  each  of  the  lower  churches  in  its  turn  dwindles.  It 
is  just  the  same  with  the  Baptists  and  Methodists.  The  old  John 
street  incunabula  cannot  be  cited  as  an  exception,  as  that  house 
is  kept  as  a  sort  of  relic.  The  Episcopalians  are  the  principal 
free-churches,  since  the  Methodists  went  over  so  largely  to  pewsr 
yism.  I  observed  in  London  that  the  parish  system  does  not 
prevent  this  evil  in  towns ;  the  great  throngs  being  generally  at 
some  newly  erected  shrine. 

New  Tore,  January  4,  1859. 
I  wish  you  and  yours  a  happy  New  Year.  Ours  always 
begins  laboriously ; x  and  as  it  came  in  on  Saturday,  there  was 
not  much  rest.  My  reins,  by  occasional  suffering,  instruct  me, 
with  regard  to  weakness  and  mortality  ;  and  at  this  moment  I 
am  ailing — though  unusually  well  in  general  health.  I  read  a 
MS.  by  a  Liberian  minister,  in  w7hich,  not  content  with  mention- 
ing their  "  ladies,"  he  speaks  of  them  as  "  fair  ones."  My 
sentence  for  1859  is  :  "  God,  my  exceeding  joy ;  "  Hebrew, 
"  the  gladness  of  my  joy  ;  "  Greek  and  Vulgate,  "  the  gladdener 
of  my  youth ;  "  French  (of  Ostervald,  giving  the  force  of  V») 
"  le  Dieu  fort  de  ma  joie  et  de  mon  ravissement."  May  He  be 
such  to  us  all !  I  have  just  read  200  MS.  pages  of  a  journal 
kept  by  Williams,  secretary  of  the  China  legation,  during  all  the 
proceedings  which  resulted  in  the  famous  treaty.  Thirty-two 
vessels  were  there.  One  is  led  to  pity  the  poor  Chinese ;  and 
W.,  as  a  missionary,  is  very  much  on  their  side.  They  were,  as 
you  know,  very  near  Peking ;  in  the  Peiho  River,  40°  N.  lie 
speaks  of  the  British  as  selfish  and  surly,  and  is  very  severe  upon 
the  opium  matter.  Our  negotiations  were  materially  furthered 
by  the  wisdom,  kindness,  and  peaceful  tendencies  of  the  Russian 
ambassador,  Count  Poutiatine.  Williams  thinks  China  will  at 
once  be  flooded  by  Jesuits  from  France.  They  number  their 
Catholic  natives  at  800,000.     He  also  thinks  it  doubtful  whether 

1  Alluding  to  the  custom  of  general  calls  on  New  Year's  day. 


1857—1859.  285 

Protestant  missions  will  be  greatly  benefited.  The  timidity  of 
the  people,  in  their  greatest  masses,  is  made  more  striking  than 
ever.  Their  forts  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  were  demolished 
almost  instanter,  and  3,100  were  slain. 

New  York,  February  11,  1859. 
I  have  just  come  in  from  our  Mission  Chapel,  where  nineteen 
have  been  admitted  on  examination,  making  nearly  70  in  the 
Chapel,  during  the  year.  A  very  able  paper  is  struggling  here, 
called  the  "  Saturday  Press,"  a  really  dignified  literary  print. 
Why  does  not  Everett  [in  the  N.  Y.  Ledger]  give  us  his  remi- 
niscences of  Germany,  Greece,  St.  James's,  or  even  the  Socinian 
pulpit  1 

New  York,  March  A,  1859. 

Mr.  Everett  is  now  speaking,  [Oration  on  Washington.]  I 
had  an  offer  of  the  devotional  performance.  This  part  of  minis- 
terial duty  has  always  been  very  revolting  to  me.  I  really  miss 
Walsh,1  and  few  perhaps  do.  About  six  months  ago,  I  sent  to 
the  "  Journal  of  Commerce  "  an  article  on  Walsh,  with,  inter 
alia,  some  account  of  his  "  Appeal."  How  yearningly  one's 
thoughts  go  after  the  destiny  of  a  soul  like  his  !  He  had  noble, 
rare  moral  traits ;  his  patriotism  seemed  never  chilled  by  ex- 
patriation ;  he  was  always  the  American,  and  of  an  old  time 
type.  Good,  worthy,  equable,  honest  Dr.  Carnahan  is  gone  ; 
abiit  ad  plures? 

Till  your  direct  testimony  came  into  court,  I  would  have 
almost  made  oath  to  the  statement  of  the  preface.3     It  has  been 

1  Mr.  "Walsh  died  at  Paris,  February  7,  1859.  Many  passages  in  pre- 
ceding letters  show  the  high  regard  in  which  Dr.  Alexander  held  the  literary 
character  of  Mr.  Walsh.  He  attributed  to  the  daily  reading  of  the  "  Na- 
tional Gazette,"  while  yet  a  young  writer,  some  of  the  prominent  peculiarities 
of  his  own  style.  Perhaps  this  influence  caused  him  to  sacrifice  somewhat 
of  ease  and  fluency  to  the  exact  and  classical  stateliness  demanded  by  his 
model.     He  himself  called  it  (in  Walsh)  "twists  of  diction." 

2  Dr.  Carnahan  died  March  2,  1859. 

3  I  had  corrected  a  statement  in  the  preface  of  his  ';  Revival  Tracts," 
which  mentioned  that  the  celebrated  stanzas  by  his  brother  Addison,  en- 
titled "  The  Doomed  Man,"  inserted  in  one  of  the  tracts,  were  then  published 
for  the  first  time  with  the  author's  consent.  I  informed  him  that  the  poem 
had  been  sent  to  me  by  Addison,  and  was  inserted  in  the  "  Sunday  School 
Journal,"  (April  5,  1837,)  and  that  the  original  had  a  stanza  which,  at  my 
recommendation,  was  omitted  as  being  too  horrible.  It  was  the  sixth,  and 
read  thus  : 

"  But  angels  know  the  fatal  sign, 
And  tremble  at  the  sight  ; 
And  devils  trace  each  livid  line 
"With  desperate  delight." 


286  DURING   THE   REMAINDER   OF   HIS    PASTORATE. 

the  common  on  dit  in  the  family  for  years ;  he  has  talked  of 
himself  as  "  the  doomed  man  "  constantly,  seeing  the  reprints, 
&c.     I  will  try  to  alter  the  stereogram. 

You  doubtless  have  received  the  "  Prescott  Memorial,"  and 
have  read  the  alleged  dictum  of  P.  that  Robertson's  "  style  was 
that  of  a  schoolmistress."  But  see  Philip  the  Second,  i.  356. 
"  Robertson  .  .  .  recommended  ...  by  a  classic  elegance  of  style 
which  has  justly  given  him  a  preeminence  among  the  historians 
of  the  great  emperor."     I  am,  (as  I  suppose  we  shall  say,) 

truthfully  yours. 

New  York,  April  4,  1859. 
The  signs  look  like  war  in  Europe ;  who  can  estimate  the 
awfulness  of  such  a  conjuncture  !  I  find  four  or  five  letters 
from  Walsh,  chiefly  about  the  Review.  The  last  "  Knicker- 
bocker "  contains  some  irreverence  to  the  manes  of  our  quondam 
friend,  Dr.  McHenry.1  My  irritation  of  the  larynx  has  been  on 
me  annoyingly  for  about  two  weeks.  I  have,  for  the  first  time, 
to  treat  a  case  of  spiritualism.  A  man,  well  educated,  sound 
health,  good  habits,  strong  mind  in  every  other  direction  ;  but 
perfectly  hag-ridden  by  spirits  of  his  wife,  his  father,  and  Robert 
Hall.  He  sits  up  sometimes  whole  nights,  writing ;  or  rather 
his  hand  is  used  by  the  spirits ;  the  character  varying  with  the 
spirit.  He  himself  is  willing  to  believe  it  demoniacal  possession  ; 
but  I  have  not  felt  clear  to  take  this  ground  with  him.  I  have 
had  a  heavy  stroke  of  indisposition  these  last  few  days,  and  was 
unable  to  preach  yesterday  afternoon.  Mr.  Jenkins  [of  Phila- 
delphia] preached  last  evening  [in  Academy  of  Music]  with  great 
acceptance  ;  Plumer  comes  next.  A  member  of  my  church  talks 
of  building  a  church  for  some  poor  congregation  in  the  West. 


New  York,  April  19,  1859. 
For  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  have  been  attacked  with  some- 
thing like  chills — now  about  a  fortnight.  The  beginning  was  a 
tremendous  shake,  which  made  all  quake  again ;  since  then, 
crawls,  or  whatever  be  the  name  of  those  simulations.  During 
these  the  feeling  of  "  misery "  has  been  very  great.  I  have 
spoken  to  very  few*  persons  of  it,  but  since  the  beginning  of  the 
year,  I  have  lost  all  power  in  the  middle-finger  of  my  right  hand. 
The  finger  stutters  in  writing ;  indeed,  I  cannot  use  it  at  all. 
Whether  this  is  paralysis  I  know  not,  but  I  regard  it  as  a  Divine 

1  Editor  of  the  "American  Monthly  Magazine"  in  Philadelphia,  for  which 
we  had  written  in  1824. 


1857—1859.  287 

monition.     I  am  under  regular  and  active  treatment.     Writing, 
which  was  a  solace,  has  become  a  very  burdensome  task.1 

1  On  the  2Gth  April  he  wrote  :  "  I  have  to  preach  a  Sunday  School  ser- 
mon next  Sunday.  My  chills  are  suspended.  Deo  gratias."  On  the  1st  of 
May  I  heard  him  preach  the  sermon  referred  to,  which  was  delivered  with 
what  struck  me  as  an  unusual  and  unnecessary  power  of  voice.  He  preached 
again  on  the  following  Lord's-day,  (May  8,  communion  ;  1  Peter  ii.  24,) 
which  proved  to  be  his  last  sermon.  On  the  9th  he  wrrote  to  me,  "  My 
health  has  steadily  gone  down :  yet,  through  mercy,  I  was  enabled  to  get 
through  the  communion  services.  I  expect  to  sail  for  Richmond  on  Wed- 
nesday. I  shall  probably  be  addressable  at  Drake's  Branch,  Charlotte 
County,  from  the  14th  to  21st,  and  afterwards  at  University  of  Virginia  till 
29th."  On  the  next  day  (10th)  he  wrote  :  "  A  change  in  the  signs  of  Provi- 
dence has  changed  my  plans.  So  obviously  my  cough  has  increased,  and 
my  flesh  decreased,  that  Session  and  Trustees,  motu  proprio,  last  night  or- 
dered me  to  vacate  from  now  till  October  1.  I  propose  to  go  to  Virginia  in 
about  a  fortnight.  Don't  stay  at  home  an  hour ;  but  if  it  be  fair  I  will  try 
to  drop  in  chez  vous  some  day  this  week."  On  the  12th  his  report  was  "  No 
changes."  On  the  25th — "  though  all  packed  up,  and  on  the  eve  of  start- 
ing, we  are  forbidden  by  the  doctor  to  go,  in  consequence  of  my  severe 
cough,  but  more  particularly  a  fever  which  comes  on  at  night.  Plans  un- 
certain. I  have  not  gained  any.  I  endeavour  to  cast  my  burden  on  the 
Lord." 

In  the  correspondence  of  this  month  he  wrote,  (in  dissent  from  my  opin- 
ion that  it  is  better  for  ministers  to  prevent  actual  invitations  to  new  posi- 
tions which  they  know  they  would  not  accept)  as  follows :  "  All  my  little 
observations  confirm  me  in  the  judgment,  that  such  things  should  not  be 
crushed  in  ovo ;  though  my  own  pi-actice  has  been  different.  A  man  runs 
before  Providence,  who  answers  a  question  before  it  is  asked.  The  case 
cannot  be  before  him,  till  he  knows  the  vote,  &c.  He  has  a  right,  as  Christ's 
servant,  to  the  testimonial  in  his  favour,  even  of  an  appointment  which  he 
declines.  His  congregation  have  a  right  to  the  credit  derivable  from  his 
preferring  them,  in  case  of  refusal.  The  simple,  natural  method  is  the 
best." 

It  was  also  during  the  low  state  of  his  health  in  the  middle  of  this  May, 
that  he  wrote  for  "  The  Presbyterian  "  an  affectionate  notice  of  the  Rev. 
Henry  V.  Johns,  D.  D.,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  then  recently  deceased. 
From  that  article  I  extract  a  paragraph  of  biographical  interest : 

"  The  first  person  with  whom  I  ever  talked  freely,  respecting  the  infinite 
concerns  of  my  soul,  was  Henry  V.  Johns ;  and  he  has  told  me  that  a  like 
remark  would  be  true  of  himself.  It  was  in  Nassau  Hall,  then  the  principal 
edifice  of  Princeton  College;  and  in  No.  27,  in  the  'second  entry;'  a  lo- 
cality fresh  in  the  memory  of  old  Nassovians.  We  were  boys  of  sixteen  ; 
though  I  was  about  to  commence  bachelor  of  arts.  Such  conversations 
begin,  one  scarcely  knows  how  ;  in  a  short  time  we  had  unbosomed  our- 
selves to  one  another,  and  entered  upon  a  close  and  tender  friendship  which 
I  trust  in  God  is  never  to  cease.  During  the  days  in  which  Henry  was 
under  the  work  of  the  law,  and  humbly  doubting  whether  indeed  he  had 
attained  to  justification  or  not,  he  used  to  walk  in  the  grove  behind  the 
college,  which,  alas!  with  other  forest  shades  of  my  boyhood,  has  long  since 
vanished  away.  As  he  strayed,  musing,  his  eye  was  attracted  by  a  small 
folded  paper  upon  the  ground  ;  this  he  picked  up,  and  afterwards  showed 
to  me  ;  it  contained  these  words  :  'And  they  that  are  Christ's  have  crucified 


288  DURING   THE   REMAINDER   OF   HIS   PASTORATE. 

New  York,  May  28,  1859. 

As  I  am  ready  to  catch  at  any  little  straw  of  amendment, 
I  feel  cheered  by  being  very  slightly  better  to-day,  though  after 
a  bad  night  of  vexing  dreams  and  wakings.  My  cough  is  in 
abeyance ;  the  disguised  chill  and  consequent  fever  return  every 
evening.  I  have  taken  a  refreshing  drive  for  three  successive 
days. 

Upon  any  fair  calculation  of  probabilities,  how  likely  is  it 
that  a  promiscuous  assembly  at  Indianapolis  will  decide  a  ques- 
tion aright  for  the  whole  church  %  I  have  long  looked  in  vain 
for  any  scriptural  or  rational  foundation  for  supreme  "  courts," 
having  half  a  continent  for  their  scope.  This  feeling  of  mine 
does  not  extend  to  Presbyteries.1 

University  of  Virginia,  June  7,  1859. 

Your  alternative  of  a  tour  to  the  West  [in  preference  to  the 
South]  would  not  have  suited  me  at  all.  I  know  nobody  there, 
and  conveyances  and  railroads  are  not  what  I  need.  In  Virginia 
I  have  mountains,  numerous  friends,  at  whose  houses  (as  here)  1 
can  be  sheltered,  with  sweet,  rural  quiet,  and  daily  horse-exercise. 
I  could  not  have  come  even  here,  if  Dr.  Cabell,  with  considerate 
kindness,  had  not  gone  to  New  York  for  me.  At  the  time  Dr. 
Delafield  arrested  my  trip,  my  cough  and  expectoration  were 
excessive.  I  had  night-sweats,  and  my  pulse  was  at  120.  It 
has  come  down  to  84.  The  journey  has  done  me  good,  though 
I  have  very  bad  nights.  The  weather  here  has  been  almost  cold ; 
the  hills  and  mountains  are  beautifully  clad,  but  the  corn  is  not 
so  high  as  in  Jersey.  Strawberries  still  linger,  of  fine  quality, 
and  plentiful.  We  shall  probably  remain  some  weeks  here,  and 
at  a  magnificent  farm  of  Mr.  Franklin  Minor,  about  five  miles  off*. 

After  having  written  and  printed  a  good  deal  about  sickness, 
health,  &c,  I  find  there  are  pages  of  experience  to  turn  over, 
which  are  quite  new.  Especially  do  I  see  that  we  may  be 
brought  into  stumbling  and  stripping  dispensations,  of   which 

the  flesh  with  the  affections  and  lusts,  Gal.  v.  24.  Try  yourself  by  this ! ' 
The  incident  made  a  deep  impression  on  us  both,  carrying  to  our  apprehen- 
sions at  that  time  something  of  the  supernatural.  We  have  talked  it  over 
in  later  years,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  had  a  moulding  influence 
on  Johns's  experience  and  life.  Soon  after  this  we  became  communicants, 
at  our  respective  homes." 

1  May  30. — "I  have  had  a  somewhat  refreshing  night's  rest,  which  I 
have  not  had  before  during  some  weeks."  In  a  few  days  (June  2)  he  set 
out  with  his  wife  and  youngest  child  for  Virginia.  All  his  arrangements 
indicated  that  he  thought  it  probable  he  should  never  return  ;  and  as  the 
train  passed  Princeton  his  emotions  gave  unequivocal  signs  of  his  reflecting 
that  it  was  likely  to  be  the  last  view  he  should  have  of  that  endeared  place. 


1857—1859.  289 

during  their  continuance  we  cannot  comprehend  the  nature.  I 
never  felt  more  perfectly  resigned  to  God's  will,  or  more  dis- 
posed to  justify  all  his  dealings,  be  it  life  or  death,  or  disability. 
This  is  my  strong  permanent  feeling.  Nevertheless,  with  this, 
and  perhaps  from  physical  depression,  all  things  seem  sad.  The 
chords  are  unstrung,  and  the  instrument  relaxed.  Give  my 
love  to  all  yours,  and  to  inquisitive  friends.1 
$ 

University  of  Virginia,  June  23,  1859. 

By  a  dispensation  very  merciful  to  me,  the  summer  heats 
have  been  held  off  thus  far.  The  harvest  is  in  full  blast — what 
a  cheering  sight !  I  presume  I  saw  during  a  drive  this  morning 
several  wheat-fields,  of  300  acres  each,  under  the  process. 
McCormick's  reaper  is  largely  used.  The  improvements  here 
are  great,  and  still  going  on.  To  the  Rotunda  they  have  added  a 
great  projection  with  a  new  Corinthian  prostyle  on  the  North 
front.  Their  great  room  is  very  noble,  and  has  a  full-size  copy 
of  Raphael's  School  of  Athens.  At  great  expense  they  are  now 
working  to  convey  water  from  a  neighbouring  mount  to  every 
part  of  the  precincts.  A  charming  parsonage  has  been  built  for 
their  chaplain,  on  a  green  hillside,  among  trees.  One  of  the 
best-placed  and  finest  buildings  is  an  Infirmary  for  sick  students. 
It  is  supplied  with  every  convenience,  aired  throughout  by  Emer- 
son's ventilator,  hot  and  cold  baths,  English  water-closets,  &c. 
They  have  a  professional  teacher  of  gymnastics,  and  two  gym- 
nasiums, one  for  summer  and  one  for  winter.  Russian  vapour- 
baths  are  on  the  grounds,  which  Dr.  C.  takes  every  few  days, 
leaping  from  the  sweating  one  into  a  very  cold  plunge.  Their 
"  public  day  "  is  the  29th,  when  every  thing  breaks  up.  Dr. 
Gessner  Harrison,  now  their  oldest  professor,  has  resigned.  The 
demand  for  schools  is  truly  surprising.  I  suppose  there  are  a 
dozen  country-grammar  boarding-schools  in  this  county.  Gentle- 
men's sons  arc  very  glad  to  take  such  places. 

If  they  did  not  keep  saying  so,  I  should  not  know  that  I  was 
any  better  than  a  month  ago.  I  lie  awake  most  of  the  night 
with  slight  fever,  and  seldom  fail  of  a  chill  during  the  twenty 
four  hours.     A  slight  dinner  is  the  only  meal  for  which  I  have 

1  On  the  9th  June  Dr.  Alexander  wrote  to  his  intimate  friend,  James  M. 
Halsted,  Esq.,  of  New  York — "  Since  our  arrival  here,  I  have  on  the  whole 
been  a  gainer.  While  I  cannot  say  that  my  cough  is  gone,  it  is  wonderfully 
lessened,  and  quite  suspended  for  long  periods.  My  nights  are  bad,  and  I 
suffer  from  a  dyspeptic  colic,  which  makes  very  strict  diet  necessary.  My 
appetite  is  good,  and  I  am  riding  on  horseback  every  day.  My  friends 
think  I  shall  recover,  against  the  fall.  That  is  as  God  pleases,  unto  whom 
I  desire  to  submit  myself." 

VOL.  II. 13 


290  DURING   THE   REMAINDER   OF   HIS   PASTORATE. 

any  appetite.  Quinine  in  large  doses  makes  me  for  days  as  deaf 
as  the  late  excellent  "  K.  H."  *  They  begin  to  let  me  have  rasp- 
berries and  ice-cream.2 

1  The  newspaper  signature  of  the  Rev.  Rjchard  Webster,  of  Mauch 
Chunk,  Pennsylvania. 

2  The  last  letter  but  one,  ever  written  by  this  faithful  hand,  so  far  as  I 
have  been  able  to  discover,  is  the  one  I  subjoin,  from  the  Warm  Springs,  ad- 
dressed to  his  brother  Addison,  in  Princeton.  Like  the  preceding  letters 
from  Virginia  to  myself,  it  was  written  with  a  pencil,  but  with  no  signs  of 
debility. 

"  Bath  Cottkt  House,  July  13, 1S59. 

"  Writing  costs  me  so  much,  that  this  must  go  for  an  answer  to  A.'s  and 
J.'s  letters.  We  arrived  here  on  the  13th,  perhaps  the  hottest  day  of  the 
season.  Though  feeling  the  heat,  we  are  all  benefited  by  the  marked 
change  to  mountain  air.  The  bath  agrees  with  me ;  it  is  38  feet  diam- 
eter, 5  feet  deep,  and  98°  Fahrenheit ;  being  moreover  clear  as  crystal. 
The  waters  are  also  drunk,  being  weak  Epsom  salts,  and  a  dash  of  sulphur. 
The  hotel  is  well  kept,  the  mutton  is  delicious,  and  venison  is  on  the  table 
twice  a  day.  The  guests  do  not  number  more  than  forty.  This  place  is  in 
danger  of  being  left  out  of  the  fashionable  range  ;  it  is  no  longer  on  the 
way  to  the  White  Sulphur  and  Sweet  Springs,  and  is  accessible  only  by  very 
heavy  mountain  staging.  It  is  nevertheless,  for  picturesque  scenery, 
above  all  the  others. 

"  Since  coming  here  I  have  felt  better  in  several  respects  ;  better  sleep, 
excellent  appetite,  and  a  slight  accession  of  strength.  I  am  taking  no 
physic,  except  Dr.  Delafield's  tonic  prescription  of  Citr.  Ferri  cum  Cin- 
chona; it  comes  mixed  chemically.     My  absolute  strength  is  small:  I  was 

in  error  about  my  weight ;  it  is  142  lbs I  think  the  heat  must  be 

very  great  in  the  plains.  Drought  prevails  here  ;  there  has  been  no  shower 
for  three  weeks. 

"  If  my  aunt  and  cousins  are  still  with  you,  remember  me  to  them  kindly: 
I  was  so  utterly  unfit  for  visiting,  that  I  did  not  fulfil  my  purpose  of  going 
to  Staunton  and  Lexington. 

"  This  is  a  very  wild  country;  venison,  however,  rises  in  price  ;  it  is  now 
six  cents  a  pound.  A  buck  is  brought  in,  on  an  average,  once  a  day. 
Partridges  and  pheasants  abound.  A  fox  crossed  right  before  our  horses' 
heads  on  the  Warm  Spring  mountain.  We  shall  probably  remain  a  week, 
and  then  go  for  more  permanent  quarters  to  the  Red  Sweet  Springs.  I 
neglected  to  say,  that  I  feel  quite  free  of  my  intermittent,  neither  have  I 
any  regular  cough." 

The  final  efibrt  of  his  letter-writing  was  to  address  some  lines  to  a  young 
nephew  in  New  York,  who  was  suffering  with  a  broken  arm. 


CHAPTEK   XV. 

CONCLUDING     NOTE. 

1859. 

With  the  letter  of  June  23,  this  long,  regular,  and  most 
affectionate  correspondence  terminated  on  the  part  of  my  faith- 
ful friend.  I  wrote  to  him  on  the  7th  and  21st  of  July,  inform- 
ing him  in  the  latter,  that  I  should  leave  home  on  the  27th  for  a 
journey  of  some  weeks,  and  begging  him  to  send  me  word  to  certain 
points  on  the  5th  and  10th  of  August,  of  the  state  of  his  health. 
I  had  been  desponding  of  his  recovery  from  the  time  of  our  last 
personal  interview,  May  2  ;  but  was  not  prepared  to  receive  the 
tidings  of  his  departure  so  early  as  it  came ;  for  before  the  first 
date  I  had  fixed  for  his  writing  to  me  he  was  in  his  grave. 

Nothing,  therefore,  remains  of  my  present  undertaking,  but 
to  furnish  a  narrative  of  the  events  of  these  last  few  weeks ; 
which  I  am  able  to  do  in  the  language  of  those  who  had  the 
privilege,  providentially  denied  to  myself,  of  being  with  him  in 
the  closing  scenes. 

At  the  University  of  Virginia  he  had  his  home  with  his  wife's 
brother,  Dr.  James  L.  Cabell,  Professor  of  Comparative  Anatomy 
and  Physiology,  whose  sympathies  and  attentions  as  a  compan- 
ion, friend,  and  physician,  supplied  every  thing  that  either  his 
domestic  or  religious  wants  could  require. 

"  During  the  first  few  days  after  his  arrival  at  my  house,"  (I 
quote  the  words  of  Dr.  Cabell  in  letters  to  myself  and  others,) 
"he  allowed  himself  to  be  distressingly  exercised  on  the  subject 
of  his  relations  to  the  congregation,  but  letters  received  almost 
simultaneously  from  two  of  the  Elders,  in  which  they  requested 


292  CONCLUDING   NOTE. 

him  to  dismiss  that  subject  from  his  mind  until  his  health  should 
be  fully  restored,  had  the  desired  result ;  and  from  that  time  for- 
ward I  had  no  reason  to  think  that  the  subject  ever  disturbed 
him  again.  The  remainder  of  his  days  was  spent  in  tranquil 
enjoyment,  evidently  at  peace  with  God  through  faith  in  Christ, 
and  in  love  and  charity  with  all  men. 

"  Leaving  the  University  at  noon  of  July  12,  we  reached 
Millboro'  station  at  four,  and  there  took  a  chartered  coach  for  the 
Warm  Springs.  The  afternoon^was  exceedingly  sultry,  and  when 
we  reached  the  Bath  Alum  Springs,  nine  or  ten  miles  from  the 
station,  and  five  from  the  end  of  our  journey,  it  was  found  neces- 
sary to  stop  for  the  night.  We  made  a  fresh  start  at  daybreak, 
(July  13,)  and  crossed  the  Warm  Spring  Mountain  before  break- 
fast. It  was  a  fine  bracing  morning.  He  had  enjoyed  good 
rest  during  the  night,  and  was  in  excellent  spirits.  W^hen  we 
drove  up  to  the  Warm  Springs  Hotel,  he  got  out  of  the  coach 
with  a  more  elastic  step  than  he  had  shown  for  months,  and 
averred  that  he  felt  like  a  new  man.  After  a  day  or  two  this 
feeling  of  buoyancy  deserted  him,  and  was  succeeded  by  an  ex- 
pression of  tranquil  resignation  which  puzzled  me.  On  the  one 
hand,  the  absence  of  a  painful  expression  was  gratifying,  in  con 
trast  with  the  previously  frequent  indications  of  bodily  and 
mental  distress  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  ordinary  signs  of 
convalescence  in  improved  appetite  and  buoyant  spirits,  were 
lacking. 

"  The  suspension  of  some  of  his  most  distressing  symptoms 
soon  after  his  arrival  in  Virginia,  gave  me  for  a  time  pretty 
sanguine  hopes  of  his  ultimate  restoration ;  but  my  mind  gradu- 
ally received  the  impression  that  despite  the  abeyance  of  sue! 
symptoms,  no  ground  previously  lost  was  ever  recovered.  The 
flesh  and  strength  he  had  lost  were  never  regained ;  and  more 
than  this,  his  weakness  and  emaciation  increased  progressively 
though  slowly.  By  insensible  degrees  my  hopes  were  lessening 
and  my  fears  were  increasing.  He  himself  never  wavered  in  his 
conviction  that  he  was  not  only  hopelessly  disabled,  but  that  his 
end  was  much  nearer  at  hand  than  others  thought.  He  left  New 
York  early  in  June,  six  weeks  later  my  house,  in  the  firm  con- 
viction that  he  would  see  neither  place  again.     Still  he  was 


1859.  293 

impatient  to  get  into  the  mountains.  You  know  the  force  of  his 
aesthetic  susceptibilities.  In  his  daily  drives,  his  enjoyment  of 
our  mountain  scenery,  which  is  unsurpassed  for  its  varied  beauty 
and  grandeur,  was  almost  rapturous.  It  had  never  before,  he 
said,  been  half  so  great.  He  would  repeatedly  say  that  he  had 
no  language  of  his  own  adequate  to  the  expression  of  his  feel- 
ings, and  could  only  exclaim  with  the  Psalmist :  '  Oh  that  men 
would  praise  the  Lord  for  His  goodness  and  for  His  wonderful 
works  to  the  children  of  men.'  Similar  exercises  were  mani- 
fested on  our  journey  to  the  Warm  Springs,  and  especially  at 
that  spot  of  exquisite  beauty,  where  we  lingered  a  week.  It 
must  have  been  the  effect  of  such  mental  exercises  that  produced 
so  marked  a  change  in  the  expression  of  his  countenance,  by 
removing  the  traces  of  suffering,  as  to  cause  both  ourselves  and 
strangers  to  mark  the  change,  and  to  imagine  that  he  was  much 
better.  But  I  recall  the  fact  that  he  several  times  said  to  me  : 
4 1  have  a  strange  feeling  of  increasing  debility.'  On  learning 
from  my  sister  that  he  slept  better  than  he  had  done  for  months, 
that  he  was  entirely  free  from  pain  at  night,  and  that  his  appetite 
and  enjoyment  of  food  were  keen,  I  could  not  attach  much  sig- 
nificance to  a  feeling,  which  is  temporarily  experienced  by  most 
persons  who  take  a  warm  bath  daily.  He  was  impatient  to  go 
on  to  the  Red  Sweet  Springs,  (Alleghany  county,)  his  favourite 
resort  in  these  mountains.  Waiting  for  a  rain  to  lay  the  dust  and 
cool  the  air,  we  left  the  Warm  Springs  on  the  20th  July,  the  day 
after  a  heavy  shower  had  produced  this  twofold  change,  on  a  bright 
and  beautiful  morning.  But  we  had  not  gone  many  miles  before 
we  found,  to  our  great  regret,  that  the  clouds  of  the  preceding 
day  had  not  extended  far  in  the  direction  of  our  road,  and  we 
were  greatly  oppressed  by  the  heat  and  dust.  Towards  noon  he 
requested  me  to  stop  the  coach  at  the  nearest  house  as  he  was  suf- 
fering extreme  pain.  In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  reached 
an  obscure  country  tavern,  where  we  remained  four  or  five  hours, 
and  then  proceeded  eight  miles  further  to  a  more  comfortable 
house,  where  well-ventilated  rooms  and  good  bedding  could  be 
obtained.  Here,  during  the  night,  symptoms  of  dysentery 
appeared,  but  were  relieved  by  prompt  remedies  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  admit  of  his  travelling  the  next  morning  over  the 


294  CONCLUDING   NOTE. 

remaining  eighteen  miles  of  his  journey,  which  brought  us  to 
the  Red  Sweet  Springs.  Having  here  more  comforts,  conven- 
iences and  appliances  for  gratifying  his  tastes,  than  could  have 
been  brought  together  elsewhere,  both  he  and  my  sister  made  it 
a  subject  of  thanksgiving  that  he  was  permitted  to  reach  a  spot 
endeared  to  him  by  its  rural  and  quiet  charms  and  many  pleasant 
associations. 

"  Our  determination  to  continue  our  journey  was  based  upon 
the  fact  that  the  tavern  at  which  we  lodged,  though  in  many  other 
respects  quite  comfortable,  was  rendered  unfit  for  invalids  by 
reason  of  its  being  the  night-stand  for  the  enormous  travel  to 
the  White  Sulphur  Springs.  The  stages  were  coming  in  or  going 
out  nearly  all  night,  and  there  were  not  two  hours  of  quiet  during 
the  entire  night.  He  passed  over  the  eighteen  miles  with  so 
little  discomfort,  and  with  so  frequent  manifestations  of  delight 
as  he  recalled  the  familiar  objects  along  the  road,  that  I  really 
thought  the  disease  must  have  been  extinguished.  The  symp- 
toms returned,  however,  after  our  arrival  at  the  Springs,  but 
with  so  moderate  a  degree  of  intensity  as  to  awaken  no  alarm. 
The  immediate  cause  of  death  was  an  uncontrollable  diarrhoea 
supervening  upon  an  attack  of  dysentery.  His  system  responded 
readily  enough  to  the  remedies  employed,  and  this  circumstance 
induced  us  to  indulge  very  sanguine  hopes  of  his  recovery  until 
a  few  days  before  the  termination  ;  but  his  physical  constitution 
had  been  so  completely  wrecked  that  he  had  no  recuperative 
power  in  reserve  for  such  exigencies.  On  Wednesday  morning, 
July  27th,  after  a  night  of  fever,  I  sent  telegraphic  communica- 
tions to  his  friends  respecting  his  condition.  From  this  time 
till  his  death  I  did  not  leave  his  bedside,  except  to  take  my 
meals.  Wednesday  night  the  fever  was  scarcely  perceptible,  and 
his  sleep  was  so  refreshing  that  on  awaking  at  dawn  of  day,  he 
said  to  me  :  '  I  slept  delightfully  and  am  much  refreshed.'  An 
hour  or  two  later  he  said  to  my  sister :  '  I  must  be  better — 1 
feel  entirely  comfortable.'  This  delusive  appearance  of  amend- 
ment continued  all  the  day,  and  slightly  revived  our  hopes.  But 
Thursday  night  the  fever  recurred,  and  again  on  Friday  night. 
On  the  latter  occasion  a  collapse  ensued  on  the  subsidence  of  the 
fever,  which  looked  like  the  final  sinking.     He  rallied,  however. 


1859.  295 

but  the  fever  recurred  early  Saturday  night,  and  by  midnight  he 
was  evidently  and  unquestionably  sinking,  though  he  continued 
to  breathe  till  about  five  o'clock  on  the  Sabbath  morn. 

"  Much  of  the  time  before  his  strength  entirely  failed,  was 
spent  in  sending  messages  of  farewell  and  comfort  to  his  congre- 
gation and  the  altsent  members  of  his  family.  He  said  :  '  I  have 
not  been  in  the  habit  of  talking  much  on  the  subject  of  my  own 
spiritual  states  of  feeling.  With  respect  to  my  subjective 
religion,  I  have  often  disappointed  people  who  look  for  mani- 
festations of  a  certain  kind.  But  I  have  frequently  made  known 
to  Elizabeth  [his  wife]  the  grounds  of  my  hope.'  It  was  now 
suggested  to  him  that  he  was  exhausting  himself,  and  needed 
rest,  but  he  added,  '  Let  me  say  one  word  more  with  respect  to 
the  solemn  event  to  which  you  have  called  my  attention.  If 
the  curtain  were  to  drop  now,  and  I  were  this  moment  ushered 
into  the  presence  of  my  Maker,  what  would  be  my  feelings  ? 
They  would  be  these  :  first,  I  would  prostrate  myself  in  an  un- 
utterable sense  of  my  nothingness  and  guilt ;  but,  secondly,  I 
would  look  upon  my  Redeemer  with  an  inexpressible  assurance 
of  faith  and  love.  A  passage  of  Scripture  which  expresses  my 
present  feeling  is  this  :  "  I  know  whom  "  (with  great  emphasis)  "  I 
have  believed,  and  am  assured  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which 
I  have  committed  to  him  against  that  day." '  In  quoting  this 
sentence  he  remarked,  "  some  persons  read  it  '  in  whom  I  have 
believed,'  but  there  is  no  preposition.  Christ  himself  was  the 
direct  object  of  the  Apostle's  faith."  This  took  place  about 
twenty  hours  before  his  departure,  after  which  he  fell  into  a  sweet 
sleep,  which  continued  till  the  last. 

"  We  are  apt  to  think  of  sickness  and  death  at  a  public 
watering-place  as  peculiarly  distressing.  It  was  far  otherwise  in 
this  case.  Our  party  had  the  exclusive  occupation  of  a  large 
isolated  cottage,  with  abundant  attendance  by  excellent  and  sym- 
pathizing servants,  and  the  kind-hearted  and  liberal  proprietor 
(Mr.  Bias)  spared  neither  trouble  nor  expense  in  procuring  every 
comfort  and  luxury  which  could  be  had." 

It  increases  our  cause  of  thankfulness  for  the  perfect  peace- 
fulness  and  serenity  of  this  passage  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  to  know  that  Dr.  Alexander  expected  to  suffer 


296  CONCLUDING-   NOTE. 

some  severe  spiritual  conflicts  before  his  release.  In  view  of  such 
a  trial  he  had  deliberately  prepared  the  minds  of  those  who  might 
be  expected  to  be  most  deeply  moved  by  it ;  reminding  them 
of  the  nature  of  such  temporary  temptations  of  faith,  as  some- 
times occur  in  Christian  experience  before  the  final  triumph, 
and  bidding  them  not  to  be  disturbed  by  what  might  take  place 
in  his  own  instance.  But  no  such  darkness,  doubt,  or  trouble 
came,  even  for  a  moment.  His  countenance,  even  in  silence 
and  sleep,  bore  such  a  happy  and  transported  expression,  that  it 
was  remarked  by  one  who  witnessed  it  that  he  was  already  looking 
into  heaven.  In  this  respect,  those  prayers  appeared  to  be 
answered,  Avhich  were  intimated  by  his  speaking  of  the  comfort 
he  found  on  his  death-bed  in  such  stanzas  as  these,  (translated 
from  German :) 

Forsake  me  not,  my  God, 

Thou  God  of  my  salvation ! 
Give  me  thy  light,  to  be 

My  sure  illumination. 
My  soul  to  folly  turns, 

Seeking  she  knows  not  what ; 
Oh !  lead  her  to  thyself — 

My  God,  forsake  me  not ! 

Forsake  me  not,  my  God  ! 

Take  not  thy  Spirit  from  me  ; 
And  suffer  not  the  might 

Of  sin  to  overcome  me. 
A  father  pitieth 

The  children  he  begot ; 
My  Father,  pity  me  ; 

My  God,  forsake  me  not ! 

Forsake  me  not,  my  God  ! 

Thou  God  of  life  and  power, 
Enliven,  strengthen  mo, 

In  every  evil  hour ; 
And  when  the  sinful  fire 

Within  my  heart  is  hot, 
Be  not  thou  far  from  me  ; 

My  God,  forsake  me  not ! 


1859.  297 

Forsake  me  not,  my  God ! 

Uphold  me  in  my  going ; 
That  evermore  I  may 

Please  thee  in  all  well-doing  ; 
And  that  thy  will,  0  Lord, 

May  never  be  forgot 
'  In  all  my  works  and  ways — 

My  God,  forsake  me  not ! 

Forsake  me  not,  my  God ! 

I  would  be  thine  forever ; 
Confirm  me  mightily 

In  every  right  endeavour. 
And  when  my  hour  is  come, 

Cleansed  from  all  stain  and  spot 
Of  sin,  receive  my  soul ; 

My  God,  forsake  me  not ! 

I  place,  here,  principally  on  account  of  the  interest  now 
associated  with  it  by  the  unexpected  decease  of  the  writer  him- 
self in  less  than  six  months  from  its  date,  an  extract  from  a 
letter  addressed  to  me  by  Dr.  J.  Addison  Alexander,  on  the  day 
after  his  brother's  death,  but  before  the  intelligence  had  reached 
New  York. 

"New  York,  August  1,  1859. 
"  My  dear  Sir, 

"  I  left  town  on  Friday  for  a  day  or  two,  and  on  returning  to 
resume  my  work  [writing  Commentary]  this  morning,  find  that 
James's  sons  set  off  that  same  day  for  the  South,  having  heard 
unfavourable  news  from  their  father,  and  that  my  brother  Samuel 
followed  them  last  night  after  receiving  a  despatch  saying  that 
James  was  rapidly  sinking.  He  was  seized  with  dysentery  on 
his  way  from  the  Warm  to  the  Sweet  Springs,  where  it  seems 
that  disease  is  epidemic.  I  hear  indirectly  through  a  member  of 
Dr.  Cabell's  family,  that  at  the  beginning  of  this  new  attack  he 
suffered  nothing,  but  seemed  nearly  insensible.  We  are  now  in 
hourly  expectation  of  later  news,  which  will  determine  my  own 
movements.  In  the  mean  time  I  think  it  right  to  let  you  know 
what  we  know,  if  you  have  not  previously  heard  it.  I  cannot 
yet  abandon  all  hope,  though  I  stand  prepared  to  hear  the  worst." 

In  a  letter  a  month  afterwards,  and  in  reference  to  another 

VOL  II.— 13* 


298  CONCLUDING   NOTE. 

bereavement,  Dr.  J.  A.  A.  says :  "  I  have  no  doubt  you  have 
often  turned  in  thought  to  our  departed  *  son  of  consolation,'  as 
if  he  were  still  living.  With  a  strange  but  not  unnatural  forget- 
fulness,  I  find  myself  looking  to  him  for  support  even  under  the 
irreparable  stroke  of  his  own  death.  I  had  no  conception  of 
my  intellectual  dependence  upon  James,  until  I  caught  myself 
continually  laying  things  aside  to  tell  him  as  the  person  who 
could  best  appreciate  and  enjoy  them.  All  this  says  very 
loudly  '  cease  ye  from  man  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils,'  and 
shows  the  grace  and  wisdom  of  that  constitution  which  reserves 
the  office  of  comforter  for  a  divine  person.  The  circumstances 
which  you  mention  certainly  go  far  to  reconcile  us  to  his  death 
at  this  time ;  but  I  feel  now  and  then  a  disposition  to  repine  at 
the  circumstances  themselves.  1  have  no  doubt  that  he  shortened 
his  own  life  by  morbid  anxieties,  connected  not  merely  with  his 
health,  but  with  his  duties.  I  find  it  hard  to  acquiesce  without 
a  murmur  in  the  loss  of  such  a  man  from  such  a  cause,  or  to 
reflect,  without  a  momentary  pang  of  discontent,  that  he  might 
have  preached  for  many  years  with  ease  and  pleasure,  but  sunk 
under  the  weight  of  other  cares.1 

"  It  seems  an  argument  in  favour  of  the  old  Puritan  arrange- 
ment, which  provided  both  a  pastor  and  a  teacher  in  such  cases. 
But  I  have  already  said  too  much,  and  check  myself." 

Ten  days  afterwards,  referring  to  the  modification  in  his 
Seminary  duties,  Dr.  J.  A.  Alexander  wrote :  "  The  change  in  my 
employments  is  exceedingly  agreeable,  and  none  the  less  so  from 
its  having  been  a  favourite  plan  of  James's,  without  whose  in- 
fluence it  never  would  have  taken  place.  This  is  not  the  only 
point  in  which  he  lived  to  see  his  hopes  fulfilled  in  reference  to 
his  nearest  relatives — another  instance  of  the  loving-kindness 
which  arranged  the  circumstances  of  his  death." 

The  decease  took  place  early  on  the  morning  of  the  Lord's 
day,  July  31,  1859.  After  a  proper  interval,  the  body  was 
taken  to  Princeton,  and  the  interment  was  made  on  Wednesday, 

1  The  writer  alludes  to  his  brother's  extreme,  almost  morbid  consci- 
entiousness, which  led  him  to  attempt  an  amount  of  labour  beyond  his 
physical  ability,  and  which  oppressed  his  mind  when  he  found  he  could  not 
overtake  his  work. 


1859.  299 

August  3d.  The  religious  services  connected  with  it  were  held 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  and  were  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Thompson  of  New  York,  Dr.  Magie  of  Elizabeth, 
Professor  Hope,  (since  deceased,)  of  the  College,  and  Dr.  Hodge, 
the  last  of  whom  preached  a  discourse  from  the  words  in 
Matthew  xxv.  34,  "  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  his 
right  hand,  Come  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world." 

The  sympathy  felt  by  Christians  of  all  branches  of  the 
church,  in  the  removal  of  Dr.  Alexander  from  their  communion, 
was  strikingly  displayed  in  a  meeting  which  took  place  on  the 
5th  of  August,  at  the  most  largely  frequented  of  American 
summer -resorts — Saratoga.  At  this  assembly  clergymen  of  the 
Episcopal,  Congregational,  Baptist,  Methodist,  and  Reformed- 
Dutch,  as  well  as  the  Presbyterian  churches,  expressed  a  common 
sentiment  of  brotherly  affection  and  high  esteem. 

The  Session  of  the  bereaved  congregation  in  New  York, 
appointed  the  second  Sabbath  of  October  to  be  observed  with 
special  reference  to  their  affliction.  It  had  been  expected  that 
the  church  would  be  closed  during  part  of  the  summer  and  until 
that  day,  with  a  view  to  some  extensive  changes  in  the  building 
to  assist  the  voice  of  the  pastor.  But  upon  the  reassembling 
of  the  congregation,  a  marble  tablet,  inserted  in  the  wall  near 
the  pulpit,  was  the  only  change  to  be  noticed.  That  tablet  bears 
the  following  inscription  : 

IN   MEMORY   OF 

JAMES    WADDEL    ALEXANDER,    D.D., 

for  thirteen  tears  the  beloved  and  revered  pastor  of  this  church  ; 
whose  singular  natural  gifts,  ripened  by  generous  culture, 

were  successfully  given  to  his  sacred  work  ; 
and  who,  by  his  fervent  piety,  pure  life,  tender  affections, 
large  benevolence,  and  unsparing  labour,  so  endeared  himself  to 
his  people,  that  they  mourn 
as   for   a   dear  brother  and    beloved   friend. 
He  was  born  March  13,  1804, 
He  died  July  31,  1859, 
declaring,  as  the  sum  of  his  faith  and  hope, 
"  I  knoio  whom  1  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep 
that  which  I  have  committed  to  him  against  that  day." 


300  CONCLUDING  NOTE. 

With  the  services  on  the  Sabbath  alluded  to,  were  connected 
in  the  morning  a  sermon  by  Professor  Hodge  of  the  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary,  from  the  words,  (Acts  ix.  20,)  "  He 
preached  Christ ;  "  and  in  the  afternoon  a  sermon  by  the  Editor 
of  these  volumes,  from  2  Peter  i.  15,  "  Moreover,  I  will  endea- 
vour that  ye  may  be  able,  after  my  decease,  to  have  these  things 
always  in  remembrance." 

Prom  the  former  of  these,  I  extract  a  few  paragraphs  : 

"  Dr.  Alexander  united  in  himself  gifts  and  graces  rarely 
found  in  combination.  God  had  endowed  him  with  a  retentive 
memory  and  a  perspicacious  intellect,  with  great  power  of  ap- 
plication and  acquirement,  with  singular  delicacy  of  taste,  with 
a  musical  ear,  and  a  resonant  voice.  These  gifts  were  all  culti- 
vated and  turned  to  the  best  account.  Probably  no  minister  in 
our  Church  was  a  more  accomplished  scholar.  He  was  familiar 
with  English  literature  in  all  periods  of  its  history.  He  culti- 
vated the  Greek  and  Latin,  French,  German,  Italian,  and  Spanish 
languages,  not  merely  as  a  philologist,  but  for  the  treasures  of 
knowledge  and  of  taste  which  they  contain.  To  this  wide  com- 
pass of  his  studies  is  in  good  measure  to  be  referred  many  of 
his  characteristics  as  a  writer,  the  abundance  of  his  literary  allu- 
sions, his  curious  felicity  of  expression,  and  the  variety  of  his 
imagery. 

"  It  was,  however,  not  only  in  the  department  of  literature 
that  Dr.  Alexander  was  thus  distinguished.  He  was  an  erudite 
theologian.  Pew  men  were  more  conversant  with  the  writings 
of  the  early  fathers,  or  more  familiar  with  Christian  doctrine 
in  all  its  phases.  He  embraced  the  faith  of  the  Eeformed 
Churches  in  its  integrity  with  a  strength  of  conviction  which 
nothing  but  the  accordance  of  that  svstem  with  his  religious 
experience  could  produce.  *  *  *  Theology  and  philosophy  are 
so  related,  that  devotion  to  the  former  involves  of  necessity  the 
cultivation  of  the  latter.  Dr.  Alexander  was  therefore  at  home 
in  the  whole  department  of  philosophical  speculation.  His  last 
publication  was  an  able  exposition  of  the  views  of  the  meta- 
physicians of  the  middle  ages  on  one  of  the  most  important 
questions  in  mental  science.1 

1  "  The  doctrine  of  Perception,  as  held  b)'  Doctor  Arnauld,  Doctor  Reid, 


1859.  301 

"  Thus  rich.y  and  variously  was  your  beloved  pastor  endowed. 
These  gifts,  however,  were  but  accomplishments.  Underneath 
these  adornments,  in  themselves  of  priceless  value,  was  the  man 
and  the  Christian.  He  was  an  Israelite  without  guile.  Prob 
ably  no  man  living  was  freer  from  all  envy  and  jealousy,  from 
malice,  hypocrisy,  and  evil-speaking.  No  one  ever  heard  of  his 
saying  or  doing  an  unseemly  or  unkind  thing.  The  associations 
connected  with  his  name  in  the  minds  of  all  who  knew  him,  are 
of  things  true,  just,  pure,  lovely,  and  of  good  report.  No  one 
can  think  of  him  without  being  the  happier  and  the  better  for 
the  thought.  He  was  a  delightful  companion.  His  varied 
knowledge,  his  humor,  his  singular  power  of  illustration,  rendered 
his  conversation,  when  in  health  and  spirits,  a  perpetual  feast. 
Having  been  brought  early  in  life  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the 
truth,  his  religious  knowledge  and  experience  were  profound  and 
extensive.  He  was  therefore  a  skilful  casuist,  a  wise  counsellor, 
and  abundantly  able  to  comfort  the  afflicted  with  the  consolation 
wherewith  he  himself  had  been  comforted  of  God.  He  was 
evidently  a  devout  man,  reverential  in  all  his  acts  and  utter- 
ances, full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"  The  pulpit  was  his  appropriate  sphere.  There  all  his  gifts 
and  graces,  all  his  acquirements  and  experiences,  found  full  scope. 
Hence  the  remarkable  variety  which  characterized  his  preach- 
ing ;  which  was  sometimes  doctrinal,  sometimes  experimental, 
sometimes  historical,  sometimes  descriptive  or  graphic,  bringing 
scriptural  scenes  and  incidents  as  things  present  before  the  mind ; 
often  exegetical,  unfolding  the  meaning  of  the  wTord  of  God  in 
its  own  divine  form.  Hence,  too,  the  vivacity  of  thought,  the 
felicity  of  style,  and  fertility  of  illustration  which  were  displayed 
in  all  his  sermons.  He  could  adapt  himself  to  any  kind  of 
audience.  *  *  *  He  preached  Christ  in  a  manner  which  seemed 
to  many  altogether  peculiar.  He  endeavoured  to  turn  the  minds 
of  men  away  from  themselves,  and  to  lead  them  to  look  only 

and  Sir  William  Hamilton,"  in  the  Repertory  for  April,  1859.  As  I  have, 
in  the  progress  of  the  volumes,  indicated  Dr.  Alexander's  articles  in  the 
Repertory,  as  far  as  I  can  identify  them,  I  will  mention  that  in  the  course 
of  1858  his  contributions  were,  1.  "Ancient  Manuscript  Sermons;"  2. 
"  Sprague's  Annals." 


302  CONCLUDING   NOTE. 

unto  Jesus.  He  strove  to  convince  his  hearers  that  the  work  of 
salvation  had  been  accomplished  for  them,  and  was  not  to  be 
done  by  them  ;  that  their  duty  was  simply  to  acquiesce  in  the 
work  of  Christ,  assured  that  the  subjective  work  of  sanctincation 
is  due  to  the  objective  work  of  Christ,  as  appropriated  by  faith 
and  applied  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  thus  endeavoured  to  cut  off 
the  delays,  the  anxieties,  and  misgivings  which  arise  from  watch- 
ing the  exercises  of  our  own  minds,  seeking  in  what  we  inwardly 
experience  a  warrant  for  accepting  what  is  outwardly  offered  to 
the  chief  of  sinners,  without  money  and  without  price.  He  was 
eminently  successful  in  his  ministry,  not  only  in  the  conversion 
of  sinners,  but  in  comforting  and  edifying  believers.  The  great 
charm  of  his  preaching,  that  to  which  more  than  to  any  thing  else 
its  efficiency  is  to  be  referred,  was  his  power  over  the  religious 
affections.  He  not  only  instructed,  encouraged,  and  strengthened 
his  hearers,  but  he  had,  to  a  remarkable  degree,  the  gift  of  calling 
their  devotional  feelings  into  exercise.  In  his  prayers  there  were 
those  peculiar  intonations  to  which  the  Spirit  of  God  alone  can 
attune  the  human  voice,  and  at  the  sound  of  which  the  gates  of 
heaven  seem  to  unfold,  and  the  worshippers  above  and  the  wor- 
shippers on  earth  mingle  together,  prostrate  in  adoration.  Your 
religious  services,  under  his  ministry,  were  truly  seasons  of 
devotion,  the  highest  form  of  enjoyment  vouchsafed  to  men  on 
earth.  The  man  who  can  give  us  this  enjoyment,  who  can  thus 
raise  our  hearts  to  God,  and  bring  us  into  communion  with  our 
Saviour,  we  reverence  and  love.  This  is  a  power  which  no  one 
envies,  from  which  no  one  wishes  to  detract,  which  surrounds  its 
possessor  with  a  sacred  halo,  attracting  all  eyes  and  offending 
none. 

"  Dr.  Alexander's  preeminence,  therefore,  was  due  not  to 
any  one  gift  alone ;  not  to  his  natural  abilities,  to  his  varied 
scholarship,  to  his  extensive  theological  knowledge  and  religious 
experience ;  not  to  his  divine  unction,  or  to  his  graces  of  elocu- 
tion. It  was  the  combination  of  all  these  which  made  him,  not 
the  first  of  orators  to  hear  on  rare  occasions,  but  the  first  of 
preachers  to  sit  under,  month  after  month  and  year  after 
year." 


1859  303 

THE  LAST  LETTER. 

[The  last  letter  ever  written  by  Dr.  Alexander,  as  referred 
to  on  page  290,  was  as  follows  :] 

"Warm  Springs,  July  19,  1859. 

"  My  dear  little  Charley. — We  have  all  been  very  much 
grieved  to  hear  of  your  trouble ;  your  mother's  letter  is  all  we 
know,  but  we  trust  you  are  by  this  time  over  the  worst.  I  am 
weak,  and  cannot  write  much,  but  I  beg  you  to  consider  that  it 
is  your  Heavenly  Father  who  sends  this  affliction  on  you,  for 
your  good.  And  if  you  are  patient  and  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God,  it  will  please  God  as  much  as  if  you  did  the  most  laborious 
works.  We  were  pleased  to  hear  how  manly  you  were,  after 
you  were  hurt.  This  was  God's  gift ;  and  he  will  take  away 
your  timidity,  if  you  ask  him,  and  make  you  strong  and  cour- 
ageous. 

"  Willy  has  a  letter  begun  to  you,  but  he  is  a  poor  writer, 
and  every  thing  draws  him  away.  Give  my  love  to  your  dear 
parents,  to  my  sweet  little  Netty,  to  Archy  and  Sam,  also  to 
your  Uncle  Sam  ;  all  join  in  this.  A  letter  is  a  great  treat  up 
here.  Our  address  will  be  :  Red  Sweet  Springs,  Alleghany  Co., 
Va.  I21T3  Please  let  this  be  known  to  our  friends.  We  expect 
to  leave  here  to-morrow  in  a  chartered  stage.  Mrs.  Cabell  is 
better.  Your  aunt  is  well ;  so  is  Will.  My  own  troubles  are 
chiefly  from  extreme  weakness.  I  gain  little. 
"  God  bless  you,  Charley  ! 

"  I  am  your  affectionate  uncle 

James." 


APPENDIX 


No.  1. 

PRESBYTEEIAL      CHARGE. 

1841. 

[It  will  not,  I  think,  be  considered  an  inappropriate  addition 
to  the  friendly  counsels  contained  in  many  of  the  foregoing 
Letters,  to  insert  the  public  Charge  addressed  by  their  writer  to 
his  correspondent,  as  part  of  the  prescribed  services  at  his  Ordi- 
nation and  Instalment.  This  took  place,  August  11, 1841,  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Trenton,  the  same  over  which 
Dr.  Alexander  was  installed,  February  11,  1829.] 

Invested  as  you  have  just  been  with  the  most  sacred  office 
known  among  men,  you  feel  it,  I  doubt  not,  to  be  the  most  solemn 
hour  of  life,  one  to  which  you  will  look  back  with  profound 
interest  during  all  your  pilgrimage — perhaps  in  your  dying 
moments — and  certainly  from  the  eternal  world.  And  whether 
the  retrospect  be  one  of  joy  or  grief  will  depend  on  the  manner 
in  which  you  shall  have  fulfilled  these  vows.  If  you  perform 
the  duties  of  a  gospel-minister  with  faithfulness,  to  the  end  of 
your  course,  you  will  shine  as  a  star  in  the  firmament  of  glory  ; 
but  if  you  turn  aside,  seduced  by  sloth,  fear,  pleasure,  literary 
or  professional  fame,  ambition  or  lucre,  your  account  will  be  as 
dreadful  as  your  privilege  is  great. 

Consider  what  it  is  that  you  have  vowed.  To  be  zealous  and 
faithful  in  maintaining  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  the  purity 
and  peace  of  the  church,  whatever  persecution  or  opposition 
may  arise  to  you  on  that  account ; — to  be  faithful  and  diligent 
in  the  exercise  of  all  personal  and  private  duties  which  become 
you  as  a  Christian,  and  a  minister  of  the  gospel ;  as  well  as  in 
all  relative  duties,  and  the  public  duties  of  your  office ;  endea- 


306  PKESBYTEEIAL   CHARGE. 

vouring  to  adorn  the  profession  of  the  gospel  by  your  conversa- 
tion ;  and  walking  with  exemplary  piety  before  the  flock  over 
which  God  hath  made  you  a  bishop.  And,  finally,  and  specially, 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  a  pastor  to  this  congregation. 

These,  my  brother,  are  the  duties  which  you  have  just  now 
recognized  as  yours  ;  and  I  am  appointed  to  charge  you,  yea  in 
God's  name,  solemnly  to  charge  you  to  persevere  in  them.  But 
why  need  I  enlarge  upon  them  1  It  is  not  the  knowledge  of 
our  duties  which  is  most  needed,  but  the  heart  to  perform  them. 
We  all  know  more  than  we  do,  and  little  would  be  gained  if  I 
were  to  rehearse  to  you  the  contents  of  all  the  volumes  on  the 
pastoral  care.  These  you  might  know,  and  yet  be  a  cast-away. 
But  to  do  them  is  what  only  the  Spirit  of  God  in  your  heart  will 
ever  ensure.  There  is  only  one  thing  which  wrill  make  you,  and 
keep  you  a  faithful  pastor,  and  that  is  the  new  nature  in  vigorous 
life  ;  evincing  itself  in  love  to  Christ,  and  love  to  souls.  Take 
heed,  therefore,  to  thyself,  as  well  as  to  all  the  flock  over  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  thee  bishop,  to  feed  the  church  of 
God,  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood.  Take  heed 
unto  thyself,  and  unto  the  doctrine ;  continue  in  them ;  for  in 
doing  this  thou  shalt  both  save  thyself,  and  them  that  hear  thee. 
Though  you  are  a  minister,  it  does  not  follow  that  you  are  a 
member  of  Christ,  I  am  sure  I  speak  your  own  convictions 
when  I  say,  that  all  ministerial  activity  and  success  is  hollow  and 
deceptive,  which  does  not  flow  from  inward  experience  of  the 
divine  life.  Without  this,  vanity  is  stamped  alike  on  the  tongues 
of  men  and  of  angels — on  prophecy,  mysteries,  and  all  knowl- 
edge, on  self-impoverishing  alms  and  martyrdom  itself.  If  you 
ever  really  preach  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  it  will  be  because  God 
who  commanded  the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  shall  have 
sinned  into  your  heart,  to  give  you  the  light  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ,  Have  you,  my 
dear  brother,  beheld  that  glory  %  Having  the  same  spirit  of 
faith  with  Paul,  can  you  say  I  believed  and  therefore  have  I 
spoken  1  Does  the  love  of  Christ  constrain  you  %  Beware  of 
preaching  an  unknown  Saviour.  It  is  He  who  is  to  be  the  theme 
of  all  your  ministrations.  Make  sure  of  an  interest  in  his  death  ; 
and  not  only  this,  but  strive  to  keep  the  fountain  full,  rather  than 
to  multiply  the  streams ;  cultivate  the  graces  of  the  closet,  in 
order  that  you  may  come  forth  in  public  and  private,  fresh  from 
divine  communications. 

It  is,  after  all,  personal  piety  which  makes  the  able  minister. 
It  is  a  mournful  fact  that  the  holiest  services  may  degenerate 
into  a  routine,  and  we  may  preach  and  pray  with  hearts  as  dead 
as  those  of  our  hearers.     Even  the  measures  supposed  to  indicate 


1851.  307 

the  extremest  zeal  may  be  conducted  in  utter  coldness  and  hypo- 
crisy ;  and  the  preacher  may  come  reeking  from  the  heats  of 
fanatical  parades,  to  show  in  the  domestic  circle  a  frivolity  and 
asperity,  a  sensuality,  or  a  cupidity,  at  which  even  his  unconverted 
hearers  blush.     O  watch  the  fire  within  doors  ! 

My  brother,  this  is  a  true  saying,  If  a  man  desire  the  office 
of  a  bishop,  he  desireth  a  good  work.  A  bishop,  then,  must  be 
blameless,  the  husband  of  one  wife,  vigilant,  sober,  of  good  be- 
haviour, given  to  hospitality,  apt  to  teach,  not  given  to  wine, 
no  striker,  not  greedy  of  filthy  lucre ;  but  patient ;  not  a  brawler, 
not  covetous,  one  that  ruleth  well  his  own  house,  having  his 
children  in  subjection  with  all  gravity.  Be  thou  an  example  of 
the  believers,  in  word,  in  conversation,  in  charity,  in  spirit,  in 
faith,   in   purity.     Meditate   upon  these  things  ;    give  thyself 

WHOLLY  TO  THEM. 

If  these  precepts  be  observed,  you  will  the  less  need  rules  as 
to  the  details  of  duty.  Love  is  wiser  than  rules.  Love  is 
wisdom,  nay  love  is  power.  The  particular  measures  to  be 
adopted  as  to  the  communication  of  divine  truth,  I  leave  to  your 
own  Christian  discretion.  Love  is  inventive  and  will  find  out 
ways.  Live  in  the  Word  of  God ;  be  mighty  in  the  Scriptures ; 
turn  what  you  read  into  experience  ;  and  you  will  save  the  souls 
of  those  who  hear  you. 

And  now — May  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  you,  and  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  fill  your  heart !     Amen. 


JNo.  2. 

ADDITIONAL    LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE. 

1851. 

[No  more  extracts  from  the  correspondence  were  inserted  in 

Chapter  XI.,  than  were  sufficient  to  furnish  a  general  outline  of 

the  first  European  journey,  without  giving  those  few  months  a 

disproportionate  space  in  the  memoir.     The  following  additional 

selections  have  been  made  as  not  only  entertaining  in  themselves, 

but  eminently  characteristic  of  the  observer.] 

London,  June  9,  1851. 
As  I  am  bent  on  old  London,  I  caught  at  the  coachman's  say- 
ing this  morning,  that  we  might  see  Greenwich  Fair.     Down  the 
New  Road  in  an  omnibus  to  the  Bengk,  (so  is  "  bank  "  hight,) 
thence  to  Temple  Bar  in  another  ;  thence  to  London  Bridge  in  a 


308  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

third,  (always  on  top,)  seeing  Bow  church,  Guildhall,  Mansion 
House,  &c,  to  the  stairs  by  the  bridge.  Hundreds  on  hundreds 
of  vans  laden  with  country  folk.  Scores  of  steamers,  some  for 
a  penny,  for  the  Fair.  Such  masses  of  heads  I  never  saw.  Yet 
the  ever-present  police  prevent  the  slightest  jam.  Off  we  go, 
under  London  Bridge,  seven  miles  downward  to  Greenwich. 
Such  a  sight !  Streets  cleared  of  animals  and  vehicles  for  miles. 
All  one  raree-show.  Thousands  on  thousands.  Here  is  a 
mountebank  ;  there  a  Highland  piper  in  tartan,  and  boys  dancing 
the  fling  ;  then  theatres,  with  Hamlet  and  Ophelia  begging  the 
people  to  come  in,  price  one  penny.  I  saw  three  several  Punch 
and  Judys.  Like  ten  old  commencements  [of  Princeton  College] 
in  one.  Yet  among  a  hundred  thousand  people  we  saw  no  dis- 
order, heard  no  oath,  and  met  but  one  tipsy  man.  They  get 
warm  toward  night. 

Then  to  glorious  Greenwich  Park,  acres  of  green  turf,  and 
trees  centuries  old.  We  supposed  the  number  of  separate  stalls 
or  places  must  have  been  several  thousands.  All  laughing,  all 
merry,  all  kindly,  all  rosy,  all  plebeian,  and  all  Cockneys.  We 
saw  not  one  gentleman  or  lady.  From  time  immemorial,  the 
people  at  this  Fair  use  a  little  noisy  wooden  scraper-wheel,  called 
the  "  fun  o'  the  fair."  Everybody  scrapes  everybody's  back 
unawares.  Hundreds  of  babes  in  arms,  and  all  this  in  a  smart 
rain.     But,  as  I  said,  London  rains  are  play-showers. 

London,  June  10,  1851. 

Holidays  continue.  Hundreds  of  people  will  come  from  all 
the  railways.  I  am  writing  early  at  the  south-east  window  of 
the  house,  four-pair  back.  Through  one  pane  of  glass,  without 
moving,  I  count  fifteen  churches,  including  St.  Paul's,  over  which 
the  sun  is  trying  to  colour  the  black  London  smoke,  but  for 
which  I  could  perhaps  count  forty  steeples  thus.  I  look  down 
into  the  court  of  Somerset  House,  without  rising  from  my  chair. 
All  about  are  chimney-tops,  but  by  going  to  the  flat  roof,  I  see 
all  this  quarter — the  Tower,  Abbey,  Lambeth,  bridges,  river,  &c. 
It  is  what  brought  me  here.     [142  Strand.] 

The  wonder  of  wonders  is  the  police.  There  are  900  added. 
They  are  so  protected  as  to  feel  their  respectability.  A  few  days 
ago,  an  uppish  Captain  of  the  Coldstream  Guards,  connected  with 
the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  struck  a  policeman.  Notwithstanding 
his  extreme  flouncing,  he  was  sentenced  to  ten  days'  imprison- 
ment. These  policemen  are  to  the  great  machine  of  London 
exactly  what  our  fifty  engineers  were  to  the  engine  of  the  Arctic. 
1  have  seen  but  one  tipsy  man,  and  heard  but  one  oath  in 
England,  yet   I   have  been  in  the  most  populous  parts.     No 


1851.  309 

crowding  is  allowed.  There  is  ten  times  as  much  collision  at 
Fulton  street,  New  York,  as  at  the  East  end  of  the  Strand.  01 
London  Bridge.  I  have  a  passion  for  getting  lost  in  odd  streets, 
and  have  done  it  to  my  heart's  content  here,  resorting  to  police- 
men for  aid.  It  is  believed  any  'bus-man,  or  officer,  would  be 
dismissed  instanter  who  should  be  uncivil  to  a  stranger. 

Our  host  came  yesterday,  97  miles  in  two  hours  and  a 
quarter.  Yet  it  was  smooth  as  a  sleigh.  They  are  adopting 
some  bars  of  solid  iron,  with  no  sills  or  sleepers  between  them 
and  the  gravel.  All  along  the  sides  of  road  [railway]  it  is  at 
this  season  like  a  parterre. 

A  'bus  which  I  used  was  marked  6-365.  As  many  a-top  as 
in.  The  'bus  coachmen  are  far  above  ours  ;  being  often  coach- 
men driven  from  the  roads  by  the  railways.  They  never  chew, 
talk  low,  or  behave  surly.  The  one  who  last  drove  me  to  the 
Bank  is  a  genuine  Mr.  Weller,  Senr. ;  was  twenty-eight  years 
coaching  ;  came  out  of  Hessex — "  did  ye  never  'ear  of  Hessex  % 
Many  convicts  in  America  %  I  has  a  nevoy  in  Adelaide."  He 
helps  me  up,  holds  my  umbrella,  calls  other  'buses,  and  covers 
my  legs  with  a  cloth  when  it  rains.  He  knows  me  again  and 
engages  to  take  me  up.  This  is  true  of  all.  Two  can  sit  each 
side  of  coachman.  He  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  money,  but 
drives  from  7%  A.  M.  to  12£  night.  Some  days,  the  Paddington 
says,  he  takes  in  his  ten  pounds,  often  only  two.    Price  Is  sixpence. 

Having  been  at  Greenwich  Fair  yesterday,  and  seen  all* 
Cockney dom  in  glorious  delight,  I  went  up  stream  to-day  to  see 
the  other  extreme,  viz.,  Windsor  Castle.  The  contrast  is  extra- 
ordinary between  this  dead-level  garden  (like  a  magic  prairie) 
of  matchless  green,  and  the  frowning  fortress,  which  you  see 
for  miles,  and  which  you  almost  skirt  in  arriving  at  it.  Its 
towers  are  a  hundred  feet  high.  All  my  ideas  of  castellated 
strength  were  quite  feeble,  compared  with  the  reality.  Outside 
it  is  a  giant  hold  ;  inside  it  is  a  scene  of  luxurious  art.  All  my 
conception  of  Gothic  churches  being  from  drawings,  I  was  struck 
dumb  when  I  first  entered  St.  George's  Chapel.  It  is  vain  to  en- 
large on  it.  "What  I  cannot  get  over  is  the  glorious  airy  loftiness, 
lightness,  and  sweetness  of  this  edifice,  without  one  idea  of  gloom. 

One  of  the  very  prettiest  things  I  have  seen  was  a  string  of 
Quaker  girls  at  Windsor,  no  doubt  wealthy,  but  uniting  the 
innocency  of  the  pale  Philadelphians  with  the  British  roses.  It 
requires  some  little  historic  knowledge  to  survey  such  galleries 
of  art  as  these  at  the  castle.  One  room  is  filled  with  the  works 
of  Van  Dyck,  and  one  with  those  of  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence.  The 
view  from  the  top  of  the  castle  has  often  been  described,  (see 
Gray's  Ode,)  but  it  seems  endless,  and  may,  for  extent,  be  com- 


310  LETTERS    FROM   EUROPE. 

pared  with  Monticello,  [Virginia.]  The  number  of  pedestrians 
is  astonishing.  Every  one  drinks  the  light  malt  liquor  of  the 
hostelries,  but  none  seem  excited.  Games  of  cricket  on  the 
greens  are  often  in  sight.  The  boats  on  the  river  seem  wholly 
gala-boats,  and  chiefly  rowed  by  boys.  The  number  of  the 
boys'  boats  at  Eton  is  surprising. 

June  11. — Before  breakfast  1  surveyed  Covent  Garden  Market 
near  by,  and  saw  the  matchless  flower  and  fruit  emporium  of 
London.  Scores  of  large  peaches,  forced  in  hot-houses,  and  sell- 
ing for  2s.  Qd.  a-piece,  [55  cents.]  After  breakfast  across  Water- 
loo Bridge  to  the  South- Western  Railway.  It  is  Hampton 
Races.  This  caused  a  multitude  to  be  going  the  same  way.  This 
also  showed  us  every  variety  of  sporting  character.  The  course 
is  a  mile  from  the  Palace.  (As  a  proof  of  English  exactness, 
Is.  Id.  is  this  moment  sent  in  from  the  Post  Office,  to  be  returned 
to  an  unknown  person  in  this  house,  which  has  been  over-paid.) 
The  palace  of  Hampton  Court  is  on  the  north  of  the  Thames,  ten 
miles  up  the  river,  near  Richmond.  Way  very  lovely  ;  green 
lanes,  winding  pathways,  cricket  parties,  green  winding  banks  of 
the  gentle  Thames,  pleasure-boating,  (the  only  use  of  wherries 
now,)  amazing  swiftness. of  the  four-oar  boats,  rowed  by  ama- 
teurs. At  length  get  out  at  Hampton.  Roads  full,  full ;  nobles, 
gentry,  jockeys,  pony-phsetons,  donkeys  saddled  for  races,  grooms, 
postilions,  men  in  every  livery,  and  colour  of  breeches.  As 
they  turn  off  to  the  left,  we  turn  off  to  the  right,  to  the  palace. 
The  elms  were  planted  by  Wolsey,  who  planned  this  immense 
structure.  The  glory  of  the  building  is  its  paintings.  For  the 
first  time  I  beheld  works  of  M.  Angelo,  Corregio,  Murillo,  Guido, 
Titian,  and  the  original  Cartoons  of  Rafaelle.  We  visited  thirty- 
two  apartments  and  saw  1,026  pictures. 

June  13. — I  was  much  gratified  with  the  law-courts.  Lord 
Chancellor  Truro  was  on  the  seat  of  equity,  and  Mr.  Wood  was 
speaking,  in  that  hurried,  clipping  way  common  to  all  about 
St.  Stephen's.  Lord  Campbell  and  Coleridge  at  Queen's  Bench. 
Benches  crammed  with  sergeants  and  barristers,  in  wigs,  bands, 
and  gowns.  I  also  entered  the  court  of  the  Vice  Chancellor, 
Sir  J.  Knight  Bruce.  I  hardly  expected  to  see  so  many  wigged 
ones  on  the  benches  ;  they  filled  them  like  pews.  Then  dash 
out,  and  lose  myself  in  the  city — in  the  London  of  C.  Lamb. 
After  all  my  study  of  the  localities,  I  can  hardly  believe  my 
eyes.  Such  dark,  dim,  tall,  narrow,  winding  ways,  such  laby- 
rinths, plainly  just  so  for  ages.  People  stare  as  1  drive  into  the 
courts  around  St.  Mary  Aldermany  church,  Bow-lane,  and  peep 
into  Friday  street,  Bread  street,  Old  Change  Alley  ;  often  have  to 
get  into  a  doorway  to  let  a  single  cart  pass.     Come  out  suddenly 


1851  311 

on  St.  Paul's  Church-yard  ;  go  round  it,  among  the  shops ;  survey 
the  Religious  Tract  Society,  their  beautiful  committee-room  and 
library.  Portraits  of  Burder  and  Biekersteth.  Invited  to  meet 
their  Committee.  See  Arnold's  face  [portrait]  in  a  shop,  and 
go  in ;  it  is  Fellowes's,  his  publisher.  Greatly  struck  with  New- 
gate street  and  Old  Bailey.  Wonderful  old  courts  opening  into 
Farringdon  St.  Without.  Down  from  High  Holborn  to  Fleet 
street.  O  the  throng  !  Think  of  Johnson.  Fleet  street  becomes 
the  Strand,  and  in  this  I  am  now  at  home. 

A  wondrous  eating  and  drinking  folk  are  the  Cockneys. 
Pastry-cooks  and  chop-houses  seem  to  be  a  fourth  of  the  shops 
in  some  parts,  and  you  can  hardly  look  up  without  seeing  bright 
pots  of  ale  carried  about.  Yet  nobody  seems  to  be  drunk  in  the 
streets.  I  begin,  however,  to  be  aware  of  desperate  lazars,  and 
see  pallid,  begrimed  children.  I  have  no  time  for  telling  of  the 
ancient  churches,  which  are  numberless.  Their  names  carry  me 
back  to  Foxe's  Records.  Bow  church  I  pass  daily.  St.  Mary  le 
Strand  is  very  near  me  ;  so  is  St.  Dunstan's  in  the  East,  and  St. 
Clement's.  St.  Sepulchre's  (St.  Pulchre's)  is  near  Pie  Corner, 
where  the  great  fire  stopped.  In  another  direction  I  found  my- 
self at  the  Seven  Dials.  I  owe  much  to  the  cuts  in  the  "  Penny 
Magazine  "  for  my  familiarity  with  these  spots. 

June  14. — I  went  out  before  breakfast  to  revisit  Co vent 
Garden  market,  which  I  suppose  is  the  greatest  flower  market  in 
the  worM.1  I  could  smell  the  rich  odours  long  before  I  got  into 
the  street.  I  bought  a  moss-rose,  a  damask  rose,  a  bud,  a  gera- 
nium, and  a  bunch  of  pansies,  all  for  sixpence.  You  must  know 
that  no  rose  will  any  longer  grow  in  the  close  air  of  the  "  City." 
After  breakfast  I  went  to  the  Horse  Guards,  traversed  the 
St.  James's  Park,  and  enjoyed  the  green  grass,  the  water,  the 
swans,  the  song  of  birds,  and  the  play  of  a  thousand  children. 
These  three  great  parks  open  into  each  other.  Don't  think  of 
them  as  little  patches  like  those  in  New  York.  In  the  middle 
of  these  parks  you  are  out  of  sight  of  all  the  great  city,  but  with 
gigantic  trees,  velvet  turf,  copses,  thickets,  artificial  rivers,  even 
with  miniature  ships  on  them ;  thousands  of  people  gently 
sauntering  or  resting,  and  children  without  number  playing,  romp- 
ing, rolling,  flying  kites,  and  fishing.  I  pursued  my  way  to 
St.  James's  Palace,  and  found  the  Foot  Guards  just  proceeding 
thither  from  Buckingham  Palace  with  music.  I  followed  them 
into  the  quadrangle  of  the  ancient  palace.  There  these  noble 
red-coats  formed  a  hollow  square,  and  the  band  played  for  an 
hour  the  choicest  operatic  airs.     I  need  not  say  a  Queen's  band  is 

1  He  afterwards  had  to  acknowledge  the  superiority  of  the  Paris  market, 
page  144. 


312  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

no  mean  affair.  I  then  proceeded  to  another  court,  and  approached 
one  of  the  stiff  sentinels.  I  showed  him  Mr.  TVs  letter  to  his 
brother.  He  presented  arms,  and  accompanied  me  to  the  right 
door.  I  rang  and  was  admitted  to  the  palace — to  an  ante- 
chamber. Four  servants  were  in  waiting.  Mr.  T.  had  not 
arrived.  It  was  about  eleven,  and  all  the  court-people  had  been 
up  till  four  at  a  masquerade  ball  at  the  palace.  1  was  ushered 
into  his  office,  which  was  full  of  great  ledgers  about  levees, 
drawing-rooms,  presentations,  &c.  The  servant  brought  me  a 
fresh  "  Morning  Post,"  which  is  the  Court  paper.  Presently  T. 
came  in.  I  told  him  I  had  thus  far  failed  to  see  the  Queen.  He 
directed  me  to  go  to  Buckingham  Palace,  near  Constitution  Hill. 
Crossing  Green  Park  1  did  so,  and  took  a  seat  looking  towards  the 
Palace  Garden.  Presently  there  was  a  sensation.  A  coach,  with 
four  elegant  outriders,  approached  with  the  Queen  and  Prince 
Albert.  I  saw  both  distinctly.  They  were  coming  home  from 
the  Crystal  Palace.  The  people  observed  dead  silence,  and  the 
general  raising  of  hats  was  quiet  and  momentary. 

In  the  afternoon  I  went  into  Hyde  Park,  to  see  what  I  con- 
sider the  greatest  display  in  England.  Every  day  before  dinner 
(5  to  6J)  all  the  aristocracy  appear,  either  in  carriages,  or  on 
horseback.  The  drive  is  miles  round.  All  the  wealth  and 
beauty  of  England  is  here  represented.  Coachmen,  footmen, 
postilions,  all  in  livery,  all  in  white  cravats,  breeches  and  stock- 
ings, and  many  powdered.  In  Rotten  Row  the  equestrians 
appear.  Our  Virginians  stand  aghast  at  the  bold  riding  of  the 
ladies.  Such  horses  and  horsemanship  cannot  be  matched. 
Among  this  multitude  I  did  not  hear  a  loud  word,  or  giggle,  or 
see  an  arrogant  or  bold  look.  Very  few  of  the  women  are 
beautiful  in  face,  but  the  figure  and  port  are  incomparable. 
Nothing  was  apparent  to  distinguish  noble  persons,  unless  it 
were  studied  cleanliness  and  plainness.  All  the  finery  is  on  the 
horses  and  servants.  The  most  graceful  dressing  was  on  the 
French  ladies,  of  whom  there  are  many. 

June  16. — Clear  again ;  but  it  will  rain  before  night,  as  it 
has  done  every  day.  You  don't  see  one  in  a  hundred,  even  of 
women,  with  an  umbrella.  The  water  here  is  good,  and  so  are 
the  milk  and  butter.  Such  mutton  and  beef  I  never  saw.  Bacon 
(as  they  call  it)  differs  from  ours,  and  is  very  melting  and 
delicious.  Cherries  have  just  come.  No  cheap  strawberries  yet. 
English  eat  cheese  with  salt.  Their  Cheshire  is  about  like  our 
Goshen.  The  Stilton  is  rich  and  altogether  peculiar.  The  cream 
cheese  and  the  sausage  are  better  than  we  have  at  home.  The 
bread  is  not  always  good.  It  is  not  dark  all  night  now.  I  waked 
it  two,  and  could  have  read  large  print. 


1851.  313 

To-day  at  Westminster  Hall ;  saw  the  Vice  Chancellor  on  the 
Bench.  In  the  Common  Pleas  saw  the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  Sir 
J.  Jervis,  and  Sir  T.  N.  Talfourd.  In  Exchequer,  heard  a  funny- 
case  about  tobacco  samples.  Lord  Chief  Baron,  Sir  J.  Pollock, 
displayed  much  keenness  in  bridling  Mr.  Humphrey,  Queen's 
Counsel.  Sir  James  Park,  of  the  same  bench,  spoke  often.  In 
Queen's  Bench  again  saw  Lord  Campbell.  The  lawyers  wear 
not  only  the  wig,  with  two  rows  of  curls  and  two  queues,  and 
the  gown,  and  very  long  bands,  but  also  the  strait  coat  of  a 
century  ago.  I  sat  among  them  some  time  in  the  Exchequer 
court. 

The  house  next  door  to  me,  (No  141,)  is  that  in  which  Jacob 
Tonson  kept  shop,  and  where  were  published  Thomson's  Sea- 
sons, Tom  Jones,  and  the  histories  of  Hume,  Robertson,  and 
Gibbon. 

June  17. — I  again  visited  Covent  Garden  market  to  see  the 
matchless  fruits,  and  flowers,  and  vegetables.  Here  are  things 
which  cannot  be  described.  I  passed  by  the  old  Hummums. 
Revisited  the  Temple ;  entered  the  house  where  Johnson  lived 
and  Lamb  was  born,  and  Johnson's  house  in  Bolt  court.  Thence 
to  the  neighbourhood  where  the  "  Boar's  head  in  Little  East- 
cheap  "  once  was ;  now  occupied  by  the  statue  of  William  IV. 
Then  to  the  American  Minister's,  [Mr.  Abbott  Lawrence ;]  great 
style  ;  he  has  an  excellent  manner,  very  English,  and  keeps  up 
the  American  style.  Then  for  the  fourth  time,  to  the  Crystal 
Palace.  This  time  I  must  say  there  was  a  crowd.  There  must 
have  been  hundreds  of  school  boys  and  girls  in  uniforms.  When- 
ever I  see  a  well-dressed  woman,  I  know  she  is  French.  The 
riding  of  the  ladies  in  Hyde  Park  is  a  beautiful  sight. 

Mr.  Lawrence  had  given  to  Major  Preston  and  me  an  order 
to  enter  the  House  of  Lords.  Being  a  little  too  early  I  passed 
some  time  in  Westminster  Abbey,  just  opposite,  among  the  tombs. 
Then  I  went  out  to  see  the  Lords  assembling.  The  day  was 
fair,  and  it  was  a  fine  sight.  The  common  mode  was  on  a  noble 
horse,  with  a  groom  on  another,  who  immediately  rides  off  with 
both  horses.  Some  came  in  coaches.  Some  walked,  and  I  even 
observed  some  getting  out  of  very  or'nary  cabs  and  paying  the 
fare.  I  had  the  uncommon  pleasure  of  seeing  the  Duke  of  Wel- 
lington, for  the  second  time.  He  was  on  horseback  with  a 
groom  ;  white  trowsers  ;  much  of  Dr.  Miller's  look.  He  dis- 
mounted with  much  difficulty.  I  did  not  see  him  afterwards  in 
the  House.  The  Chancellor,  Lord  Truro,  was  on  the  woolsack. 
I  saw  Brougham,  Grey,  Sir  J.  Graham,  (in  the  gallery,)  Lord 
Lansdowne,  Earl  of  Anglesea,  (with  one  leg,)  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  Bishops  of  London,  Norwich,  and  Oxford.  The 
VOL.  II. — 14 


314:  LETTERS    FROM   EUROPE. 

bishops  waddle  up  and  down  in  their  full  robes.  The  judges 
have  their  gowns  and  wigs.  The  Lord  Chancellor  has  a  wig  with 
immense  ears.  The  rest  of  the  Lords  are  dressed  in  ordinary 
morning  trim,  generally  in  frock  coats,  very  plain,  but  scrupu- 
lously clean.  The  Chancellor  left  the  woolsack  and  made  a  very 
warm  defence  of  Chancery.  Lord  Stanley  made  a  powerful 
attack  on  the  ministry  in  regard  to  the  navigation  laws.  Every 
other  sentence  was  about  the  United  States.  He  was  answered 
by  Lord  Grenville,  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  when  I  came 
away  at  1\  (still  dinnerless)  Lord  ITardwick  wTas  just  speaking. 
I  thought  the  debate  most  able.  Stanley  is  a  truly  eloquent 
man. 

Paris,  June  20— July  9,  1851. 
From  London  to  Dover  we  went  like  lightning,  flying  through 
Kent,  too  fast  to  see  much.  It  was  about  like  going  from  New 
York  to  Trenton.  O  the  wretched  little  steamer  across  the 
channel !  They  are  half  an  age  behind  us  in  steamboats.  We 
tossed  like  an  egg-shell.  The  sea  broke  over  us,  so  that  the  deck 
was  soaking,  and  the  spray  like  rain.  Below — one  pavement  of 
emetic  ladies.  As  for  me,  except  the  ducking,  I  never  enjoyed 
any  thing  more.  I  could  not  stand  up,  but  I  felt  perfectly  trium- 
phant as  we  cut  through  the  waves.  Calais  in  sight.  What  a 
change  for  two  hours  !  Now  for  the  customs.  A  little  French- 
man, indescribably  quick  and  habile,  spies  out  the  Americans  in 
an  instant ;  attaches  himself  to  us  as  commissionaire ;  carries 
every  thing ;  takes  us  to  office  to  show  passports  ;  then  to  bureau 
to  change,  our  sovereigns  for  French  money  ;  then  to  a  room, 
where  coffee  and  luncheon ;  then  to  an  office  to  get  our  ticket 
stamped  ;  then  to  the  cars  to  secure  a  separate  carriage  for 
ladies,  &c. ;  then  to  weighing  place  (of  trunks)  ;  then  to  another 
office  where  baggage-tickets  are  given ;  then  to  cars  to  see  us 
locked  in.  All  this  (which  we  could  never  have  done  ourselves) 
little  Mons.  Marguerite  does  for  one  franc.  At  four  we  are  off 
on  the  newly-opened  railway.  Our  carriage  is  as  sumptuous  as 
the  finest  coach,  roomy  and  soft,  in  every  way  luxurious.  We 
had  235  miles  to  go  after  4  P.  M.  I  can  hardly  collect  my 
thoughts  to  tell  about  it.  All  the  trees,  even  in  what  seem  to 
be  woods,  are  planted  in  rows ;  all  trimmed,  except  the  innumer- 
able poplars,  which  look  like  green  pillars.  Perpetual  sight  of 
peasantry.  As  they  stop  to  look,  the  scenes  are  for  a  painter. 
They  wear  the  boldest  colours,  and  seldom  less  than  four  ;  high 
caps  ;  groups  in  the  deep-green  hay  and  barley,  look  beautiful. 
Dear  little  children,  in  hues  of  the  rainbow,  held  up  by  fathers 
in  blouses  from  the  hay-fields.     Villages  on  villages  ;  all  of  one 


1851.  315 

story  ;  all  either  tiled  or  thatched,  and  some  both  at  once.  At 
Amiens  the  beautiful  sun  was  going  down  in  the  western  plains, 
and  casting  a  blush  on  the  ancient  cathedral.  How  indebted  I 
am  to  the  "  Penny  Magazine  "  for  its  cuts  and  descriptions  !  At 
Douai  (where  the  Bible  was  translated)  the  whole  neighbourhood 
is  cut  up  into  ups  and  downs  by  the  fortifications,  and  the  green 
sides  of  the  moats  and  ramparts  were  filled  with  people.  They 
gathered  around  us,  but  in'  the  most  civil  way.  The  peasant 
women  are  as  coarse  as  men.  It  was  still  daylight  when  we 
passed  Lille,  and  these  scenes  were  repeated  on  a  larger  scale. 
Arrived  at  an  enormous  station-house  in  the  north  of  Paris,  we 
take  an  omnibus  for  the  Hotel,  and  roll  through  lighted  streets. 
Thousands  sitting  out  in  the  rue  de  la  Paix,  &c,  even  at  midnight. 

After  breakfast  next  day,  I  took  a  drive  in  a  cab  ;  stopped  to 
deliver  my  letters  to  Dr.  F.  Monod.  The  concierge  says  :  "  to 
the  left,  second  floor."  I  ascend ;  see  door  marked  "  Monod, 
Pasteur."  I  send  in  my  name ;  instantly  I  am  seized  and  kissed 
on  both  cheeks,  not  by  good  Dr.  M.,  but  by  Mr.  Bridel,  who 
remembers  me  in  an  instant:     Adolphe  Monod  lives  opposite.1 

Besides  our  general  view  of  the  President  [Louis  Napoleon] 
at  the  review  of  the  Champ  de  Mars,  [p.  142,]  we  had  two 
several  occasions  of  looking  him  closely  in  the  lace,  at  corners 
where  our  pushing  driver  drew  up.  We  were  enveloped  in  the 
enthusiastic  crowd,  who  began  with  Vive  la  Hejjublique,  and 
ended  with  a  universal  shout  of  Vive  VEmpereur  !  Women  ran 
like  mad  among  the  tramping  of  the  horses.  The  cortege  was 
preceded  by  guards  holding  cocked  pistols,  and  followed  by  the 
carabiniers  in  brazen  helmets  and  cuirasses,  which  sounded  as 
they  rode.  All  the  troops  were  regulars.  I  never  expected  to 
see  such  a  review,  as  they  commonly  fall  on  Sunday.  All  the 
fine  equipages  seem  English,  as  do  all  the  beautiful  children. 
The  creatures  that  go  about  in  sabots,  and  run  after  you  with 
bouquets,  or  carry  great  panniers  on  their  backs,  are  brutally 
hideous.  The  grisettes  in  shops,  and  the  trim  little  women  in 
caps,  that  trip  along  every  moment,  are  well-dressed,  and  graceful 
to  a  degree.  There  is  nothing  in  England  like  the  Avenue  des 
Champs  Elysees,  or  the  Concorde,  or  the  Louvre,  or  the  fortifi- 
cations, or  the  middle  age  piles  of  the  Cite,  or  the  quays,  or  the 
Arche  de  Triomphe.  This  last  fills  my  eye  more  than  any  thing 
architectural  I  have  seen.  But  I  love  London  more.  I  miss 
the  ever-present  police,  always  kind  and  ready,  giving  you  a 
sense  of  protection  wherever  you  are.  And  then  there  are  not 
ten  men  in  France  whom  I  could  care  to  go  ten  miles  to  see ; 
whereas  I  can  name  a  hundred  in  London. 

1  Dr.  A.  Monod  died  April  6,  1856. 


316*  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE. 

On  the  23d,  I  passed  through  lines  of  soldiers  to  the  south 
side  of  the  National  Assembly.  Place  assigned  me  in  the 
gallery,  opposite  the  tribune  and  President's  chair.  Assemble 
at  two.  President  has  an  enormous  bell,  which  he  rings  to  keep 
order.  Heard  a  speech  from  Leroux,  and  a  long  one  from 
Laurent.  Then  for  a  long  walk,  along  the  matchless  Avenue, 
through  the  Tuileries,  among  hundreds  of  statues,  deep  shade  of 
trees,  and  thousands  of  flowers  to  the  Champs  Elysees.  Scores 
of  amusements  among  the  trees.  All  the  working-people  of 
Paris  seem  pouring  into  these  artificial  forests.  Punch  and 
Judy.  Cripples  with  music.  Flying-horses  and  circulating 
boats.  Dancing  dogs.  Two  little  open-air  theatres,  with  numer- 
ous singers  and  large  orchestra.  These  immense  forests,  called 
gardens,  are  used  by  the  Parisians  as  nursery,  smoking-room,  and 
study.  The  people  live  out  of  doors.  All  the  men  seem  to  be 
either  priests  or  soldiers,  so  the  women  keep  the  shops. 

In  the  pays  Latin  I  was  in  a  little  rapture.  The  Hotel  Cluny 
gave  me  impressions  for  life.  These  old  black,  grim,  fimous, 
conic-topped  towers,  fill  all  my  mental  blanks  au  sujet  of  the 
middle  ages.  In  the  rue  St.  Jacques,  that  long,  long,  tumble- 
down street,  I  began  to  breathe  afresh,  as  in  the  Old  Jewry,  &c, 
but  with  more  hoary  and  romantic  souvenirs.  The  inside  of 
French  churches  is  stable-like,  compared  with  St.  George's, 
Windsor,  or  Henry  VII.'s  chapel. 

One  morning  I  took  my  early  coffee  at  a  laitiere's.  Saw  the 
sale  of  milk,  and  the  perfect  courtesy  and  elegance  of  the 
servants  who  came  for  it.  I  have  learnt  to  bow  to  the  lady 
when  I  enter  a  cafe  ;  this  was,  however,  a  plebeian  shop,  the  cafes 
were  not  open.  On  returning,  I  found  that  Mr.  Rives  had  called 
in  person,  and  afterwards  had  sent  me  his  silver  medal  to  admit 
me  for  the  day  to  the  diplomatic  tribune,  the  best  place  for  seeing 
and  hearing ;  so  I  shall  go  again.  I  have  seen  the  chief  notabilities 
of  France  in  the  Chamber.  Soldiers  are  just  as  numerous  as 
bees  in  a  hive.  The  red-legged  regulars  are  the  meanest  crea- 
tures, singly,  I  ever  saw.  The  enthusiasm  for  Louis  Napoleon 
is  great.  1  am  sick  of  seeing  on  every  church,  house,  and  wall, 
"  Liberte,  Egalite,  Fraternite."  It  is  positively  babyish.  I  miss 
the  noble  English  policemen.  It  is  advised  not  to  ask  the 
soldiers  ;  they  are  provincials,  and  know  nothing.  I  find  the 
priests  most  suave  and  agreeable,  and  they  speak  such  French; 
for  much  of  the  jumble  of  the  badauds  is  incomprehensible. 
French  men  do  not  compare  with  the  English,  but  for  one  good- 
looking,  graceful  English  woman,  there  are  800  French.  I  observe 
two  marked  classes  of  women  :  the  peasantry,  who  work  like 
horses  and  walk  like  oxen,  and  the   Parisians,  who  are  light, 


1851.  317 

graceful,  and  Men  mises.     French  children  are  no  touch  to  the 
little  angelic  things  of  Kensington  Gardens. 

I  wish  you  could  get  one  glimpse  of  the  Boulevards.  Con- 
ceive of  a  curved  street,  a  bow,  of  which  the  Seine  forms  the 
"bowstring.  Make  this  twice  as  wide  as  Broadway.  Line  it  with 
lofty  houses  ;  set  two  rows  of  large  trees  in  a  sidewalk  twice  as 
wide  as  the  widest  in  New  York  ;  illuminate  this  like  daylight ; 
fill  it  with  thousands  on  thousands  of  holiday-people ;  imagine 
cafes  and  restaurants  with  fronts  all  plate-glass,  and  interiors  all 
marble,  mirror,  and  gold  ;  then  add  chairs  filling  almost  all  the 
space  on  the  sidewalk,  occupied  by  well-dressed  people,  eating 
and  drinking,  and  this  nearly  all  night.  Even  the  poor  do  every 
thing  in  public  view.  Before  a  bit  of  a  shoe-shop,  the  man, 
woman,  and  children  cut  their  loaf  and  hand  about  their  bottle, 
and  clack,  and  bandy  compliments,  as  if  no  mortal  were  near 
them.  This  is  repeated  during  this  ambrosial  weather  every 
few  paces  for  miles.  In  the  old  quarters,  near  the  Pont  Neuf, 
or  Hotel  de  Ville,  (town-house,)  where  the  streets  are  about  as 
wide  as  a  bed,  the  swarms  of  people  look,  I  suppose,  just  as  five 
hundred  years  ago.  They  live  on  bread  and  wine.  The  bread 
is  weighed  in  the  shops.  I  even  see  broken  crusts  sold.  The 
people  live  miserably  inside  of  their  houses.  A  tailor,  for 
example,  has  a  bedroom  up  eight  pair  of  stairs,  and  over  the 
river,  and  no  sitting-room.  His  shop  is  all  glass  and  gold.  His 
wife  keeps  a  brilliant  cafe,  as  idol  or  presidente ;  i.  e.  if  she  is 
very  handsome.  After  work-hours  they  are  all  the  time  in  the 
public  gardens  and  places,  breakfast  and  dine  in  the  open  air,  and 
look  like  Ahasuerus  and  Vashti ;  as  Gobbett  says  :  "  pigs  in  the 
parlour,  peacocks  on  the  promenade."  Still  these  funny  creatures 
are  full  of  "  Monsieur  "  and  "  Madame,"  and  full  of  gesture  and 
smiles.  The  genteel  French  people  are  perfectly  graceful. 
When  I  go  to  while  away  an  hour  over  an  ice,  always  accom- 
panied by  a  whole  decanter  of  ice-water,  frozen  around  the  inner 
surface,  I  study  the  groups  of  three,  four,  and  ten.  They  are 
dressed  to  a  marvel,  as  to  fit,  colour,  and  mis,e.  They  never 
stare  at  you,  or  seem  to  know  you  are  near.  They  have  no 
formal  bows  or  motions.  I  observe  nothing  which  would  be 
unusual  in  a  first-class  New  York  parlour,  except  a  certain 
smirk,  arising  from  a  feeling  that  one  must  always  speak  with  a 
smile.  The  people  look  American ;  for  we  get  our  fashions 
here.  The  better  sort,  as  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  (Cavaignac, 
Lafayette,  Lamartine,)  are  like  very  plain  American  gentlemen ; 
only  some  have  a  scarcely  visible  show  of  crimson  ribbon  in  the 
second  top  button-hole — the  decoration  of  the  legion  of  Honour. 
Dr.  Monod  wears  one.     A.  Monod  is  a  beautiful,  saintly  man, 


318  LETTEKS   FKOM   EUROPE. 

for  elegant,  primitive  simplicity.  Every  Thursday  he  has  a 
general  reception,  and  probably  does  more  good  than  by  preach- 
ing. Prayers  in  French  before  tea.  Fine  singing  from  the 
"  Chants  Chretiens."  I  could  not  help  thinking,  at  one  of  these 
soirees,  I  never  saw  so  much  simplicity,  so  much  polish,  and  so 
much  affection,  mingled.  My  father  would  have  been  pleased 
with  the  sweet  quietness  of  the  girls.  Almost  all  the  conver- 
sation was  religious. 

Parisians  hear  music  every  hour  for  nothing,  which  it  would 
take  large  sums  to  procure  in  America.  I  calculated  that  one 
might  hear  gratis  thirty  orchestras  and  150  singers,  any  evening 
in  the  Champs  Elysees.  The  music  in.  the  Madeleine,  St.  Roch, 
Notre  Dame,  St.  Etienne,  Notre  Dame  de  Lorette,  and  St.  Vin- 
cent de  Paul,  is  rococo,  and  probably  equal  to  any  out  of  the 
Pope's  chapel.  The  solos  of  a  distant,  lamenting  female  voice, 
tremolo,  minor  e,  diminuendo,  contrasted  with  a  crash  of  a  hundred 
instruments,  and  then  a  hundred  voices  like  Russell's,  [deep  bass,] 
and  the  interspersed  can  to  fermo,  or  austere  Gregorian  chant, 
centuries  old,  combine  with  the  tableau  vivant  of  a  priestly  panto- 
mime of  purple  -and  gold  chasubles,  (the  mantle  with  cross,)  and 
the  yet  more  imposing  long  white  flowing  robe  of  cambric  over 
pink,  girt  with  pink — the  young  priests  being  picked  for  their 
figure — to  make  a  bewitching  show,  which  intoxicates  poor  female 
worshippers  into  a  trance  of  ambiguous  rapture,  which  they  deem 
religion.  I  think  the  magic  of  anti-christian  pomp  has  attained 
its  acme.  Poor  Puseyism,  compared  with  what  it  imitates,  is  but 
pewter  to  gold  and  rubies.  They  have  made  a  separate  art  of 
the  dressing  and  marshalling  of  hundreds  of  officiating  persons, 
who  move  or  stand  with  the  height  of  solemn  grace,  and  the 
overpowering  combination  of  costume,  the  prelates,  the  priests 
in  heavy  purple  or  crimson,  gilt — the  younger  clergy,  imitating 
the  white-robed  angels  of  their  pictures,  the  nuns,  (most  of  them 
seemed  crying,  with  swollen  eyes,)  the  little  boys  in  pure  white, 
and  the  innumerable  girls,  in  veils.  I  observed  that  men,  Avho 
looked  like  emperors  at  the  distant  altar,  were  canal-men  and 
bravos,  when  they  passed  me  in  the  procession. 

When  an  eminent  speaker  in  the  House  of  Commons  said, 
this  week,  that  none  of  the  Dissenters  went  over  to  Popery, 
adding  that  the  existing  plan  of  Oxonian  training  tended  to 
rear  up  Romanists,  he  uttered  what  any  eye  may  see  confirmed 
in  Paris.  Who  would  not,  if  he  goes  pomp-hunting,  prefer  the 
real  old  middle-aged  mummery  to  the  would-if-I-could-ish  simula- 
tion of  it  ?  Frequent  visits  to  Popish  celebrations,  must  lead 
truly  Protestant  minds  to  doubt  the  possibility  of  giving  any  aid 
whatever  to  genuine  worship,  by  the  appliauces  of  costly  archi 


1851.  319 

tecture,  graphic  representations,  and  elaborate  music.  "  Christian 
Art,"  in  the  sense  of  the  modern  art-mad  school,  there  is  none. 
The  highest  philosophy  of  cultus — if  the  phrase  may  be  allowed 
— leads  to  the  most  simple  and  apostolic  rites. 

It  is  high  time  that  America  and  Britain  were  bestirring 
themselves  to  send  light  and  leaven  into  this  continent.  M.  Gas- 
parin  has  lately  given  some  frightful  accounts  of  once  evangelical 
Germany.  Among  his  statements  are  these  :  Public  worship  is 
disregarded.  In  Berlin,  out  of  four  hundred  thousand  souls, 
there  are  three  hundred  thousand  who  never  attend  any  of  the 
thirty-two  churches.  Dr.  Tholuck  declares  that,  a  few  months 
ago,  at  Halle,  in  the  principal  service  of  the  cathedral  there  were 
present  fourteen  persons  ;  in  another  church  six,  and  in  a  third 
five  !  Next  day  he  attended  a  sermon,  of  which  he  was  the  only 
auditor  !  The  theatres  are  as  full  as  the  churches  are  empty.  Is 
it  wonderful,  when  we  regard  the  tendency  of  German  philos- 
ophy 1  The  papers  of  the  tailor  Weithing  are  published  by 
the  state  authority  of  Zurich.  Delecke  makes  fun  of  poor 
timid  Voltaire  and  Diderot,  "  who  never  were  prepared  to  look 
on  man  as  the  culminating  point  of  existence."  Marv  and  his 
fellows  say : — "  The  idea  of  God  is  the  key  to  the  dungeon  of 
mouldy  civilization.  Let  us  away  with  it.  The  true  road  to 
liberty,  equality,  and  happiness,  is  atheism.  Let  us  teach  man 
that  there  is  no  God  but  himself."  Wiehern  testifies  that  emis- 
saries are  out,  that  schools  of  atheism  are  founded  very  widely, 
under  the  guise  of  reading  clubs  and  singing  societies. 

M.  Thiers  has  made  a  speech  against  free  trade,  which, 
independently  of  the  topic,  is  considered  the  greatest  speech  of 
the  session.  All  the  left  side,  his  opponents,  joined  in  the  accla- 
mation. I  don't  believe  that  Demosthenes  ever  showed  more 
tact  in  "  wielding  the  fierce  democraty."  His  triumph  as  an 
orator  is  complete,  though  the  question  may  go  against  him. 
This  government  feels  itself  in  great  danger.  These  amazing 
gatherings  of  soldiery  show  it.  They  are  from  distant  provinces. 
Everywhere  you  see  casernes  taking  the  place  of  other  buildings. 
People  feel  the  mortification  of  this  under  a  Republic.  Two 
spies  attend  poor  Mr.  Close's  little  chapel !  The  police  is  three- 
fold :  1,  soldiers  ;  2,  police  without  uniform  ;  3,  unknown  spies, 
(waiters,  guards,  valets,  drivers,  &c.)  Thank  God  for  our  gospel 
and  our  freedom  ! 

In  the  number  of  animals  the  Garden  of  Plants  is  surpassed 
by  the  London  Zoological  Gardens ;  but  what  surpass  its  gar- 
dens, trees,  walks,  buildings,  museums,  fountains,  and  free  lec- 
tures %  Constantly  open  to  the  people.  Every  tree  of  every 
climate  ;  all  flowers  of  the  world  in  numbers  of  enclosed  gardens, 


320  LETTERS    FROM   EUROPE. 

with  paths  between  ;  every  plant  labelled  with  the  botanical  name, 
and  all  arranged  by  families.  The  museums  of  natural  history, 
the  mineralogies!  and  geological  and  paleontological  collections  of 
Cuvier,  Hauy,  and  Jussieu,  the  collections  of  fossils  and  compara- 
tive anatomy,  kept  me  perpetually  wondering.  The  buildings  are 
numerous  and  extensive.  The  Cedar  of  Lebanon,  which  is  a 
colossal  tree,  repaid  me  for  all  my  weariness.  It  is  ten  feet  round, 
near  the  branches. 

The  palace  of  Versailles  might  occupy  a  volume.  It  would 
take  a  month  to  see  it  well.  In  my  ignorance  I  thought  all  these 
palaces,  with  their  grounds,  not  a  hundredth  part  so  extensive  as 
they  are.  I  did  not  figure  to  myself  miles  of  avenue,  trees  of 
all  zones,  thousands  of  statuary,  spaces  so  ample  as  to  remind 
one  of  American  forests  and  prairies,  and  chambers  so  numerous 
that  the  foot  wearies  before  they  are  half  traversed. 

I  attended  a  lecture  on  history  in  the  College  of  Sorbonne. 
Entered  the  library,  filled  with  quiet  students  reading ;  a  priest 
presides.  Library  of  St.  Genevieve ;  what  a  place !  Tran- 
scendent loftiness  and  beauty  ;  200,000  volumes  ;  100  reading ; 
copy  of  Rafaelle's  School  of  Athens  as  large  as  the  side  of  a  house. 

On  the  5th  (July)  I  went  to  church,  expecting  to  hear  Monod. 
The  old  psalms  did  me  good.  The  old  Huguenot  look  was  in 
some  of  the  Frenchmen.  Just  before  the  second  singing,  a 
sparrow  tried  to  get  into  a  window  over  the  pulpit.  Immediately 
they  sang  Psalm  lxxxiv.  3.  The  preacher  was  M.  Enfoux,  of 
Geneva.  I  dined  at  the  table  d'hote  ;  nineteen  changes  of  plates. 
On  my  right,  a  Russian  lady  and  four  daughters  ;  they  spoke 
English,  French,  German,  and  Russ.  On  my  left  a  party  of 
fine  English.  I  love  to  meet  decent  English  people ;  you  look 
in  their  faces  and  believe  them.  In  the  evening  I  went  to  Wes- 
leyan  chapel,  and  heard  the  minister,  young  Mr.  Close,  preach  a 
beautiful  orthodox  sermon ;  full  and  able  on  original  sin.  About 
a  hundred  were  there. 

I  sicken  at  the  everlasting  sight  of  bayonets  and  swords,  and 
the  feeling  of  espionage.  There  never  was  a  stronger  police 
under  an  autocrat.  I  am  weary  of  speaking  broken  French, 
though  the  courtesy  of  every  class  passes  description.  So  do 
the  vastness,  beauty,  and  keeping  of  public  institutions.  Fifty 
thousand  persons  are  maintained  in  these  charities.  Under  a 
polish,  which  reaches  almost  the  lowest  of  the  canaille,  there  is 
a  godlessness  which  is  horrible.  Leaving  out  a  few  names  in 
Sardis,  blessed  ministers  and  people,  whose  love  seems  the  greater 
for  insulation,  this  beautiful,  matchless,  glorious  capital  is  Satan's 
seat.  Words  fail — paper  must  not  aid — to  report  the  moral 
rottenness  of  a  generation  brought  up  in  bloody  infidelity.     The 


1851.  321 

fear  of  God,  producing  truth,  is  lacking.  Yet  of  ceremonious 
religion  there  is  vast  increase.  The  priests,  in  black  garments, 
go  about  the  streets.  Yet  evil  as  popery  is,  it  owns  a  Saviour, 
prayer,  a  heaven  and  hell,  and  a  God.  There  is  a  school  growing 
rampant,  which  denies  each  or  all  of  these. 

The  chief  thought  I  had  in  these  fairy-land  palaces  and  Eden 
plcasaunces,  was  of  the  monarchs,  and  great  ones,  who  had  been 
violently  torn  from  them ;  Louis  XVI.,  Napoleon,  Charles  X., 
Louis  Philippe.  The  chief  thought  as  I  gazed  from  the  north 
balcony  of  St.  Cloud  on  the  incomparable  view  of  Paris  and  the 
great  spaces  around  and  between,  was,  will  God's  justice  suffer 
this  wicked  country  to  remain  unvisited  1  The  chief  personal  re- 
flections were,  I  love  American  simple  nature  more  than  ever, 
and  American  freedom  of  religion  more  than  any  words  can  utter. 
I  love  and  covet  these  matchless  and  incredible  wonders  less 
than  my  dear  fireside ;  1  less  than  ever  wish  ornaments  for  my 
church,  or  ornaments  for  my  house.  O  for  the  purity  and  peace 
of  Christ's  religion  for  all  I  love  ! 

Dijon,  July  10,  1851. 
To-day  I  have  been  in  a  fairy-land  all  the  while.  O  la  belle 
France  !  It  is  just  the  word.  By  stage  I  can  understand  how 
it  might  be  very  tedious,  but  by  luxuriously  rapid  and  well- 
appointed  rails,  it  was  just  the  sliding  of  one  ravishing  picture 
over  another.  A  few  elements  in  bewitching  combination — this 
is  the  secret  of  French  landscape.  The  time  is  favourable. 
Every  thing  is  in  its  glory.  The  early  part  of  the  day  we  were 
almost  always  dashing  through  the  valley  of  some  river.  The 
valley  is  a  prairie  exactly  ;  we  see  the  gentle  barrier  on  each 
side.  Towards  evening  we  began  to  be  sensible  of  a  great  change. 
The  scene  became  rugged.  We  went  through  tunnels  of  thousands 
of  feet.  Bare  rocks  expose  themselves,  and  at  length  the  basin 
(in  which  we  seem  always  to  be)  shows  around  its  further  edge 
mountains  and  beginnings  of  what  we  are  going  to  have  anon. 
We  pass  the  watershed,  and  arc  in  a  new  world  ;  every  thing 
is  changed.  Geology,  houses,  dress,  almost  sky,  seem  new.  I 
have  come  into  the  land  of  St.  Bernard  !  I  am  in  the  heart  of 
Burgundy,  a  dukedom  greater  than  many  realms.  Every  village 
has  had  some  memory,  all  day  long,  but  now  we  are  nearing  the 
central  region  of  a  country  most  famous.  France  is  as  green  as 
England,  and  along  here  as  much  of  a  garden ;  but  O  how 
pensive  from  the  total  absence  of  cottages  !  Every  inch  is  tilled 
except  where  perpendicular.  No  forest,  but  tens  of  millions  of 
trees,  all  planted  and  very  scattering,  now  in  clumps,  now  in 
rows.     I  have  certainly  this  day  seen  a  hundred  miles  of  poplars. 

VOL.  II. — 14* 


322  LETTERS    FROM   EUROPE. 

Iii  the  boundless  champaign  of  tillage,  they  seem  as  necessary 
to  the  scene  as  the  spires  of  Holland.     Why  am  I  so  often  re- 
minded of  Old  Virginia  1     I  will  tell  you.     In  England,  or  even 
New  England  and  New  York,  the  eye  would  "behold  the  plain 
cut  up  by  hedges,  &c.     Here,  as  in  Virginia,  though  for  a  different 
reason,  all  is  open.     Yonder  is  a  view  of  rolling  land,  descending 
rounded  towards  the  river  we  are  skirting.     Ten  thousand  acres 
lie  over  the  round  haunch  of  the  broad  swell,  as  perfect  a  garden 
as  I  ever  saw.  but  so  mottled  that  every  one  of  us  compared  it, 
over  and  over,  to  a  bedquilt ;  a  patch  of  wheat,  a  patch  of  rye, , 
a  patch  of  mustard,  a  patch  of  broom,  a  patch  of  walnuts,  the 
ground  of  all  being  vineyard,  vineyard,  vineyard,  in  a  green  like 
distant  Indian  corn.     Vineyards  are  exactly  like  pole  beans  of  a 
certain  height.     In  certain  situations  they  are  very  beautiful,  as 
to-day,  when  ever  and  anon  they  hang  over  the  round  bank  of 
land  next  the  horizon,  like  hanks  of  green  yarn  over  a  hedge. 
Observe,  the  prospect  is  so  vast,  and  so  unobstructed  by  trees, 
that  fields  look  like  squares  of  chess,  only  oblong,  and  no  division 
breaks  the  continuity  except  a  sweet,  fairy-road,  winding  away 
among  vines  and  wheat,  with,  it  may  be,  a  cart  load  of  girls,  all 
colours,  under  broad  brims  of  straw,  with  pitchforks.     We  have 
seen  miles  of  hay-making,  with  five  hundred  groups,  no  one  of 
which  would  disgrace  a  picture  of  Claude.     You  know  all  the 
people  live  in  villages.     These  villages,  at  this  season  of  deep 
verdure,  seem  always  to   be   nestling.     You  wonder   how  the 
houses  can  squat  and  huddle  so.     They  cluster  around  the  little 
church,  like  sheep  around  the  ram,  as  close,  as  irregular.     All 
are  of  a  colour,  rusty  russet  red,  tops  are  same  as  sides.     In 
themselves  ugly  and  mean,  as  parts  of  a  rapid  landscape  very 
snug  and  beautiful.     What  remembrances  crowd  in  during  200 
miles  of  road  carrying  one  deep  into  the  ancient  feudal  soil  ! 
Here  were  the  Gauls  ;  here  was  Caesar ;  we  have  passed  several 
towns  named  by  him.     Here  were  the  barons  and  monks  of  the 
middle  ages.     Here  were  Burgundian  princes,  who  were  all  but 
kings,  and  yonder  are  their  castles,  black  with  age  and  awfully 
frowning  over  the  sweet  peaceful  soil.     Here,  as  you  approach 
Dijon,  were  the  walks  of  Bernard's  and  of  Bossuet's  childhood. 

Dijon  !  I  now  understand  what  an  old  rocky  French  town 
is.  I  never  can  describe  it.  Everybody  here  as  fresh  as  Irish. 
I  wonder  at  the  hale,  happy  look  of  all.  But  we  are  high  up ; 
all  the  way  from  Paris  to  this  vicinity,  we  have  been  going  up 
the  streams.  Every  thing  in  the  air  is  like  Lexington,  [Virginia,] 
or  Schooley's  Mountain,  [New  Jersey.]  At  a  glance  we  see  we 
are  in  the  old  Burgundian  capital.  Quiet,  pleasant  old  town. 
Our  first  visit  was  to  the  celebrated  Museum.     Men  and  girls 


1851.  323 

are  copying  in  the  galleries.  Among  the  signs  of  decreasing 
population,  several  churches  are  perverted  to  other  uses — one 
is  a  corn-market,  another  a  fruit-market,  a  third  a  fodder-market. 

Geneva,  July  13—17,  1851. 

The  complexion,  though  we  go  south  from  Dijon  to  Geneva, 
gets  clearer  and  clearer  as  we  ascend,  and  I  see  many  a  blue  eye, 
reminding  me  of  the  Germanic  origin  of  the  Burgundian  stock. 
The  ploughs  have  a  wheel  and  four  horses,  and  they  plough  very 
shallow.  Great  industry.  Nobody  looks  unhealthy  or  suffering. 
Roses  abound,  and  many  times  I  meet  peasants  in  the  road,  carry- 
ing each  a  rose  in  his  mouth.  The  houses,  as  we  gradually  rose, 
assume  a  trace  of  the  Swiss  cottage,  so  that  when  I  saw  a  real 
chalet,  I  was  not  surprised  at  all.  The  great  wooden  shoe  looks 
crippling,  especially  on  children.  Thatch  on  almost  every  house, 
about  nine  inches  thick,  often  covered  with  a  deep  moss.  Thus 
must  these  higgledy-piggledy  towns  have  looked  500  years  ago. 
These  plains  are  rich,  and  tempted  warriors.  Therefore  the 
houses  are  thick  and  defensible.  Therefore  also  the  people 
gathered  in  villages.  We  began  to  see  single  cows  led  by  a 
string,  to  crop  along  the  road's  edge.  Cattle  generally  a  reddish 
dun.  Oxen  yoked  from  the  horns.  The  expanse  of  hay-fields 
or  prairies  amazed  and  delighted  me.  The  swell  of  the  land 
increased  as  we  advanced,  and  with  it  the  beauty  of  the  prospect. 
u  That  great  mountain  "  Jura,  which  we  thus  approached,  is  very 
long  and  very  broad,  made  up  of  parallel  ridges,  together  shaped 
like  the  back  of  a  mighty  ox.  At  certain  turns  wTe  saw  the 
peak  of  Mont  Blanc,  like  amber.  It  is  beyond  Switzerland, 
being  in  Savoy. 

We  breakfasted  at  Champagnolle,  having  left  Dijon  at  3£ 
A.  M.  I  am  perpetually  asking  myself  "  can  this  be  France  1 " 
when  I  look  at  the  beautiful  skins.  True  the  hard  workers  burn 
nearly  mulatto,  but  the  children  and  some  women  are  of  perfect 
red  and  white,  and  even  the  men  show  such  blond  that  you 
wonder  to  hear  French  out  of  their  mouths.  In  descending 
these  sides,  the  valleys  and  gorges  begin  to  assume  more  and 
more  an  amphitheatrical  shape,  and  we  found  ourselves  running 
sheer  round  the  shoulder  of  great  cliff's,  with  the  depth  opening 
green  and  solemn  below,  often  with  herds  and  cottages  in  the 
very  fundus.  How  little  did  I  expect  to  be  so  long  crossing 
Mt.  Jura,  or  to  ascend  it  at  a  canter  and  almost  a  gallop.  Ghylls 
or  becks,  little  foaming  streams,  dashed  across  our  way.  Greater 
streams,  white  with  rage,  ran  beside  us.  I  remember  one 
cascade  of  snow,  which  poured  out  of  a  field  of  emerald.  It 
was  young  hemp.    Every  inch  is  rescued  where  a  hoe  can  enter. 


324  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

One  sees  hay -making  girls,  under  broad  flats,  in  a  little  rug  of 
land,  away  over  among  the  inaccessible  rocks.  The  valleys 
have  a  green,  which  is  black ;  the  very  air  seems  changed ;  the 
effect  is  not  melancholy  but  an  awful  serenity.  As  we  get  more 
among  proper  mountaineers,  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  mankind, 
it  is  pleasing  to  observe  how  the  family  feeling  becomes  more 
manifest.  Fifty  times  I  saw  what  I  thought  a  family,  on  some 
knoll,  by  some  spring,  down  some  well-like  plunge  of  green 
with  a  house  at  the  bottom ;  three  sisters  with  broad  Leghorn 
flats,  and  haymakers  under  a  tree ;  babies  held  by  others  little 
bigger,  that  the  mothers  might  hoe  or  drive.  No  poetry  or 
fiction  can  reach  the  reality  of  such  scenes,  occurring  every  moment, 
and  amid  such  sights  and  such  air. 

On  the  beautiful  evening  of  the  12th,  we  drove  into  lovely 
Geneva,  a  beauty  in  the  midst  of  sublimity.1  We  have  been 
greatly  favoured  in  weather,  for  it  is  said  that  there  are  not  more 
than  fifty  days  in  the  year  which  furnish  a  perfectly  clear  view 
of  Mont  Blanc,  and  we  have  had  three  of  them,  and  seen  the 
full  moon  rise  above  it,  which  could  only  happen  with  great 
southing.  As  I  now  see  it,  it  is  rose-colour  in  one  part,  while, 
as  the  sun  declines,  the  left-hand  portion  assumes  a  ghastly 
bluish  pallor,  which  must  remind  every  one  of  death.  I  had 
never  thought  much  of  this  thing  of  hues.  This  very  day  (the 
14th)  as  I  was  walking  along  the  delightful  avenue,  skirting  the 
south  side  of  the  lake  to  Dr.  Merle's  residence  in  Eaux  Vives,  I 
suddenly  found  the  perspective  ending  in  the  placid  Leman.  But 
what  a  play  of  hues  !  The  foreground  avenue  all  deep-green ; 
the  nearer  water  pea-green ;  the  tilled  lands  just  below,  a  veil 
of  lilac ;  the  mountains  beyond  that  a  crystalline  hue,  shading 
off  into  pearly  clouds  and  blue  heaven. 

Who  would  have  thought,  that  Geneva  could  have  been 
turned  into  such  a  stamping-ground ! "  The  park  or  wood  on 
the  northern  eminence  is  full  of  booths,  stalls,  shows,  and  gam- 
bling tables.  The  variety  of  gamblings  is  great.  Women 
generally  keep  the  tables,  and  children  are  inducted  into  the 
mysteries.  Some  are  rolling  balls  for  eatables  ;  some  shooting 
a  cross-bow  at  a  target,  over  which  a  rude  Liberty  rises,  on 
each  shot,  with  the  appropriate  information  that  she  purposes  to 
go  round  the  globe.  Here  are  flying-horses,  more  rapid  and 
comical  than  in  Paris  or  anywhere  else,  having  one  row  of 
whirlers  within  another,  going  not  merely   on  horses,  but  on 

1  Dr.  Alexander  found  great  pleasure  and  assistance,  during  liis  Alpine 
travels,  and  to  Heidelberg,  in  the  company  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Newton,  chap- 
lain of  the  IT.  S.  Navy,  and  formerly  of  the  Edgehill  School  at  Princeton. 

2  The  Tir  Federal :   see  page  U8. 


1851.  325 

swans,  sleigh-bodies,  and  so  on.  Here  are  lotteries,  "  ou  l'on  ne 
perd  pas,"  and  dice-playing,  where  you  get  gingerbread  or 
knives.  Here  are  booths  of  cirques,  and  jugglers,  and  posture- 
makers,  most  primitive  in  kind,  and  outvying  Greenwich  Fair. 
I  never  could  have  expected  to  see  two  such  displays  of  un- 
American  sportiveness. 

Swiss  politics  is  in  much  commotion  about  these  times. 
Enjoying  freedom  for  ages,  except  when  the  French  had  them 
under,  they  are  nevertheless  practised  on  by  every  sort  of  French 
and  Italian  refugee.  What  is  in  the  mouths  of  every  one  about 
aristocracy,  is  very  much  like  the  same  talk  in  France,  during 
the  years  preceding  the  reign  of  terror.  Yet,  when  I  think  of 
the  past,  when  1  look  on  the  face  of  nature  here,  and  especially 
when  I  contemplate  the  thousands  of  mountain  men  and  women 
now  in  Geneva,  so  fresh,  frank,  hearty,  honest,  and  Protestant, 
I  hope  strongly  that  God  has  something  better  in  reserve  for  the 
sons  of  Tell,  as  they  love  to  call  themselves. 

I  have  seen  four  priests  going  about  in  the  black  robes  of 
their  detestable  order.  There  is  a  rookery  of  Jesuits  here,  and 
they  have  set  the  sisters  of  Charity  a-going,  as  most  likely  to 
win  our  Protestants  by  acts  of  real  humanity.  The  number  of 
papists  in  Geneva  is  about  10,000.  The  more  I  see  of  the  pomp 
of  Romanism — and  I  have  seen  perhaps  as  much  as  could  be 
seen  out  of  Rome — the  more  I  am  in  love  with  simple  archi- 
tecture and  simple  worship. 

Geneva,  July  19,  1851. 
I  have  just  returned  here,  fifty-one  miles  from  Chamonix. 
It  is  summer,  and  European  summer,  without  summer-clothes, 
summer  debility,  or  summer  insects.  Geneva  is  full  of  English. 
Sir  R.  Peel  is  near  me,  and  Lord  Vernon  and  Lady  Vane  prob- 
ably in  the  house.  Lord  Vernon  put  twenty  balls  in  the  centre 
of  one  of  the  targets  the  first  day  of  the  shooting  match.  The 
distant  mountains  interest  me  most ;  near  by  they  are  too  cold, 
cloudy,  and  frightful.  The  sights  one  sees  are  somewhat,  but 
nothing  to  the  millions  of  thoughts  which  the  sights  awaken. 
The  sights  are  only  the  keys  ;  the  thoughts  are  the  music.  Many 
a  mark  is  in  E.'s  Bible  of  spots,  where  I  have  read  God's  words 
under  the  tremendous  shadow  of  mountain  walls  reaching  to 
heaven,  and  by  torrents  pure  and  beautiful,  leaping  and  foaming 
down  the  perpendicular  but  broken  sides  of  deep  vales.  The 
dark,  but  clear  atmosphere,  caused  by  the  elevation,  the  un- 
paralleled verdure,  the  shadow  of  giant  mountains,  and  the  play 
of  altogether  novel  lights  and  shades,  affect  me  even  more  than 
the  summits  of  the  great  Alps.     I  could  slightly  imagine  the 


326  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

latter  ;  the  other  is  entirely  beyond  every  descriptive  power.  I 
have  thought  of  an  eclipse  ;  but  there  is  no  melancholy.  It  is  a 
serene,  heavenly  awe.  The  very  potato  blossoms  look  pearly, 
and  shine  like  some  sort  of  briljiant  exotic.  This  shows  that  it 
is  the  air  and  light  which  produce  the  effect.  The  imminent 
and  terrific  passes  and  paths  make  even  the  horse  and  mule 
different  from  ours.  In  precipitous  ascents,  when  the  driver  dis- 
mounted, the  stout  muscular  horses  took  the  carriage  up  as  well 
without  him.  As  to  the  mules,  their  footing  is  next  to  a  miracle. 
They  always  take  the  outside  edge,  and  go  boldly  along  places 
more  difficult  than  the  bowsprit  of  a  ship. 

It  was  almost  like  home  when  I  reached  Geneva.  With 
its  lake,  its  suburban  parks  and  campagnes,  its  nearer  hills,  and 
its  Alps  in  view,  it  is  the  loveliest  place  I  know.  Mr.  Newton 
and  I  united  in  thanking  God  for  the  wonders  of  these  three 
days,  and  for  good  tidings  from  home.  "  Let  the  God  of  my 
salvation  be  exalted." 

The  horrible  priest-riding  of  the  kingdom  of  Savoy,  smites 
me  everywhere.  The  priests  are  the  largest,  finest,  and  fattest. 
The  churches  are  solid  and  often  modern. 

O  how  a  bell  resounds  in  the  green  Alps  !  The  crosses  are 
as  frequent  as  milestones.  If  the  Virgin  could  weep,  it  w^ould 
be  to  see  the  puppets  and  frights  which  represent  her  in  the 
wayside  shrines.  Swiss  families  seem  to  love  one  another  with 
intensity.  They  love  all  their  little  livestock.  What  a  blessed 
land  do  you  and  I  live  in,  where  poor  woman  is  not  turned  into 
a  beast !  I  am  sure  I  have  seen  girls  of  fourteen,  carrying  as 
much  straw  or  green  branches  as  would  fill  a  cart.  Their  heads 
are  used  for  this.  I  saw  one  woman  carrying  thus  a  closed  um- 
brella, and  another  a  heavy  pick-axe.  My  soul  is  weary  of 
soldiers.  The  sight  of  a  soldier  or  a  priest  makes  me  first 
angry,  and  then  sorrowful.  As  I  surveyed  the  boundless  arable 
lands  on  the  slopes  of  the  mountains,  which  contain  the  lower 
Arve,  all  one  map  of  varying  meadow,  garden,  and  harvest, 
unincumbered  by  fences,  dotted  with  sweet  cottages,  sprinkled 
with  trees  and  vines,  without  a  square  foot  in  a  state  of  nature, 
I  remembered  the  numberless  wars  between  Savoy  and  Geneva. 
And  when  I  looked  at  the  soldiers,  and  listened  to  the  fierce, 
radical  politics,  and  the  sounds  of  rifle-shooting  at  the  grand 
national  match,  I  was  made  sure  that  unless  God  interpose,  all 
this  sweet  land  will  be  given  up  again  to  fire  and  blood.  Yet 
these  Swiss  of  the  great  cantons  are  a  noble  race.  It  was  doubt- 
less the  best  of  them  I  saw  here,  during  the  great  democratic 
celebration.  The  mountain-girls,  in  costumes  of  every  cut,  were 
fresh  as  roses  and  brawny  as  boxers.     The  middle  of  the  streets 


1851.  327 

was  their  walk.  Not  a  loud  word,  nor  a  disorderly  gesture.  To 
tell  the  truth,  they  looked  American  to  me,  and  1  laid  it  to  (1) 
Republicanism,  and  (2)  to  Protestantism  ;  but  rather  of  their 
fathers  than  their  own. 

Here  the%  wheat-harvest  is  in  its  glory.  I  looked  out  on 
rising,  and  saw  a  company  of  young  men  and  lasses  going  a-field. 
Their  sickles  were  all  fantastically  ranged  around  a  staff,  sur- 
mounted with  a  grand  bouquet,  and  borne  aloft  by  one  in  the 
middle,     They  make  a  play  of  every  thing. 

Veyay,  July  21,  1851. 

We  arrived  at  Vevay  by  steam  from  Geneva  on  the  19th, 
in  order  to  spend  the  Sabbath  in  one  of  the  loveliest,  quietest 
towns  in  Europe.  From  the  bank  here,  we  look  into  the  round- 
ing of  the  lake,  and  see  the  castle  of  Chillon.  We  took  a  caleche, 
and  visited  it  on  Saturday.  Without  an  interval  this  road  is 
walled  the  whole  way.  It  has  on  the  right  the  lake-shore,  vine- 
yards to  the  very  edge,  and  on  the  left,  the  swelling  round  moun- 
tains, vineyards  to  the  very  top.  So  populous  is  this  region, 
that  it  is  like  one  village  all  the  way.  Vevay  is  celebrated  by 
Rousseau  as  the  most  enchanting  spot  on  earth,  and  I  see  no 
reason  to  the  contrary.  The  old  cathedral  is  the  chief  Protes- 
tant church.  The  building  bears  date  1498.  Alas  !  the  gospel 
of  the  Reformers  who  occupied  it,  is  not  preached  there  in 
French,  but  in  English.  I  heard  one  of  the  most  blessed  gospel- 
sermons,  of  the  Simeon  sort,  from  an  Anglican  chaplain,  Mr. 
CI  eves  ;  John  v.  42.  About  sixty  English  were  present.  It  was 
a  refreshment  to  my  weary  soul,  which  I  shall  remember  all  my 
days.  When  I  came  out,  and  looked  from  under  the  perfect 
shade  over  vineyards,  town,  lake,  and  nearer  hills,  to  the  silvery, 
heaven-like  Alps,  on  a  day  of  great  clearness,  with  temperature 
making  cloth  dress  indispensable,  I  trust  my  heart  experienced 
some  of  God's  sure  mercies,  and  I  was  reminded  that  his  cove- 
nant is  more  durable  than  the  Alps,  which  must  crumble  away. 
The  people  are  in  great  contrast  to  the  mountaineers  of  Savoy. 
They  are  a  ruddy,  industrious,  teeming,  happy  generation.  The 
illusory  view  of  a  tourist  is  that  they  know  no  care. 

On  Saturday  evening,  at  dusk,  the  streets  and  neighbouring 
roads  were  full  of  people,  corning  in  from  the  vines,  and  sitting 
at  their  doors.  A  most  wonderful  yodler  sang  in  the  court,  in 
the  Alpine  manner.  Jt  is  as  indescribable  as  inimitable,  and 
does  not  sound  like  a  human  organ.  The  peasantry  drink  wine 
as  freely  as  we  drink  water,  but  intemperance  is  very  rare. 
Bread  and  wine  are  the  universal  meal.  I  am  surprised  to  see 
how  little  flesh  is  used,  even  in  twenty  courses,  at  table  d'hote. 


328  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE. 

Indeed  I  think  the  air  and  climate  lessens  one's  taste  for  it. 
There  is  no  end  to  the  confections.  Their  cakes  are  always  dry, 
crisp,  and  maearoony.  I  am  sure  I  have  tasted  200  kinds  in 
France  and  Switzerland.     Warm  bread  is  unknown. 

Lucerxe,  Mdy  25,  1851. 

From  Vevay  I  went  to  Berne,  a  stern  old  Protestant  town, 
more  noble  in  my  view  from  my  having  just  come  out  of  Frei- 
burg, the  chief  Catholic  canton.  The  Jesuits  are  in  full  blast 
there.  I  have  no  expectation  of  ever  seeing  such  farms,  such 
crops,  such  peasantry,  such  houses,  and  such  babies  as  I  saw  in 
Berne.  The  chalets  equalled  all  my  best  forethoughts,  and 
erased  the  ill  impressions  of  the  Savoy  Alps.  Millions  of  bee- 
hives in  these  vales  and  heights.  Morning  or  evening  the  honey 
is  never  absent. 

We  entered  Lucerne  the  24th.  The  country  people  of  Lucerne 
are^iot  to  be  compared  with  those  of  Berne,  whom  I  continue  to 
think  the  finest  yeomanry  I  ever  saw.  We  took  a  little  steam- 
boat yesterday,  to  survey  the  lake  Lucerne,  which,  in  the  opinion 
of  Sir  James  Mackintosh  and  others,  is  the  noblest  lake  in  Switzer- 
land, i.  e.  in  all  the  world.  I  read  Schiller's  "  William  Tell " 
among  the  very  scenes  it  describes.  The  spirit  of  liberty  waked 
up  in  me  very. strong  at  Riitli,  the  green  ledge,  where  in  1307 
the  three  Swiss  conspirators  met  to  free  their  country ;  at 
Fl iichen,  by  Altorf,  where  Tell  shot  the  apple ;  at  the  chapel 
where  he  leaped  ashore  out  of  Gessler's  boat ;  and  in  view  of 
Kussnacht,  near  which  he  slew  Gessler.  Five  hundred  years 
have  not  taken  away  the  interest  of  the  Swiss  in  these  mighty 
deeds.  At  least  three  men,  of  whom  two  were  quite  common, 
indicated  the  localities  to  me,  and  the  third  told  me  the  whole  in 
English,  with  tears  in  his  eyes.  The  music  of  the  Lucerne 
church-bells  is  beyond  anything  I  have. yet  heard.  Many  of 
the  people  speak  Italian,  but  most  a  horrible  German  patois. 
The  Jesuits  have  a  college  here,  and  go  about  like  princes. 

Zurich,  July  26,  1851. 
Here  I  am,  Deo  favente,  in  the  old  Protestant  city  of  Zuingle. 
We  came  from  Lucerne  in  about  7£  hours  across  the  Mt.  Albis. 
We  went  through  the  canton  of  Zug ;  all  Papists :  but  I  saw  no 
such  horrendous  life-size  images  of  our  Lord  crucified  as  abound 
and  stare  at  you  in  Lucerne.  Crossing  this  little  canton,  we 
entered  the  sweet,  rich,  green,  Protestant  land  of  Zurich.  The 
road  went  round  and  round  the  mountain  (Albis)  in  successive 
platforms,  for  a  length  uncommon  even  in  Switzerland,  so  that 
this  enchanting  paysage  was  every  moment  coming  up  afresh, 


1851.  329 

all  lying  flat  and  long  and  wide  before  us,  so  as  to  remind  me 
of  what  they  tell  concerning  views  from  a  balloon.  I  begin  to 
feel  quite  German  since  1  slept  under  a  feather-bed,  and  paid  my 
bill  iii  Gulden  and  Kreutzers.  Our  removes  were  nine  :  Soup  ; 
bouilli  and  carrots  ;  trout ;  tripe  with  oily  mashed  potatoes  ; 
cherry  fritters,  with  the  stems  sticking  out;  volaille  with  lettuce  ; 
strawberries  dressed  with  wine  and  cinnamon ;  cherries,  cakes, 
&c. ;  a  bottle  of  white  wine  at  each  plate. 

On  Sunday  I  went  to  the  cathedral  where  Zuingle  preached. 
The  church  is  awkwardly  divided  by  a  rude  ill-painted  screen 
through  both  nave  and  aisles,  and  is  seated  with  deal  forms,  with 
backs,  marked  and  numbered  but  unpainted.  There  is  no  paint, 
except  some  daubing  at  the  pulpit  end.  I  saw  and  heard  no 
organ.  About  200  persons  seemed  little  where  2,000  might 
have  been.  I  saw  one  man  besides  myself  in  the  nave.  A  few 
old  men  sat  along  the  side  walls.  One  gentleman  was  near  the 
platform.  Two  men  were  on  it  at  the  preacher's  right ;  about 
six  singers  at  his  left ;  these  were  led  by  a  blind  young  man, 
who  read  the  hymn  from  a  large  book  with  raised  letters.  He 
is  an  admirable  singer.  They  sang  twice,  but  only  one  tune. 
The  peasant  women,  who  made  up  the  assembly,  sang  almost 
perfectly.  Every  one  had  her  black  and  gilt  book,  with  a  folded 
white  handkerchief.  The  tune  was  ancient  and  slow.  All  sang, 
and  all  stood  up  in  prayer.  The  preacher  was  in  gown  and 
bands.  The  sermon  was  on  the  fear  of  God,  and  seemed  to  be 
an  attempt  to  be  very  pathetic  upon  mere  moralities.  The 
women  almost  all  slumbered  and  slept.  I  saw  whole  rows  thus 
exercised.  The  service  was  one  hour  ;  viz.:  1.  Hymn,  (sitting.) 
2.  Prayer — read  by  the  preacher  standing.  3.  Sermon,  (he 
stopped  at  each  head,  turned  round  and  employed  a  blue  hand- 
kerchief.) 4.  A  prayer  read,  (Lord's  prayer  at  close  of  both.) 
5.  Hymn.  Minister  then  immersed  himself  in  a  hat,  and  people 
retired.  I  recognized  no  benediction.  On  retiring,  some  of  the 
poor  women  bought  fine  cherries  at  the  foot  of  the  steps.  A 
deader  service,  out  of  Quaker  meeting,  I  never  saw.  No  wonder 
they  have  forgotten  Zuingle's  name.  The  University  here  has 
about  forty  professors  and  more  than  300  regular  students  ;  but 
the  Cantonalschule,  like  a  [German]  Gymnasium,  has  400. 

Heidelberg,  July  31,  1851. 
I  left  Zurich  on  the  28th  for  Basel.  Some  of  the  villages  on 
the  road  were  the  worst  I  have  seen.  Dunghills  all  along  the 
streets.  They  are  just  in  wheat  harvest,  and  the  valley  of  the 
Rhine  is  one  sea  of  corn  and  sheaves  ;  the  more  striking  from 
the  absence  of  fences  and  roads.     All  the  people  seem  to  be 


330  LETTERS    FROM   EUROPE. 

out.  Old  men  sit  among  the  sheaves.  There  are  more  women 
than  men  at  the  work,  and  babies  lie  about  in  abundance.  The 
approach  to  the  Rhine  naturally  awakened  me.  At  first  sight 
I  compared  it  with  the  Passaic  at  Newark,  but  I  soon  thought  it 
more  like  the  Shenandoah.  The  flow  of  the  stream  is  majestic. 
We  entered  Basel  as  the  eclipse  of  the  sun  declined.  It  was  my 
first  view  of  mighty  walls  of  the  middle  ages,  though  I  have 
seen  many  walled  towns.  The  first  stork  I  saw  at  the  place 
where  we  dined. 

We  left  Basel  in  omnibus,  and  took  rails  at  Heiltingen  for 
Freiburg.  Crossing  the  Rhine  takes  me  out  of  sweet  Switzer- 
land into  Germany — the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden  skirting  the 
east  bank  of  the  Rhine.  I  now  go  fully  into  German-speech. 
At  Berne  it  began,  but  it  has  been  mixed,  everywhere  the  two 
languages  and  always  English  at  the  inns.  The  headman  at 
Lucerne  spoke  English,  French,  Italian,  German,  and  Dutch. 
He  is  a  Hollander,  and  says  he  learned  them  by  grammars,  in 
order  to  be  a  waiter. 

Freiburg  is  a  Romish  town  with  a  small  University.  It 
borders  on  the  Black  Forest,  which,  in  truth,  is  a  mountain-range, 
covered  with  firs,  some  of  which  are  120  feet  high.  The  cathe- 
dral greatly  impressed  me.  The  sculptures  exceeded  my 
thoughts.  The  tower,  380  feet  high,  all  of  stone,  looked  like 
a  delicate  and  graceful  nothing  against  the  mountains  or  the  sky. 
Living  water  flows  in  wide  streams  through  all  the  streets.  It 
is  a  healthy  but  wintry  place.  We  left  it  (on  the  30th  July)  by 
railway  to  Kehl ;  by  omnibus  to  Strasburg  Cathedral !  Leaving 
S.  in  the  afternoon,  we  passed  Rastadt  and  Carlsruhe,  and  entered 
Heidelberg  just  after  dark. 

Kenilworth  is  a  plaything  compared  with  the  mountain-castle 
of  the  old  Electors.  Old  ruins  and  new  erections  ;  walls  twenty 
feet  thick  in  places ;  twenty  rooms  at  least  with  shrubbery  full- 
grown  in  them  ;  vaults  and  dungeons ;  towers,  half  fallen,  where 
you  have  the  city  under  your  very  feet,  and  a  champaign  country 
all  gold  and  green,  now  falling  before  the  mowers  and  reapers. 
There  are  about  650  students  here.  They  swagger  through  the 
streets  with  little  caps  of  every  hue.  The  rowdyism  of  the  boys 
passes  belief.  An  apprentice  let  loose  is  a  feeble  comparison. 
The  number  of  professors  and  lecturers  is  seventy.  Many  of 
these  get  not  more  apiece  than  a  New  York  coachman.  In 
the  Medical  Faculty  some  zeal  is  apparent.  There  are  two 
courses  of  Medical  Jurisprudence  ;  one  for  jurists,  and  one  for 
medical  men.  There  are  lectures  on  the  History  of  Medicine, 
on  diseases  of  the  aged,  and  on  many  subdivisions  of  anatomy 
and  therapeutics. 


1851.  331 

Cologne,  August  4,  1851. 

I  left  Heidelberg  on  the  1st.  Tnough  nominally  at  Frank 
fort,  I  did  not  really  see  any  thing  of  the  place.  I  saw  a  good 
many  troops,  and  one  corps  in  white  uniform,  who  were  prob 
ably  Austrians.  Biberich,  where  I  took  boat,  may  be  called  the 
port  of  Wiesbaden.  When  I  got  to  Cologne  about  10  P.  M.. 
my  trunk  was  missing.  All  inquiries  proved  fruitless.1  A 
gentleman  condoled  with  me,  and  offered  to  lend  me  from  his 
wardrobe.  I  afterwards  found  it  was  Lord  Dudley  Ward. 
Visited  the  cathedral ;  more  than  a  hundred  men  are  working  in 
sheds  at  the  costly  carvings.  That  which  most  struck  me  in  the 
interior  is  its  awful  grandeur,  its  vast  extent.  The  Papists  grow 
zealous  in  proportion  as  the  Protestants  have  become  erroneous 
and  indifferent,  and  are  regaining  their  hold  on  the  young.  In 
the  cathedral  I  saw  rows  after  rows  of  girls  deeply  engaged  in 
devotions,  in  the  side  chapels.  I  dare  not  give  the  proofs  I  have 
of  lax  morals  in  the  towns ;  the  natural  consequence  of  forsaking 
God. 

The  streets  of  Cologne  are  narrow,  crooked,  dirty,  and  with- 
out sidewalks.  The  filth  of  German  inns  is  inexpressible ;  yet 
the  linen  and  beds  are  fine.  Bread  is  capital,  so  is  butter,  which 
I  have  never  seen  salted  in  Europe. 

Since  I  left  Paris,  I  have  seen  no  painting  that  moved  me  so 
much  as  one  at  the  Museum  here — "  the  Jews  at  the  willows  of 
Babylon,"  by  Bendeman,  of  Dresden.  Cologne  delights  me 
with  its  Roman  ruins  and  inscriptions,  its  labyrinth  of  old 
lanes,  toppling  houses,  indescribable  courts  and  markets,  and 
quaint  edifices.  Yet  I  long  to  see  our  own  fresh  and  progressive 
cities  ;  to  see  a  land  where  there  are  no  guards,  watch-towers, 
passports,  and  over-worked  women.  Poor  things  !  their  fur- 
rowed mahogany  faces,  their  gray  hair  streaming  from  whimsical 
head-dresses,  often  make  me  muse  sadly. 

I  was  in  the  great  cathedral  on  a  high  day.  The  vaulted  roofs 
resounded  with  an  orchestral  mass.  A  great  number  of  instru- 
ments, joined  with  a  grand  organ,  performed  one  of  the  most 
learned  masses.  But  by  far  the  most  impressive  part  was  purely 
vocal,  and  plain  chant,  all  in  one  part,  often  by  boys ;  the  per- 
formers being  visible  in  stalls  around  the  choir.  I  was  very 
near  the  Archbishop  of  Cologne,  who  is  also  a  great  prince. 
The  Priests'  seminary,  near  by,  has  400  young  priests.  I  was  at 
the  Jesuits'  church,  which  is  fine  ;  also  at  St.  Peter's,  chiefly 
remarkable  for  an  altar-piece,  the  apostle's  crucifixion,  which 
Rubens  esteemed  his  best  work.     The  only  Protestant  church, 

1  The  trunk  was  not  recovered  until  August  8,  at  Rotterdam. 


332  LETTERS   FEOM   EUROPE. 

borrowed  from  the  Romanists,  is  for  the  soldiers  here  who 
happen  to  be  Protestants.  I  saw  yesterday  (the  Sabbath)  a 
wonderful  procession  around  St.  Martin's  church.  It  was  St 
Martin's  day.  Purple  and  gold,  incense  and  tapers,  chanting 
and  mummery.  I  cannot  describe  the  agony  of  devotion  I  often 
see  in  German  Catholics,  especially  in  old  women  and  young 
girls,  with  their  rosaries,  &c.  In  my  humble  view  a  generation 
is  growing  up  most  craftily  trained  in  every  popish  delusion. 
The  German  popery  is  altogether  a  different  thing  from  that 
of  France  and  Italy.  The  very  advertisements  on  church-doors 
breathe  a  spirit  of  profound  tenderness.  God  grant  that  some 
of  the  poor  priest-ridden  souls  may  find  the  true  cross ! 

I  attended  the  Episcopal  service  at  the  British  Consulate. 
There  were  sixty  present,  apparently  people  of  some  mark.  It 
was  Puseyitish.  The  priest  backed  the  people,  had  an  Oxford 
cap,  moved  here  and  there,  and  had  much  mumming  over  the 
elements  of  the  offertory.     Twenty-one  communed. 

Amsterdam,  August  5,  1851. 
From  Cologne  in  steamer  Rubens  for  Arnhem  in  Holland 
— the  charmingest  town  for  elegant  neatness.  We  really  know 
nothing  of  interior  Holland  in  America.  The  East  India  trade 
enriches  hundreds  of  men,  who  live  at  home,  in  a  quiet  grandeur, 
like  Quaker  princes.  The  fronts  of  some  houses  are  just  like 
white  porcelain.  The  landscape  gardening  is  English.  The 
window's  are  the  most  chastely  elegant ;  adorned  writh  little 
screens  of  Berlin-work,  embroidery,  or  costly  Japan.  Apropos, 
the  Japan  trade  is  all  with  the  Dutch.  Of  Java  tin,  a  sale  was 
yesterday'  made,  (two  million  guilders,)  all  to  a  fellow-traveller 
and  acquaintance  of  mine.  The  Dutch  complexion  is  even  better 
than  the  English ;  and  the  people  are  quiet  and  happy.  The  sea- 
ports are  indeed  like  others,  and  Amsterdam  is  filthy  ;  its  canals 
smell  like  bilge  water ;  but  Utrecht  is  like  an  island  in  a  sea  of 
tranquil  academic  verdure.  I  spent  some  delightful  hours  (in 
U.)  traversing  the  China-like  streets,  the  water-side-walks,  and 
the  cool  still  University  and  Library.  Mr.  Ader,  the  librarian, 
was  all  attention  ;  spoke  English,  German,  French,  Dutch,  and 
Latin.  All  the  theological  lectures  in  Holland  are  in  Latin  ;  the 
medical  in  Dutch.  Utrecht  is  the  seat  of  so-called  orthodoxy. 
Leyden  and  Groningen  are  liberal.  There  are  about  5,000  Jan- 
senists  in  Utrecht.  Of  the  200,000  population  of  Amsterdam 
30,000  are  Jews.  There  are  600  windmills.  The  Philadelphia 
"  State  House  "  is  plainly  a  reminiscence  of  the  palace.  The 
very  name  is  the  same.  I  feasted  my  eyes  at  the  Museum  with 
paintings  of  the  Dutch  school,  which  gave  me  the  same  pleasure 


1851.  333 

in  comparison  with  Guido  and  Rafaelle,  that  Boz  does  in  com- 
parison with  Milton.  The  country  we  passed  is  a  perfect  flat. 
Think  of  the  meadows  near  Newark,  [New  Jersey  ;]  make  these 
perfect  green  or  yellow  velvet ;  remove  all  fences  ;  intersect 
with  narrow  and  broad  canals  full  to  the  green  edge ;  cover  them 
with  myriads  of  cattle,  always  black  and  white ;  dot  them  with 
low  white  houses  ;  extend  this  plain  till  the  windmills  all  along 
the  horizon  look  like  chessmen  ;  add  flowers,  clean  peasants,  and 
storks,  and  you  have  Holland.  There  is  no  country  but  America 
so  belied  as  this.  It  is  the  only  country  I  have  thought  I  could 
live  in.  Arnhem,  for  example,  is  a  little  city  of  trim,  lovely 
houses,  pure  streets,  green  parks,  ramparts  turned  into  prome- 
nades, and  an  appearance  of  wealth  among  the  retired  East  India 
merchants  which  was  new  to  me.  But  Utrecht  gratified  me  yet 
more.  Its  hotel  meets  every  demand  of  the  most  fastidious 
quietist.  Though  very  large,  it  is  so  quiet  that  I  never  saw  or 
heard  another  guest  in  it.  The  women  going  by  were  all 
dressed  like  a  play,  in  clean  caps,  longish  short-gowns,  and  black 
petticoats.     All  looked  like  toy  milk-maids. 

In  Holland  people  smoke  at  the  dinner  table,  smoke  while 
eating  melons,  smoke  while  setting  the  table.  In  Ley  den  noth- 
ing moved  me  more  than  the  remembrance  of  Boerhaave.  I 
came  away  with  reluctance  from  his  speaking  portrait.  It  has 
some  traits  of  our  Franklin,  but  more  heart  and  more  love.  I 
stood  by  his  simple  memorial  in  St.  Peter's. 

"  SALTTTIFEKO 

BOERHAVII 

GENIO 
SACRUM." 

On  a  basrelief  medallion  likewise  the  legend  Sigillum  veri  sim- 
plex. We  were  shown  about  the  University  by  Prof.  Dozy,  to 
whom  Dr.  Robinson  had  letters.  They  have  only  one  term  and 
the  holidays  are  now.  The  library  has  1,631  oriental  MSS., 
exclusive  of  Hebrew.  Dozy  has  published  one  volume  of  a 
catalogue  of  these  MSS.  At  the  University  I  ascended  the  desk 
where  Witsius  often  held  his  acts.  But  the  Senate  Hall  is  a 
place  which,  Niebuhr  says,  has  no  equal  for  academic  memories. 
It  contains  108  portraits  of  Leyden  professors. 

We  visited  Siebold's  Japan  Collection,  the  only  complete 
one  in  Europe.  He  was  eight  years  in  Japan,  and  one  of  these 
in  prison.  The  "  Museum  van  Oudheden  "  carried  me  back  to 
Egypt,  Carthage,  and  Etruria.  Mummies  of  babies,  who  died 
3,000  years  ago.  The  Museum  of  Natural  History  has  a  world- 
wide fame.  In  ornithology  and  comparative  anatomy,  it  beats 
Paris.     Whole  droves  of  skeleton  genera,  from  an  elephant  to 


334  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE. 

a  mouse.  The  rector  of  the  Leyden  University  is  Dr.  Nicholas 
Christian  Kist.  The  Theological  Professors  are  Kist,  Van  Hen 
gel,  Van  Oordt,  and  Scholten.  Add,  from  the  Philosophical 
Faculty,  Rutgers,  who  reads  on  Exegesis,  Antiquities,  and  San 
scrit ;  Juynball,  on  Hebrew  and  Arabic,  and  Stuff  ken  on  Logic, 
According  to  a  hasty  enumeration  the  Professors  amount  to 
thirty-three.  Both  at  Utrecht  and  Leyden,  the  libraries  are  in 
buildings  devoid  of  all  costly  display.  At  Leyden  the  accommo- 
dation for  books  is  altogether  insufficient.  Leyden  is  the  only 
place  where  we  have  seen  bills  advertising  students'  rooms,  in 
Latin ;  several  windows  held  out  cxibicula  locanda.  But  the  med- 
ical lectures  are  already  in  Dutch,  and  the  theologians  will  soon 
be  forced  to  follow  the  example  of  Germany.  Customs,  how- 
ever, take  deep  root  in  Holland,  and  one  sees  many  usages  which 
are  known  in  Bergen  and  Somerset  [New  Jersey].  In  our  inn  at 
Utrecht — the  neatest  and  most  home-like  I  ever  entered — five 
footstoves  were  in  our  breakfast  room  ;  and  there  were  at  least 
twenty  in  a  pile  beside  the  door  of  the  great  lecture-room.  In  one 
of  Wouverman's  celebrated  paintings  at  the  Hague,  we  observed 
the  same  implement,  of  the  same  fashion,  even  to  the  rhomboidal 
cup  for  the  charcoal,  which  always  belongs  to  the  Vuur  Stoof, 
The  same  persistency  might  be  exemplified  in  window-mirrors, 
storks,  health-bulletins,  and  the  clerical-looking  undertaker,  who 
invites  to  funerals  in  a  dress  as  dignified  as  a  bishop's.  Take  it 
altogether,  Holland,  in  its  rural  portions,  gave  me  such  unexpected 
pleasure,  that  my  chief  regret  is  that  I  had  only  a  passing  glance. 
Of  the  moral  and  religious  state  of  Holland,  I  must  refer  you 
to  more  authoritative  statements,  which  may  be  expected  at  the 
Evangelical  Alliance  next  week,  in  London.  A  hurrying  visit, 
like  mine,  to  inns  and  galleries,  does  not  give  much  insight  be- 
yond the  surface ;  every  word  1  write  on  this  head  must  be  sub- 
ject to  correction.  We  were  of  one  mind  in  thinking  that  evan- 
gelical religion  had  not  sunk  in  Holland  so  much  as  in  Germany 
and  Switzerland.  A  pious  and  intelligent  officer,  high  in  the 
service,  declared  to  me  his  belief  that  the  persecution  of  the 
Separatists  was  at  an  end.  They  abound  in  the  province  of 
Groniugen,  where  also  lax  divinity  is  most  rife.  The  Heidel- 
berg Catechism  is  too  much  supplanted  by  abridgments,  but  is 
still  regularly  preached  on.  Many  good  people  in  the  National 
Church  contribute  to  the  support  of  the  pious  Separatists.  My 
informant  himself  does  so  ;  and  further  expressed  his  belief  that 
thousands  of  the  common  people  hold  fast  to  the  divinity  and 
atonement  of  our  Lord.  At  the  same  time  great  coldness  and 
formality  are  prevalent,  as  in  Scotland  under  Moderatism.  But 
the  churches  are  full,  and  the  people  have  that  Protestant  and 


1851.  335 

Presbyterian  look,  which  is  in  contrast  with  what  one  sees  on  the 
upper  Rhine.  The  works  of  the  great  poet  and  historian  Bilder 
dijk  are  read  with  affection.  His  admirer  and  friend  Dacosta  is 
well  known  as  an  evangelical  believer.  Yet  the  book-shops  reveal 
a  portentous  preference  for  German,  and  especially  for  French 
literature,  and  the  days  of  vernacular  Dutch  theology  seem  to  be 
over.  Many  versions  of  English  practical  works  are  for  sale ; 
and  at  the  Hague,  in  an  open  market,  we  found  a  tract-man  vending 
Christian  broad  sheets  and.  little  books,  of  which  I  wrill  show  you 
a  sample.  Hopes  are  entertained  that  measures  will  soon  be 
taken  to  restore  in  part  the  freer  action  of  the  Classical  and 
Synodal  Courts. 

The  Hague,  August  6,  1851. 
I  do  wish  I  could  for  one  instant  show  you  a  Dutch  town. 
You  will  never  believe  me  if  I  describe  it.  Broeck,  as  every- 
body knows,  is  the  cleanest  place  on  earth  ;  we  failed  to  reach 
it,  but  know  that  there  is  neither  horse  nor  cart  road,  that  every 
pipe  must  have  a  stopper,  that  the  pavements  are  in  figures  like 
mosaic,  and  the  gutters  running  with  pure  water.  English 
comfort  is  not  so  cosy,  nor  so  universal.  The  Dutch  of  this  city 
are  the  best-dressed  people  I  have  seen  ;  fashion  without  finery, 
and  plainness  without  dirt.  Positively,  wiiole  rows  of  houses 
look  more  like  china-ware  than  bricks  and  mortar.  The  Hyde 
Park  of  Haag  is  called  the  Bosch.  It  is  a  forest,  two  miles 
long,  with  a  square  green  parade  in  the  middle.  For  imitation 
of  nature  it  surpasses  the  English  parks.  Dr.  Robinson  says  it 
beats  the  Thiergarten  of  Berlin,  and  that  of  Munich.  What 
music  I  have  heard  there  just  now  at  sunset !  All  the  better 
sort  of  people  seemed  to  be  walking  there,  but  orderly  and  com- 
posed. Holland  is  not  seen  to  advantage  by  Americans  who 
hasten  up  the  Rhine.  All  my  days  shall  I  remember  Arnhem, 
with  Vevay,  Eton,  and  Heidelberg.  True,  I  felt  the  contrast 
more  after  three  days  in  Cologne,  of  which  Coleridge  says — 

"  Ye  nymphs  who  reign  o'er  sewers  and  sinks, 
The  river  Rhine,  it  is  -well  known, 
Doth  wash  your  city  of  Cologne  ; 
But  tell  me,  nymphs,  what  power  divine 
Shall  henceforth  cleanse  the  river  Rhine  ?  " 

The  Hague,  as  a  royal  residence,  adds  a  subdued  splendour  to 
the  Dutch  neatness.  I  do  not  therefore  take  it  as  a  sample  of  Hol- 
land. The  streets  are  clean.  The  canals  are  not  so  intersecting 
as  at  Amsterdam,  which  is  cut  into  95  islands.  The  houses  are 
peculiar,  but  neat.  Much  marble  is  used  for  the  whole  pave- 
ments of  halls,  and  for  the  trottoirs  in  a  few  places.     The  bricks 


336  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

are  so  thin,  and  the  white  pointing  so  exact,  and  the  paint  of  the 
wood-work  so  redoubled  and  polished,  and  the  plate  glass  so 
large,  that  the  fronts  have  an  indescribable  porcelain  look.  It 
is  like  the  quietest  parts  of  Third  street  [Philadelphia]  thirty 
years  ago,  with  a  great  addition  to  finish. 

The  Hollanders  drink  tea,  which  is  very  fine,  and  comes  from 
Java.  The  quantity  of  East  India  furniture,  japan-ware,  &c,  in 
Holland  is  very  great.  The  little  frames,  which  lift  up  with  the 
sash,  are  very  pretty.  They  conceal  the  people  spying  out  of  the 
spions,  or  mirrors.  I  used  one  of  these  mirrors  at  Leyden,  and 
could  sit  and  see  a  great  way  up  the  street.  They  have  an 
admirable  linen  curtain,  which  a  simple  cord  pulls  up,  in  fan- 
folds  ;  very  cheap  and  pretty.  Every  parlour-window  looks 
beautiful  from  outside. 

London,  August  19,  1851. 

I  arrived  here  in  the  night  of  the  9th,  in  twenty-two  hours 
from  Rotterdam.  The  English  being  poor  sailors  avoid  this  by 
preferring  Ostend,  or  even  skirting  along  to  Calais.  I  would  not 
have  missed  the  voyage  for  much.  As  soon  as  I  got  to  the 
noble  Boompje  of  Rotterdam,  and  saw  the  Indiamen,  and  flags 
of  all  nations,  and  the  "  General  Washington  of  Alexandria," 
better-looking  than  them  all,  I  began  to  take  courage.  A  sniff 
of  sea-air  revived  me  after  the  unutterable  stench  of  the  canals, 
and  every  breath  of  the  German  sea  did  me  good.  We  had 
more  than  100  passengers,  besides  108  calves.  N.  B.  The  veal 
of  Holland  is  peculiar  and  a  rarity.  They  serve  it  as  the  bonne- 
bouche  ;  it  is  as  white  and  delicate  as  chicken.  I  could  not  say 
with  Voltaire,  "  Adieu  canards,  canaux,  canaille  ! "  I  shall  always 
love  Holland  ;  the  more  for  that  it  took  me  unawTares.  Amster- 
dam and  Rotterdam  are  all  over  like  Chatham  St.  [New  York] 
and  South  street  [Philadelphia]  combined.  Amsterdam  is  alive 
with  Jews,  who  seem  the  mobile  part  of  the  population.  Eras- 
mus's statue  at  Rotterdam  is  in  the  very  midst  of  a  throng,  not 
one  whit  above  the  Market  street  [Philadelphia]  fishmarket, 
and  wre  could  scarce  approach  it  for  the  folks  taking  down  their 
movable  stalls.  Boats  lie  almost  touching  the  really  grand  old 
image.  The  immense  cathedral,  frowning  over  the  whole,  is 
begirt  with  dark,  musty  shops,  such  as  America  has  none  of. 
The  Boompje,  or  great  maritime  street,  is  a  wide  quay  on  the 
Maes,  (the  Rhine  has  here  lost  its  name,)  and  is  lined  with  such 
trees  as  are  in  the  Philadelphia  State  House  yard.  But  the 
heaviest  shipping  penetrates  by  canals  into  the  very  heart  and 
bowels  of  the  city,  and  is  unloaded  at  the  doors  of  stores. 

What  most  pleased  me  in  Holland,  was  to  see  how  different 


1851.  337 

the  lc  t  of  woman  is  from  that  of  the  sex  in  France  and  Germany. 
Here  are  no  women  carrying  heavy  loads,  or  doing  men's  work. 
Indeed,  the  Hollanders  have  a  hundred  devices  to  save  the  very 
men.  Horses  and  carts  abound  in  their  fields.  There  are  thou- 
sands of  dog-carts  ;  and  wind  and  water  are  levied  on  for  every 
kind  of  work.  In  Holland  the  chief  reading,  if  I  may  judge  by 
the  bookstores,  is  first  of  French,  then  of  German,  then  of 
English.  This  is  unfavourable.  Col.  S.  says  the  Separatists  are 
no  longer  persecuted ;  that  the  people  would  not  bear  it.  Pie 
thinks  most  of  the  poor  country  people  retain  sound  doctrine. 
,The  rationalists  are  city -men  and  professors,  and  even  these  do 
not  openly  impugn  the  doctrines  of  grace.  The  churches  are 
largely  attended  ;  which  differs  from  Germany. 

Here,  in  the  thick  of  old  London,  a  stone's  throw  from 
Milk  street,  in  Cripple-gate  Within,  it  is  as  quiet  as  a  New 
England  village.  In  the  evening  after  my  arrival,  coming  by  the 
little  old  church  of  St.  Mary's  in  the  street  (Aldermanbury)  of 
our  first  lodgings,  I  saw  lights  and  could  even  discern  the  preacher, 
whose  motions  indicated  earnestness.  I  slipped  in  near  the  fur- 
ther door.  The  preacher,  a  middle-aged  man,  was  very  warmly 
engaged  on  Hebrews  i. :  "  Thy  throne,  O  God,"  &c.  He  had 
not  uttered  many  sentences,  before  I  found  him  to  be  evangelical. 
His  third  point  was  on  the  perpetuity,  his  fourth  on  the  glory 
of  Christ's  Divine  kingdom.  He  read  part,  but  added  much  ex 
tempore,  reading  his  numerous  and  fervent  citations  from  a  little 
Bible  lying  beside  his  MS.  The  application  was  full  of  point  and 
unction.  Coming  just  from  the  depths  of  popery  and  neology, 
and  from  the  tossings  of  the  German  sea,  I  enjoyed  as  much  as 
Jonathan  when  he  found  the  honey-comb,  and  my  eyes  were 
lightened. 

On  the  13th  we  got  into  very  good  snug  quarters  at  34  Great 
Ormond  street,  Queen's  square,  Lamb's  Conduit  street.  I  went 
to  survey  Billingsgate.  It  is  well,  for  they  are  putting  up  a  lofty 
pile  to  supersede  the  old  classical  place.  The  fish-people  were 
more  decent  than  I  expected.  Crossing  several  vessels,  I  boarded 
one  of  the  oyster-sloops,  and  got  acquainted  with  the  skipper. 
He  ordered  up  some  oysters  for  me  to  taste,  such  as  sell  for 
thirty-two  shillings  a  bushel.  They  have  a  high  flavour,  and  are 
small,  round,  flat,  and  not  clustered.  Larger  ones,  for  nine 
shillings,  are  coarse  and  repulsive. 

As  I  walked  up  Cheapside  I  met  a  school  of  little  girls, 
belonging  to  some  old  foundation ;  brown  petticoats,  white  capes, 
caps  and  pinafores  ;  little  old  women  of  a  former  age.  One  can 
scarcely  walk  about  in  London,  without  seeing  some  token  of  the 
numerous  charities  of  a  better  day.  The  supply  of  churches  in 
VOL.  II. — 15 


338  LETTERS   FROM  EUROPE. 

the  "  City  "  unquestionably  surpasses  that  of  any  town  on  earth. 
You  sometimes  pass  a  dozen  in  a  five  minutes'  walk,  almost 
every  one  bearing  a  name  of  history.  To-day  I  came  all  of  a 
sudden  on  St.  Swithin's  lane  and  church,  and  looked  about  for 
London  Stone.  I  came  near  missing  it,  for  an  idle  fellow,  lean- 
ing against  the  wall  of  the  church,  entirely  covered  it.  I  feel  a 
strange  interest  in  the  very  old  part  east  of  the  Monument,  i.  e. 
the  part  untouched  by  the  fire  of  1660.  Some  of  the  houses 
look  as  if  Wiclif  and  Chaucer  might  have  lived  in  them.  I 
went  to  St.  Paul's,  and  heard  some  of  the  cathedral  singing. 
Then  I  perambulated  the  great  precincts.  Two  statues  held  me 
long,  and  I  went  back  to  them — Dr.  Johnson  and  John  Howard ; 
and  both  are  by  John  Bacon,  the  pious  sculptor.  Johnson's  is  a 
noble  work  of  art,  though  the  idea  is  ancient,  being  neither  more 
nor  less  than  a  Hercules.  As  to  the  rest,  I  grew  weary  of 
attempts  to  ring  the  changes  on  Victory  supporting  a  dying  hero. 
Emblematic  and  allegoric  sculpture  has  done  me  no  good. 

The  corner  house  opposite  our  lodgings  is  a  gin-palace,  brilliant 
as  day.  The  next,  a  vintner's.  The  next,  opposite  to  us,  is  a 
sweet  dairy  shop.  Most  of  the  other  houses  in  this  Sansom-like 
[Philadelphia]  street,  are  private.  I  have  scarcely  been  able  to 
write  for  the  delicious  street  music.  No  music  has  given  me 
such  soothing  pleasure,  as  what  I  have  heard  by  chance.  The 
gin-palace  has  a  stream  from  dusk  onward — boys,  women  with 
infants,  smart  young  women,  errand  people.  I  see  sad  signs  of 
drink  in  London,  on  a  closer  inspection.  No  drunkards  abroad 
— the  police  see  to  that — but  men  and  women  muddled,  and  in 
that  sleepy  state  which  daily  imbibing  secures. 

There  is,  in  my  judgment,  a  rancorous  envy  of  America 
very  general  in  a  certain  English  class,  and  that  a  very  large  one. 
They  lose  no  chance  of  laughing  at  the  American  part  of  the 
Exhibition,  and  ringing  changes  on  Mexico,  Slavery,  &c.  This 
is  mingled  with  a  certain  dread  and  respect,  which  is  flattering 
to  us,  but  only  implied.  They  think  our  cleverness  amazing. 
Mr.  Bull  is  somewhat  slow  to  take  an  idea.  Certain  things  in  the 
American  Exhibition  will  run  all  over  England  before  they  have 
done  funning  at  us.  Eor  example,  McCormick's  threshing- 
machine  will  cut  down  hundreds  of  English  harvests.  A  ruling- 
machine  sets  the  stationers  aghast.  In  the  care  of  the  soil  and 
the  housing  of  crops,  and  the  saving  of  land  and  produce,  we 
are  very  far  behind  them,  but  as  far  before  them  in  tools  and 
quick  work.  The  American  cradle  is  itself  a  century  in  advance 
of  the  old  corn-growing  countries.  I  travelled  hundreds  of  miles 
through  actual  harvests.  The  sickle  was  universal,  (so  here  also,) 
and  the  work  slow,  though  neat.    Ploughs  and  harrows  were  going 


1851.  339 

for  the  next  crop,  while  the  wheat  was  in  the  shock  or  wagon ;  but 
nine-tenths  of  the  ploughs  I  saw  on  the  continent  were  shallow 
things,  drawn  by  oxen  or  cows,  and  with  a  wheel.  In  Holland, 
things  are  more  as  in  Somerset  and  Bergen,  [New  Jersey.] 

The  Christian  Evangelical  Alliance  meets  on  the  20th,  and 
lasts  twelve  days.  I  do  not  expect  to  go,  after  their  acts  con- 
cerning American  slave-holders.  I  declared  to  Dr.  Hamilton 
that  whatever  my  private  opinions  were  on  slavery,  I  would  sit 
in  no  body  where  my  Southern  brethren  were  excluded,  and  that 
I  would  not  submit  to  any  inquisition  by  English  Dissenters. 

London,  August  22,  1851. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  an  idea  of  the  way  the  street-people 
talk.  It  is  not  this  or  that  word,  but  all  the  words ;  and 
hardly  a  name  foils  of  some  change.  "  Go  by  the  Fondlin'  sir, 
ye'll  see  no  turn  in'  to  put  ye  out,  till  ye  git  to  Lamb's  Cundick  " 
— "  theng'  ye  " — "  hit's  a  good  'apenny  " — "ye'll  bean  Ameri- 
can."    Mr.  ,   when   I   ask  after  his  family,  always  says : 

"  Nicely  !     I  assure  you." 

I  am  now  familiar  with  the  sight  of  liveries,  uniforms,  and 
odd  costumes.  Postmen,  servants,  soldiers,  proctors,  bishops, 
some  clergymen,  coachmen,  beadles,  charity-scholars,  wagoners, 
appear  in  a  dress  peculiar  to  each.  The  low  population  is  very 
vile. 

The  opening  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  on  the  20th  was  the 
most  elevated  season  of  devotion  I  ever  attended.  I  stayed  from 
ten  till  two.  It  was  a  great  prayer-meeting  at  Freemason's 
Hall.  I  had  some  delightful  chat  with  Noel.  Dr.  R.  Buchanan, 
of  Glasgow,  read  an  address  of  an  hour,  full  of  Presbyterian 
good  sense.  The  Rev.  Ed.  Bickersteth  (the  son)  made  an  address 
so  full  of  modesty,  humility,  and  love,  that  every  one  felt  like 
embracing  him.  He  is  pale,  small,  and  plain,  but  so  simple, 
John-like,  scholarly,  and  winning,  that  I  rejoiced  that  the  church 
of  England  had  such  men.  When  he  alluded  to  his  father,  all 
the  house  was  in  tears.  In  this  the  English  assemblies  are  just 
like  the  Virginians.  There  were  three  hymns  and  three  prayers. 
The  first  hymn  was, 

"Come,  let  us  join  our  cheerful  songs." 

Another  was  Psalm  133,  old  version.  The  whole  look  of  the 
assembly  is  English.  So  many  stout,  ruddy  men  ;  more  [than 
English]  uncouth,  peculiar  faces  ;  more  ugliness,  greater  strength, 
health,  and  play  of  countenance.  Occasionally  I  would  see  a 
swarthy,  sour-looking  one,  like  me ;  he  was  always  a  French- 
man.    Sir  Culling  E.  Eardley,  Bart.,  was  made  President.     He 


340  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

stepped  up  gaily  ;  a  fresh,  smiling  little  man  ;  youngish  ;  green 
frock,  yellow  waistcoat,  white  trousers,  checked  neck-cloth,  brown 
gloves,  and  umbrella  under  arm  while  he  spoke.  The  meeting 
was  more  familiar  than  with  us.  The  speeches  were  numerous, 
and  generally  short ;  kindly,  but  often  poor  and  sometimes  very 
awkward.  The  sing-song  tone  of  some  was  comical  enough. 
The  more  educated  and  gentleman-like  spoke  most  like  Ameri- 
cans. A  churchman,  who  offered  an  extempore  prayer  with  open 
eyes,  is  the  only  Englishman  whom  I  have  heard  say  kylnd  and 
gyide.  Sir  Culling  says  "  urgin',  givin',  utterin',  also  illustret, 
vindiket.  The  meeting,  which  was  very  long,  was  one  of  anima- 
tion, devotion,  and  many  tears.  There  was  much  clapping  of 
Bickersteth,  and  some  ''■  hear  !  hear  !  "  Next  day  (21st)  I  heard 
Mr.  Noel's  address  at  the  Alliance.  His  manner  is  very  easy, 
quiet,  and  perfectly  colloquial.  But  he  was  never  animated,  and 
seldom  made  a  gesture. 

My  ticket  at  the  Tower  showed  that  I  was  the  4,002d  visiter 
yesterday.  At  the  Alliance  to-day  I  entered  the  house  when 
they  were  discussing  a  paper  of  Dr.  Baird's,  which  I  have  not 
seen,  but  which  is  said  to  have  been  sound  and  patriotic.  My 
name  was  mentioned  by  the  President,  Sir  Culling  E.  Eardley, 
and  I  was  suddenly  asked  whether  I  would  consent  to  meet  a 
Committee  on  the  subject.  Much  surprised,  I  nevertheless  replied 
as  follows : 

" '  I  have  been  present,  Sir  Culling,  only  as  a  respectful  and 
affectionate  visiter,  and  am  under  obligations  to  leave  town  to- 
morrow.' 

"  Sir  Culling  E.  Eardley.     '  At  what  hour  ? ' 

"  '  That  question,  let  me  answer,  seems  to  imply  that  there  is 
some  hour  in  which  I  would  engage  in  such  a  discussion.  We, 
Sir  Culling,  who  have  preached  to  the  slave,  and  stood  by  the 
slave  in  his  dying  moments,  know  too  well  the  agitations  which 
a  question  so  complicated  with  other  interests  can  produce.  I 
have  joined  in  the  prayers,  and  at  a  remote  part  of  the  circle,  in 
the  praises  of  this  festival  of  Christian  love ;  and  for  one  I  am 
not  willing  to  introduce  an  element  into  these  conversations, 
which,  happily,  has  been  thus  far  absent ;  and  not  willing  to 
engage  in  any  gladiatorial  exhibition  on  the  subject  of  Ameri- 
can slavery.' " 

The  spirit  of  certain  Independent  and  Baptist  members  of 
the  Alliance  is  quite  offensive.  I  would  not  give  place  to  such, 
by  subjection ;  no,  not  for  an  hour.  Some  of  the  Church  of 
England  men  and  the  best  heads  of  the  Free  Church,  are  willing 
to  hear  the  facts  and  to  discuss  the  matter  candidly  and  frater- 
nally. 


1851.  341 

Lime-street,  famous  in  theology,1  is  a  narrow,  crooked  alley. 
The  number  and  closeness  of  the  old  churches  is  surprising. 
The  day  was  when  great  regard  was  had  to  the  spiritual  wants 
of  London.  If  the  Non-conformist  Reformation  had  not  been 
quenched  by  war  and  by  Cromwell,  this  home-missionary  zeal 
would  have  made  London  the  glory  of  England,  and  England  of 
the  world.  As  it  is,  the  star  has  gone  westward.  It  is  in  Amer- 
ica that  the  genuine  principle  of  English  Protestantism  has 
expanded  itself.  The  spirit  of  slumber  has  fallen  on  the  titular 
Church  of  England,  which  has  neglected  God's  poor.  Little  is 
to  be  hoped  from  the  fiery  fanaticism  of  political  dissenters,  who 
are  constantly  fevering  themselves  with  some  new  excitement. 
God  grant  that  American  Christianity  may  go  forward,  with  that 
life  which  I  know  so  much  better  how  to  prize,  after  seeing  the 
symptoms  of  moribund  society  here ! 

Street-shows  and  street-wonders  would  take  up  a  book.  This 
morning  we  had — 1,  a  venerable  gray -haired  man,  without  hat, 
led  by  a  dog,  cantillating  his  woes ;  2,  a  trio,  Hindoo  man  and 
two  children,  one  beating  a  drum-keg  with  his  hands,  and  singing 
his  ills  ;  3,  a  show  of  unknown  contents,  like  a  Swiss  char-a-banc. 
Accompanied  Dr.  Robinson  to  the  British  Museum,  the  great 
object  of  my  curiosity.  We  made  at  once  for  the  antiquity 
gallery.  Here  are  Layard's  things.  Most  are  figured  in  his 
books  :  the  perfectly  Caucasian  and  fine  profile  of  the  chief 
figures.  The  Egyptian  faces  show  the  Hindoo  eye,  unmistak- 
ably. Elgin  Saloon  !  Models  of  the  Parthenon  as  perfect,  and 
as  in  ruins  ;  representing  even  the  friezes,  metopes,  and  internal 
statue  of  Minerva.  This  is  indeed  the  consummation  of  sculp- 
ture-art. Tangled,  rumpled  drapery,  from  the  age  of  Pericles. 
My  mind  is  made  up  in  an  instant.  I  am  glad  they  are  here. 
Here  they  are  safe,  and  only  here  can  they  be  examined  nearly. 
Wonders  on  wonders  in  the  Egyptian  saloon,  taking  one  back  to 
the  times  of  Moses. 

On  the  17th,  I  heard  Dr.  Hamilton  on  Col.  iii.  16.  Service 
1  hour  45  minutes.  Prayers  long,  before  and  after.  Order 
thus  :  1.  Singing  part  of  Ps.  cxlvii.  2.  Prayer.  3.  Reading 
Col  iii.,  ending  with  "  The  Lord  bless  his  word."  4.  Singing  of 
Psalm  cxlvii.  continued.  5.  The  Lord's  Prayer.  6.  Sermon. 
7.  Singing  of  remainder  of  Psalm  cxlvii.  8.  Prayer.  9.  No- 
tices. 10.  Blessing.  The  sermon  wras  about  an  hour;  was 
exuberant  in  similitude,  and  full  of  pathos.  Altogether  different 
from  the  one  in  June.  Just  like  his  "  Mount  of  Olives."  Man 
ner  warm  ;    sermon  read,  but  with  interpolations.     Gown  and 

1  "The  Lime  Street  Lectures,"  by  Non-conformist  divines,  1730— '31. 


342  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

bands.  Bible  carried  before  him  into  pulpit.  One  of  the  deacons 
acted  as  precentor.  All  sang,  but  in  bad  time,  and  amazingly 
slow.  I  sat  in  a  high  pew,  back,  called  the  "  Elders'  pew."  In 
it  was  Dr.  Brown,  Greek  Professor  at  Aberdeen,  former  Mode- 
rator of  the  Free  Assembly.  The  house  was  built  for  Irving. 
Some  painted  glass,  on  which  the  Scotch  thistle  and  the  burning 
bush.  Seats  in  the  aisles,  and  rush  of  people  after  the  first 
prayer.  Next  day  had  good  chat  for  an  hour  with  Dr.  Hamilton 
at  his  house,  and  thence  with  him  to  the  British  Museum. 

This  morning  I  went  to  Westminster  Abbey  for  a  leisurely 
survey.  My  more  mature  thoughts  differ  from  what  I  expected. 
In  no  view  that  I  can  get  of  it  does  the  outside  of  Westminster 
present  itself  as  one  idea,  like  Freiburg,  Strasburg,  or  Cologne. 
As  works  of  art  few  of  the  statues  in  the  wilderness  of  tombs, 
redeem  the  English  school  from  the  common  censure.  Chan- 
trey's,  even,  are  not  all  I  hoped  for.  The  best  in  my  humble 
judgment  is  a  bas-relief  by  Flaxman,  representing  a  sister  pros- 
trate in  all  the  effusion  of  hopeless  woe  upon  a  brother's  tomb — 
that  of  George  Lindsay  Johnstone  in  the  north  aisle. 

Berwick  upon  Tweed,  August  26,  1851. 

Before  leaving  Cambridge  yesterday,  I  found  the  rooms  of 
Martyn  and  Kirke  White  at  St.  John's.  The  chambers  of  Milton, 
at  Christ's,  are  no  longer  known.  We  were  warmly  invited  to 
dine  with  the  Fellows  of  Trinity,  but  we  had  already  dined  in 
King's  by  invitation  of  the  new  Vice  Provost,  Mr.  Heath. 
There  are  about  sixty  Fellows  at  Trinity  College ;  about  eight 
get  £300 ;  about  eight  £250  ;  the  rest  £200.  King's  about  £250. 
Not  necessary  to  reside.  Thorwaldsen's  statue  of  Byron,  which 
had  been  refused  at  Wesminster  Abbey,  is  in  the  library  of 
Trinity.  I  am  yet  to  behold  any  thing  so  enchanting  in  its 
mixture  of  antique  art  and  perfect  nature  as  King's  College.  The 
grounds  are  like  green'  plush,  without  even  a  daisy,  or  an  extra- 
neous leaf  on  the  smooth-rolled  turf.  This  extends  over  many 
acres  to  the  river,  and  is  encircled  and  broken  by  majestic  trees. 
The  Fellows  live  like  princes. 

In  six  hours  from  Cambridge  we  reached  Lincoln.  We  saw 
the  noble  exteriors  of  Ely  and  Peterborough  cathedrals,  the  sur- 
passing tower  of  Boston  Church,  and  more  fully  Lincoln  Cathe- 
dral and  York  Minster.  And  here  we  are  on  the  edge  of  Scot- 
land, England,  Tweed,  and  the  German  Ocean.  We  are  one  day 
ahead  of  the  Queen,  who  is  to  sleep  at  Doncaster  to-morrow  on 
the  way  to  Edinburgh.  I  never  saw  so  much  wheat,  even  on 
the  Rhine,  as  I  have  seen  harvesting  during  a  week.  It  is  matter 
of  unspeakable  thanks.     This  I  feel  when  1  see  often  fifty  persons 


1851.  343 

gleaning  in  a  stubble  field.  The  country  gets  tumbled  and 
rumpled  as  you  get  into  Durham.  They  most  awkwardly  cut 
the  wheat  with  a  scythe.  But  their  stacks  and  ricks  of  immense 
height  are  worth  going  to  see.  Berwick  is  a  fine  old  town  ;  the 
clear,  black  situation,  with  hillside,  Tweed- vale  and  sea,  took  me 
by  surprise.  There  is  no  railway  known  to  me,  which  goes  so 
long  by  a  river  of  picturesque  beauty.  Is  there  any  lovelier 
valley  than  that  of  Tweed  % 

Edinburgh,  August  30,  1851. 

The  way  from  Berwick  was  along  the  Tweed  by  Kelso  to 
Melrose.  Every  name  recalled  Border  history,  Burns,  and  Scott. 
How  often  has  poor  Sir  Walter's  pony  crept  along  the  sweet, 
shaded  lanes,  through  which  I  went  to  Abbotsford  !  I  was  in  his 
superb  library,  and  the  study ;  saw  Chantrey's  bust,  with  abun- 
dance of  the  things  named  by  travellers.  We  crossed  the  Gala 
Water  again  and  again.  It  is  generally  said  this  borderland  is 
the  loveliest  in  Scotland.  The  little  rivers,  pure  as  crystal,  and 
winding  in  green  vales,  come  purling  in  every  now  and  then, 
and  each  is  known  in  history ;  and  here  and  there  a  castle  or 
abbey  800  years  old  rises  majestically  among  the  verdant  fields. 
The  only  trees  are  planted.  The  round  hills  are  treeless,  but 
green  or  purple  with  heather,  and  the  eye  runs  over  such  waves 
of  this  green  ocean,  that  the  distant  herds  and  flocks  look  like 
specks.  We  came  near  Flodden-field  and  saw  Dryburgh  Abbey, 
where  Scott  lies.  When  we  got  to  the  quiet  little  inn  at  Mel- 
rose, and  had  lunched  on  broiled  salmon-steak,  the  host  said  : 
"  There  is  an  American  here,  who  has  been  walking  over  the 
hills."  Presently  he  came  in;  it  was  Major  Preston.  I  had 
already  given  him  two  adieux.  He  accompanied  us  to  Abbots- 
ford. 

How  soon  wre  lose  the  Northumberland  burr  on  crossing 
Tweed,  and  what  a  different  look  in  everybody  !  The  children 
talking  broad  Lowland  Scotch  seem  so  funny.  I  hear  some 
boys  flying  kites — "  Jamie,  I  bate  ye  'till  be  ower  heevie — ye'll 
hae  it  agen  the  brae."  This  is  not  as  stumping  as  the  Yorkshire 
"  He  maxum  pikum,"  (he  makes  them  pick  them  ;)  and  "  Sneck 
yett "  is  "  shut  the  gate,"  for  they  have  no  article. 

We  are  at  20  George's  square.  Mr.  Dickson  met  us  at  the 
terminus  with  a  cab  and  real  Scotch  hospitality.  I  enjoy  a 
Christian  house  more  than  you  can  know,  till  you  have  been 
three  months  in  hotels.  Queen  Square  is  a  private  street ;  no 
horse  or  vehicle  passes.  Sir  Walter  Scott  passed  his  boyhood 
in  this  row,  No.  27.  Back  of  us  is  Watson's  Hospital,  with  the 
meadows,  as  the  fine  avenue  is  called,  which  leads  to  the  green 


344  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

outskirts,  I  cannot  note  a  tithe  of  the  sights.  The  University- 
rooms  of  Chalmers',  Wilson's,  and  Hamilton's  Lectures.  Statue 
of  Burns,  by  Flaxman,  his  last  work.  The  Harrow,  where  Hogg 
lodged.  Houses  of  Hume,  Blair,  Knox,  Cardinal  Beatoun.  The 
Wynds ;  the  Tolbooth ;  Grey  Friars  Church.  The  Castle.  The 
Antiquarians'  Museum.  The  Advocates'  Library,  where  the 
librarian  showed  us  a  letter  of  Charles  I.,  when  a  boy,  a  Mazarin 
Bible,  and  the  autograph  of  Waverley.  I  find  Edinburgh,  as 
often  described,  "  beautiful  for  situation,"  beyond  all  cities.  It 
has  eminences,  valleys,  architecture,  mountains,  water,  wide 
prospects,  and  thronging  memories.  Surely  Scotland  is  "  a  field, 
which  the  Lord  hath  blessed." 

The  intelligence,  culture,  and  warmth  of  the  excellent  persons 
I  meet,  is  delightful.  They  are  the  quickest  people  I  ever  saw, 
and  this  is  united  to  great  piety.  I  have  fallen  into  the  very 
circle  to  which  McCheyne's  friends  belong.  Hewitson  (his  life 
is  published  in  America)  was  an  intimate  of  Mr.  Dickson's, 
whose  name  occurs  often  in  it.  The  piety  of  the  Free  Church 
folks  of  this  school  runs  in  the  vein  of  exceeding  tenderness  and 
humility.  Among  many  others,  I  must  remember  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Cameron,  editor  of  the  Christian  Treasury  ;  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Gould,  of  the  Reformed  and  Presbyterian  church,  editor 
of  the  new  edition  of  Owen's  Works;  Mr.  Johnstone,  of  the 
house  of  Johnstone  &  Hunter,  chief  publishers  for  the  Free 
Church ;  Dr.  Hetherington,  the  historian ;  Dr.  W.  Lindsay  Alex- 
ander, the  Independent ;  Mr.  James  Bonar,  editor  of  the  Assem- 
bly's Proceedings  ;  Mr.  Hackett,  of  the  Advocates'  Library. 

On  the  28th  the  Queen  entered  about  4  o'clock,  through 
the  Dumbiedykes  to  Holy  rood.  I  had  a  close  view.  Prince 
Albert  was  by  her  in  an  open  carriage.  The  next  carried  the 
Prince  of  Wales  and  Princess  Royal.  Instead  of  receiving  the 
Queen  in  the  narrow  streets,  the  body  of  the  population  poured 
out  and  spread  themselves  in  a  broad,  green  valley,  between 
Holyrood  palace  and  the  range  of  hills  including  Arthur's  Seat, 
Salisbury  Crags,  &c.  This  ravine  was  covered  by  tens  of  thou- 
sands, not  in  a  level  mass,  but  stretching  up  the  sides  of  the 
hills  on  the  clean  turf,  higher  and  higher,  till  the  remote  groups 
were  almost  too  small  for  vision.  The  crags  resounded  with 
enthusiastic  acclamations  and  the  roar  of  cannon.  So  happy  a 
multitude  and  so  sublime  a  gathering  I  had  not  seen.  If  the 
Queen  has  any  heart,  she  must  have  been  overcome.  She  looked 
hearty,  though  she  had  come  250  miles  that  day.  Lord  John 
Russell  was  very  much  cheered,  but  I  heard  some  Popish  hissing. 
He  visited  the  New  College  of  the  Free  Church.  The  people 
love  to  speak  of  the  Queen's  punctuality  and  energy.     On  the 


1851.  345 

night  of  her  arrival  she  went  out  to  see  Lady  Buccleuch,  who  is 
ill,  and  the  next  morning  she  went  to  Donaldson's  Hospital 
before  her  early  start  northward  at  8  o'clock.  At  the  Hospital 
provision  is  made  for  the  instruction  of  300  boys.  The  building 
is  so  grand,  and  the  grounds  and  prospects  so  delightful,  that  it 
is  thought  of  for  a  palace. 

At  the  "  Ragged  School "  we  saw  300  children,  all  without 
means  of  living.  They  come  every  morning  and  go  home  every 
night.  When  they  come  they  strip  off  all  their  tatters,  go  into 
a  bath,  put  on  school-clothes,  learn,  work,  have  three  meals,  then 
put  on  old  tatters  and  go  home. 

On  the  1st  of  this  month  partridge-shooting  began.  The 
number  is  surprising  of  gentlemen  with  gun-cases,  &c,  that  one 
meets.     They  have  regular  dog-tickets  on  the  railway. 

At  the  College  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  we  saw 
the  Library,  and  the  beautiful  Hall  in  which  their  Synod  meets. 
They  have  about  130  students.  Their  professors  are  all  pastors, 
and  their  session  is  only  seven  weeks  !  It  is  common  for  the 
ministers  to  live  several  miles  out  of  town.  Dr.  Eadie  comes 
here  every  day  from  Glasgow  to  his  lectures.  Almost  every 
pastor  is  away  at  this  season. 

Brigg  of  Turk,  Perthshire,  September  2,  1851. 
Dr.  Robinson  and  I  left  Edinburgh  yesterday  morning.  I 
sit  at  a  window  of  my  bed-room  in  this  lonely  mountain  inn,  just 
at  the  opening  of  the  Trosachs,  or  pass  to  Loch  Katrine,  to  which  I 
expect  to  walk  after  breakfast.  All  day  yesterday  and  all  to-day, 
it  is  the  scenery  of  "  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,"  and  this  is  really 
what  draws  people  here ;  for  there  is  grander  scenery  in  Europe, 
but  men  love  to  go  where  poets  have  been.  On  the  way  from 
Edinburgh  were  Linlithgow  Palace,  Bannockburn,  and  Stirling 
Castle.  If  I  had  got  to  Stirling  a  day  sooner  I  should  have  seen 
the  Highland  Sports,  such  as  pitching  the  stone,  tilting,  broad- 
sword, highland-fling,  wrestling,  &c.  As  it  was  I  saw  plenty  of 
beggars  and  barefoots,  and  part  of  the  79th  regiment  in  the 
castle,  all  bare-kneed,  but  mighty  brawny  and  big.  I  began  to  see 
the  Celtic  visage  and  hear  the  Gaelic,  which  is  a  sweet  language  and 
very  like  Irish  and  Welsh.  This  morning  the  sun  rose  beautifully 
over  a  mountain.  The  air  was  Alpine.  Huts  in  the  distance 
had  low  roofs,  and  sometimes  no  chimney,  the  blue  peat-reek 
coming  out  of  the  door.  Wherever  you  looked,  all  was  tumbled 
up  and  down  in  fantastic  hills  and  dales,  but  perfectly  soft  and 
perfectly  green,  except  where  the  purple  heather  covered  the 
sides.  An  old  Highlander  sat  in  the  fog,  wrapped  in  his  plaid, 
with    Ms  shaggy  dog,  watching  a  herd.     Hay  was  making  in 

VOL.  II. — 15* 


346  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

some  little  patches  far  off,  and  through  my  glass  I  saw  a  little 
girl  using  her  hands  for  pitchfork,  and  a  baby  propped  up  in  the 
hay.  We  got  into  a  vehicle,  without  cover,  and  drove  through 
the  Trosachs  to  the  Loch.  While  we  waited  for  the  steamboat 
I  mounted  a  hill,  and  lay  down  in  the  heather.  It  is  soft  and 
fragrant,  and  the  flower  is  beautiful.  It  is  not  unlike  clover  at  a 
distance,  but  taller,  and  far  more  uneven,  and  when  viewed 
closely,  is  a  beautiful  bushy  flower.  I  can  well  understand  now 
how  people  might  sleep  on  it,  and  how  the  fleeing  Covenanters, 
in  hiding,  could  escape  by  means  of  it.  No  wonder  it  is  the 
darling  growth  of  Scots.  Almost  every  one  travelling  carries 
some  heather-bloom  somewhere  about  him.  On  the  boat  we 
had  a  Highland  piper.  Why  did  he  not  play  "  Hail  to  the 
Chief,"  which  was  made  for  this  lake  1  He  played  "  Roy's  Wife," 
and  "  the  Campbells  are  comin'." 

We  got  out  in  sight  of  the  house  where  Rob  Roy  was  born. 
AVe  then  rode  five  miles  to  Loch  Lomond.  No  woods,  no  farms, 
no  cultivation  ;  all  hills  and  muir-land,  and  peat-bog  ;  all  green, 
with  thousands  of  fern  and  heather  ;  and  mountains  before  us  to 
the  north  and  on  both  sides.  I  saw  peat  or  turf  burning  for  the 
first  time.  They  cut  it  in  the  moors,  and  pile  it  in  stacks.  It 
makes  a  nice,  gentle  fire,  and  the  smell  is  pleasant.  The  people 
have  little  tillage,  and  live  by  their  cattle  and  sheep.  Almost 
every  man  wears  a  plaid  around  him,  and  so  do  half  the  gentle- 
men tourists.  Stunted  trees  of  tangled  growth  sometimes 
appear.  Stone  fences  run  irregularly  up  and  down,  often  sur- 
mounted by  scrubby  dwarf-oak  hedge,  and  with  every  crevice  full 
of  mingling  fern,  broom,  and  heather.  Black  cattle  and  black- 
faced  sheep  roam  over  the  muir-land.  The  whole  scenery  is  wild 
and  novel,  but  thus  far  less  lofty  than  I  expected.  The  trip  in 
a  cart  from  Katrine  to  Lomond  was  very  jolting,  but  O  the  sin- 
gular, dream-like  wildness  of  those  hills  and  moors,  where  a  man 
would  be  lost  in  half  an  hour,  if  he  left  the  only  road,  and  yet 
no  forest !  Look  on  every  side,  and  see  the  horizon  shut  in 
sometimes  by  rocky  mountains  of  every  varied  contour  which 
primitive  granite  can  take,  but  seldom  bare,  and  for  miles  to- 
gether gently  blushing  with  the  flower  of  the  heaths  now  in* 
their  glory.  Within  this  bounding  rim,  see  the  country  tossed 
up  and  down,  as  if  the  ocean  in  a  long  roll  had  suddenly  been 
turned  into  green  land ;  for  everywhere  the  green  is  perfect, 
and  the  matted  grass  is  short  and  thick  like  moleskin.  Mark 
the  silver  rill  that  meanders  on  the  left  to  join  Lake  Artlet  to  Loch 
Lomond,  showing  that  we  have  passed  the  water- shed,  and  go 
down.  Observe  the  low  piles  of  granite  rocks,  without  mortar, 
without  window,  thatched  or  turfed,  the  smoke  coming  out  of 


1851.  347 

the  chimney  or  door,  and  the  truncated  pyramid  of  black  peat 
standing  by.  Do  not  neglect  the  million  gay  flowers  with  which 
God  has  beautified  these  solitudes,  nor  the  fantastic  mists  and 
clouds  that  roll  about  the  eminences  of  Ben  An,  Ben  Venn,  and 
Ben  Lomond. 

Glasgow,  September  10,  1851. 

At  Balloeh,  on  lake  Lomond,  we  took  rails  for  Dumbarton ; 
saw  the  wonderful  castle,  but  did  not  hear  "  Dumbarton  drums 
beat  bonnie  O."  I  had  seeu  many  castles,  but  for  singular 
prominency  this  exceeds.  The  twin  mount,  on  which  it  is  built, 
rises  out  of  the  river  beach,  as  if  a  gigantic  elephant  had  pushed 
himself  half  way  out  of  the  flats.  This,  like  Stirling,  is  kept 
garrisoned,  by  provisions  in  the  treaty  of  union.  Here  we  took 
steamboat  for  Glasgow,  and  ascended  the  broad  Clyde.  Every 
mile  showed  us  the  approach  of  a  great  commercial  and  manu- 
facturing city.  It  is  a  noble  town,  is  Glasgow,  (as  the  English 
express  it)  The  college  is  of  the  grand  stone  common  here, 
and  has  some  massy  houses  and  quadrangles.  The  professors 
have  quite  a  street  of  academic  mansions.  The  Hunterian 
Museum  is  rich  in  MSS.,  printed  incunabula,  and  medals.  A 
Virgil  of  1470.  A  Golden  Legend,  Caxton,  1483.  An  Antho- 
logia,  by  Aldus,  1503.  A  Plotinus,  ed.  princeps,  1513.  A 
stereotype  plate,  used  by  Ged,  in  his  Sallust,  1744,  long  before 
Didot.  Principal  Macfarlane  preaches  in  the  old  cathedral.  The 
beautiful  choir  is  the  place  of  worship  ;  behind  this  is  a  Lady 
Chapel ;  then  a  Chapter  House,  used  as  a  vestry.  The  crypts 
are  very  old  and  in  good  repair.  Here  Scott  makes  Rob  Roy 
to  have  listened  to  the  long  sermon.  The  Green,  or  Common,  a 
lawn  with  a  drive  of  2£  miles,  was  swarming  with  poor,  drying 
clothes,  and  young  folk  playing  and  lying  on  the  grass  in  a  smart 
rain.  The  Bridge  Gate,  full  of  wretched  poor,  such  as  I  have 
seen  nowhere  else.  The  Tron  Church  and  St.  John's,  memorable 
for  the  labours  of  Chalmers.  The  new  parts  of  Glasgow  are 
better  built  than  Edinburgh  ;  though  the  site  is  far  inferior,  yet 
equal  to  almost  any  other  place.  Houses  of  the  finest  sort  rent 
for  £100  to  £120.  They  are  built  of  a  dark  solid  stone  laid  in 
large  pieces.  The  smoke  of  factories  keeps  the  town  in  such  a 
smoke  as  I  have  not  seen  before.  The  Mitchells  are  full  of 
hospitable  warmth.  Mr.  Andrew  Mitchell  lives  at  Helensburgh, 
twenty-nine  miles  down  the  Clyde  opposite  Greenock,  but  comes 
up  daily  to  his  warehouse  in  Virginia  street. 

I  attended,  at  Grey  Friars  Church,  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Leach,  the  missionary  for  Madras,  by  the  United  Presbytery. 
Dr.   King  preached  a  great  sermon   from    2  John  8.     It  was 


348  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

memoriter,  and  eloquent  in  a  high  degree ;  polished,  ingenious, 
and  faithful.  They  had  a  choir,  and  artificial  music,  but  all 
sang. 

Dr.  Symington,  of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church, 
(brother  of  the  theological  professor  of  Paisley,)  showed  me 
an  original  of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant.  I  breakfasted 
with  the  Rev.  David  Brown,  of  Free  St.  James's — the  writer  on 
the  Millennium.  Went  to  Paisley  and  saw  the  Abbey  and 
Dr.  Witherspoon's  old  church. 

The  7th  was  spent  in  a  visit  among  the  Highland  lochs,  with 
the  Mitchells,  Rev.  Mr.  McEwen,  &c.  The  great  characteristics 
of  Scottish  scenery  were  here  apparent.  The  granitic  hills  come 
down  everywhere  to  the  water,  leaving  little  laps  of  land  for 
towns  and  seats.  They  run  down  in  such  wise  to  the  great  estu- 
aries that  they  are  all  cut  into  indentures  like  glove-fingers. 
These  run  up  among  the  highlands,  and  are  girt  with  soft  hill- 
sides, beyond  which  mountains  rise  and  peep.  I  was  among 
these  lochs,  sometimes  in  steamboat,  sometimes  in  row-boat, 
and  often  on  foot.  On  every  hand  were  towns,  churches,  man- 
sions, noble  seats,  but  generally  wild  walks  for  cattle  and  sheep. 
We  saw  Loch  Long,  Gare  Loch,  Loch  Goil,  and  Holy  Loch.  In 
so  doing,  we  saw  Greenock,  Gourock,  Dunoon,  (of  which  Dr. 
Mackay  is  minister,)  Ardentinny,  Roseneath,  (where  is  the 
Duke  of  Argyle's  seat.)  The  population  of  Glasgow  fly  to  these 
seaward  slopes.  Some  of  the  towns  are  made  up  of  villas. 
Plenty  of  Gaels,  with  kilt  and  mull  and  guttural  but  soft  lan- 
guage. The  nestling  churches  and  manses  of  Presbyterians  differ- 
ing only  in  name,  and  the  cheerful  aspect  of  a  pleasure- taking 
yeomanry,  gave  me  an  unwonted  delight. 

The  8th — a  lovely,  placid  Sabbath — was  spent  in  Helens- 
burgh. Such  places  and  such  scenes  must  have  been  in  the  mind 
of  Grahame  when  he  wrote  his  "  Sabbath."  The  hills  lie  softly 
on  every  side  of  the  frith  and  around  the  neighbouring  lochs. 
Small  towns  twinkle  in  the  half-veiled  sun  across  the  water.  The 
harvests,  only  partly  cut,  shine  over  the  rounded  fields.  There 
is  a  perfect  stillness.  The  temperature  just  admits,  but  does  not 
demand  fire.  The  town  seems  about  the  size  of  Princeton,  and 
has  an  Established  Church,  a  Free  Church,  a  United  Presby- 
terian, and  an  Independent.  I  worshipped  with  the  third  of 
these.  The  assembly  was  about  equal  to  yours  in  Trenton. 
They  were  plain  people  in  general,  with  a  considerable  sprinkling 
of  gentry.  A  sister  of  the  Duke  of  Argyle  is  a  frequent  hearer. 
Mr.  McEwen  preached  in  the  morning  on  Col.  iii.  17,  the  next 
verse  to  what  Dr.  Hamilton  preached  on  in  London.  I  preached 
\n  the  afternoon  from  Jude  20,  21.     It  was  like  a  revival  meet- 


1851.  349 

ing  all  day,  for  earnest  hearing,  looks  of  fire  and  affection,  and 
psalmody  that  I  never  can  forget.  In  the  evening  at  Mr.  Mitch- 
ell's, some  one  suddenly  observed  that  every  man  in  the  room 
was  a  minister's  son ;  and  we  soon  discovered  that  four  of  the 
live  were  ministers'  grandsons.  One  of  the  company  was  Mr. 
Hugh  Moncrieff,  a  descendant  of  the  original  Seceder.  The  Se- 
cession body  gave  more  than  two-thirds  to  the  United  Presby- 
terian Church.  They  are  together  the  most  liberal  of  the  Scotch 
Presbyterians.  They  have  much  of  the  best  pulpit  talent  in 
Edinburgh  and  Glasgow.  The  prayers  affect  me  more  than  the 
preaching. 

The  Duke  of  Argyle's  domain  is  very  large,  and  I  passed  on 
foot  through  that  part  of  it  which  lies  between  Loch  Long  and 
the  Gare  Loch.  I  passed  the  solid,  modest  new  Free  Church, 
with  its  tent  for  sacraments,  and  visited  the  Established  Kirk  of 
Roseneath.  Turning  into  a  green  lane,  I  found  about  twenty- 
six  low  stone  cottages  close  side  by  side.  Then  came  the  ancient 
grave-yard,  overhung  by  trees,  with  walled  enclosures  for  noble 
families,  &c.  Outside  of  this  is  the  parish  school  and  school- 
master's house,  very  well  built  and  snug.  The  dominie  showed 
me  the  church,  which  stands  in  the  midst  of  the  grave-yard.  It 
is  on  a  very  narrow  parallelogram,  by  far  the  narrowest  church  I 
ever  saw.  The  pulpit  and  pews  are  unpainted,  and  the  stone  floor 
is  cold  and  even  wet.  The  sacramental  table  was  longitudinally 
the  whole  length.  Quality  folks  use  the  gallery,  and  the  Duke's 
pew  is  just  opposite  to  the  pulpit  and  singularly  near  it.  Going 
out  of  the  grave-yard,  you  enter  a  park  belonging  to  the  kirk, 
with  the  most  extraordinary  avenue  of  yews  within,  and  limes 
without.  They  mingle  for  such  a  length,  that  in  the  remote  per- 
spective it  is  almost  night-like.  This  charge  of  perhaps  £180 
cannot  have  more  than  forty  hearers.  The  manse  is  a  beautiful 
cottage,  overgrown  with  vines,  about  half  a  mile  off.  From 
here  you  look  over  the  Loch  to  Row,  famous  for  the  "  Row 
heresy." 

We  were  accompanied  on  our  return  to  Glasgow  by  Mr. 
James  Smith  of  Jordanhill,  who,  at  70,  has  his  yacht-pea-jacket 
on,  and  talks  freely  about  Greek  antiquities.  He  presented  me 
a  copy  of  his  learned  monograph  on  Paul's  Shipwreck.  He  is 
of  the  Establishment,  [Presbyterian.]  More  walks  over  the 
city.  Called  on  Dr.  Runciman  of  St.  Andrew's  (Established) 
Church.  He  does  well  here,  and  has  filled  his  church  from  the 
wyncls.  His  reception  of  me  was  cordial  and  elegant. 
.  My  mind,  as  you  would  expect,  has  been  much  on  the  Presby- 
terianism  of  Scotland.  The  surface-view,  which  a  mere  guest 
takes,  is  perhaps  worth  little,  but  I  am  seeing  much  and  hearing 


350  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

more  in  answer  to  my  queries.  In  general,  the  absolute  state 
of  religion  in  Scotland  is  higher  than  I  thought.  The  events 
following  the  Disruption  have  wrought  more  widely  and  deeply. 
The  effect  on  the  Establishments  has  been  to  make  them  better 
and  not  worse.  There  is  not  a  parish  [Established]  preacher, 
who  would  not  resent  the  charge  of  being  Arminian.  They 
have  noble  charities,  and  the  Normal  schools,  &c,  are  palatial. 
The  Free  Church  is  striving  hard  to  keep  up  at  the  speed  which 
they  began.  Nowhere,  except  in  some  new-measure  spots  of 
old,  have  I  seen  such  signs  of  universal  working,  by  Bible-classes, 
tracts,  books,  hymns,  domiciliary  visits,  care  of  poor,  Sabbath 
schools,  &c.  They  cannot  help  remembering  their  undue  zeal 
against  Voluntaries,  and  burden  themselves  by  claiming  to  be  the 
Kirk,  and  so  by  planting  a  church  beside  every  national  church  all 
over  Scotland.  Their  mighty  man  is  Hugh  Miller.  He  is  hot, 
excitable,  and  on  occasion  implacable.  I  see  imich  to  make  me 
believe  that  the  power  of  Scotch  Presby  terianism  is  in  the  United 
Presbyteries.  They  have  no  hypotheses  in  petto.  They  are  more 
like  us.  They  have  acquired  a  status  by  the  Disruption,  and  work 
heartily  with  the  Free  Church.  There  never  can  be  any  vital  pre- 
lacy here.  The  Episcopalians  here  are  about  as  often  mentioned  as 
the  Moravians  with  us.  The  clergymen  of  the  Free  Church  whom 
I  have  seen  are  exceedingly  well-informed  as  to  our  American 
churches,  and  acquainted  with  our  literature.  The  education  of 
the  rising  ministry  is  going  forward  with  great  zeal.  In  acquaint- 
ance with  all  the  modern  works  of  German  interpretation,  the 
new  race  of  ministers  will  be  much  before  those  of  the  Anglican 
Church.  When  I  speak  of  the  Free  Church,  I  mean  that  the 
remark  should  apply  to  all  the  Dissenters  of  Scotland,  between 
the  different  classes  of  whom  there  is  an  increasing  fellowship. 
Even  the  Reformed  Presbyterians  appear  to  be  separated  by  a 
scarcely  distinguishable  interval  from  the  others.  The  angriness 
of  the  controversy  concerning  the  Atonement  seems  to  have- 
departed  ;  whether  with  any  sacrifice  of  old  Calvinistic  tenets  in 
any  quarter  it  would  not  become  a  passing  stranger  to  determine. 
Both  in  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  the  eye  is  continually  saluted 
by  Presbyterian  structures.  Many  of  these  are  in  the  modern 
Gothic  style,  and  some  are  florid  in  a  high  degree.  Their  interiors, 
however,  are  less  airy  and  ornate  than  with  us.  All  the  Scottish 
churches  have  vestries,  and  all  the  ministers  wear  the  Geneva 
gown  or  cloak,  which  has  come  down  from  the  days  of  Knox. 
In  some  churches  the  preacher  pronounces  the  Lord's  Prayer 
immediately  before  the  sermon.  The  old  version  of  the  Psalms 
is  universal.  The  prayer  after  sermon  is  uniformly  longer  than 
with  us,  and  the  service  varies  from  an  hour  and  three-quarters 


1851.  351 

to  two  hours.  At  this  season  the  usual  hours  in  town  are 
eleven  and  two.  The  custom  of  "  turning  up "  the  passage 
remains  in  all  its  strength,  and  hundreds  of  Bibles  are  rustling 
at  once.  So  far  as  I  can  learn,  the  topics  which  fill  the  pulpits 
arc  just  those  which  fill  the  Catechism ;  and  the  general  strain 
of  preaching  is  not  so  much  alarming  as  persuasive.  The  person 
and  work  of  our  Lord  form  a  prominent  part  of  public  discourses. 
Great  diversities,  of  course,  obtain  among  men  of  various  gifts 
and  temper,  but  in  general  there  is  much  earnestness  in  public 
addresses.  In  the  cities  many  sermons  are  read  from  the  manu- 
scripts, but  the  country  parishes  scarcely  tolerate  this. 

Belfast,  September  1G,  1851. 

If  you  knew  that  my  letters  are  generally  written  on  my 
knee,  you  would  wonder  that  there  is  any  handwriting  about 
them.  I  write  this,  that  you  may  know  of  my  safe  arrival  in 
the  land  and  province  of  my  progenitors,  after  the  dangers  of 
the  North  Channel.  There  is  something  very  solemn  in  approach- 
ing a  new  country  by  morning  twilight ;  both  my  views  of  Ire- 
land have  been  such.  As  this  is  the  great  mart  of  the  linen 
trade,  one  of  my  visits  was  (with  Dr.  Maclean  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Mitchell)  to  the  Linen  Hall,  where  we  saw  the  article  in  all  its 
varieties.  An  English  Quaker  gave  us  many  explanations.  He 
showed  us  the  different  bleached  and  unbleached  fabrics.  Some- 
times a  linen-house  pays  a  thousand  pounds  in  a  week  to  hand- 
loom  cottage-weavers.  But  cottage-spinning,  so  famous  in  the 
days  of  my  great-grandfather,  has  been  done  away  by  machinery. 
We  saw  how  gaudily  the  shirtings  are  put  up  for  the  American 
market.  Also  the  difference  of  the  linen  for  the  British  trade, 
which  has  less  starch  and  less  "  beetling,"  as  a  pounding  is  called, 
which  flattens  the  thread.  The  British  fabric  looks  as  well  after 
washing  as  before.  No  person  whom  I  have  questioned,  knows 
any  thing  of  the  new  operation  for  dressing  flaxen  thread,  so  as 
to  remove  the  "  cold  feel "  which  distinguishes  linen  from  cotton 
goods.  It  was  boasted  that  this  would  make  flax  take  the  place 
of  cotton.  American  flour  is  largely  used  here,  as  also  in  Glas- 
gow ;  at  about  £1  Is.  the  barrel. 

A  jaunting-car  took  us  to  Cave  Hill,  where  we  had  as  good 
a  view  of  the  Lough  and  surrounding  country  as  this  hazy  at- 
mosphere allows.  The  Divis  and  other  hills  are  fine.  Abun- 
dance of  water  comes  down  from  these  heights.  The  country 
houses  look  well,  but  every  thing  lacks  the  trim  finish  to  which 
my  eye  has  been  accustomed.  The  hills  are  without  heather 
and  often  bare.     In  and  near  the  town  I  see  numbers  of  ne'er. 


352  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE. 

do-weels,  half-naked  children,  and  canal-digger-like  men,  but  no 
tokens  of  absolute  distress.  I  am  surprised  that  things  are  so 
familiar.  It  arises  from  the  American  look  of  the  brick  houses, 
the  imperfect  keeping  of  the  lawns,  and  the  Scotch-Irish  counte- 
nance of  the  peasantry. 

The  drive  along  the  sea-shore  to  the  Giant's  Causeway  was 
delightful.  The  beach  is  not  sand,  but  generally  beautiful  rock, 
often  limestone,  which  keeps  the  water  from  being  muddy.  It  is 
as  clear  as  a  spring,  and  the  mottled  bottom  has  a  novel  appear 
ance.  The  curves  of  the  bays  are  beautiful.  But  every  thing 
derives  its  character  from  the  cliffs  and  mountains,  which  were 
always  on  our  left,  rising  high  and  magnificent,  with  basalt 
columns  and  wonderful  freaks  of  the  igneous  rocks,  giving  pre- 
monitions of  what  appears  in  its  perfection  at  the  Causeway. 
The  whole  north-east  shore  derives  its  picturesque  loftiness  from 
the  primitive  and  basaltic  rock,  which  girdles  the  inner  limestone 
and  other  stratified  rocks  of  the  island.  When  we  began  to  turn 
inland,  we  had  beauties  of  a  different  sort ;  mountain  prospects, 
long  winding  treeless  glens,  hill-sides  covered  with  the  chequered 
oat-fields  and  pastures,  occasional  moors  with  peat,  cottages  and 
flocks,  browsing  goats  and  merry  peasants.  On  leaving  Bally- 
castle,  where  is  a  fine  old  ruin,  we  found  a  highly  cultivated 
country.  The  church  of  Ballintoy  seems  almost  in  the  sea,  and 
the  manse  is  a  cold,  white  solitary  house  looking  over  the  water 
to  Rathlin.  I  saw  the  sun  go  down,  a  disk  of  molten  gold,  over 
the  foreland  of  Bengore.  About  nine  in  the  evening  I  saw  a 
beautiful  Aurora  Borealis — well  so  called  at  this  point.  It  was 
a  zone  arched  over  a  chord  of  about  sixty  degrees  of  the  horizon, 
having  Arcturus  in  the  centre,  with  bright  radiations  striking  up 
from  several  points. 

The  prints  generally  represent  the  scene  about  the  Causeway, 
so  as  to  give  the  neighbouring  precijnees  as  the  Causeway.  These 
precipices  are  grand,  and  are  likewise  columnar,  but  they  are 
nothing  to  the  main  object.  The  Causeway  is  well  named.  It 
is  a  platform  jutting  out  in  three  capes  into  the  sea,  toward 
which  it  inclines.  It  is  not  very  high  above  the  water.  It  is 
made  of  columns,  side  by  side,  perfectly  dry  and  close.  You 
cannot  thrust  a  knife  between  some  of  the  junctures.  These 
columns  go  down  unknown  lengths.  They  are  exposed  on  the 
hill-sides,  so  that  you  can  see  them  joined  together  in  pieces. 
Where  one  end  joins  another  there  is  a  concavity  fitting  a  con- 
vexity, which  is  as  wonderful  as  any  thing.  It  is  on  the  tops  of 
these  joined  pillars  that  you  walk.  The  surface  is  a  little  uneven, 
but  in  general  may  be  described  as  plane.  The  columns  are  of 
dark  gray  basalt.     They  are  polygonal  prisms — hexagons,  pen- 


1851.  353 

tagons,  a  few  heptagons.  I  saw  one  nonagon,  one  square,  and  one 
rhombus.  The  little  concavities  in  some  hold  sea- water,  which 
leaves  salt ;  and  on  most  of  them  are  numerous  lichens,  and  even 
small  flowers.  Piles  of  these  blocks  are  taken  away,  even  to 
America.  Our  guide  delivers  a  set  at  Liverpool  for  about  £4. 
There  are  two  famous  caves.  I  entered  one  of  them,  Port  Coon. 
The  effect  is  awful.  You  have  at  your  back  a  cavernous  depth 
of  dark,  and  in  front  the  wild  ocean  roaring  in  to  your  feet. 


Dublin,  September  IS,  1851. 

My  first  stage  from  Belfast  was  to  Armagh,  a  fine  old  town, 
where  the  Papists  are  building  a  cathedral,  which  Dr.  Cullen 
says  shall  surpass  the  Anglican  one.  Here  we  coached  it  across 
the  county  to  Castle  Blayney.  The  country  has  the  same  undu- 
lations, but  looks  worse ;  smaller  patches,  ruder  hovels,  more, 
wastes,  later  oats,  and  dirtier  folks.  At  Blayney  we  took  cars  for 
Dublin.  Drogheda  is  a  seaport,  and  has  a  brisk  commerce,  fine 
edifices,  a  stern,  middle-age  gate,  but  we  drove  through  long 
streets  of  blank,  ugly,  stone,  one-story  thatched  hovels,  and  were 
infested  with  beggars.  From  there  southward  through  the 
counties  Louth  and  Meath,  the  beauties  increased  every  mile. 
Often  we  were  by  the  sea,  and  at  Malahide  Bay  were  carried  over 
its  noble  arm.  Howth  Head  is  a  grand  eminence,  and  the  ap- 
proach to  Dublin  is  famous.  Its  capacious  bay,  its  broad  river, 
its  eight  bridges,  and  its  superior  public  edifices,  tell  of  grandeur, 
which  is  every  day  decreasing. 

Saw  the  poplin-looms  at  Atkinson's,  Sackville  street.  He 
sells  nothing  but  poplins,  and  only  to  retail-buyers.  Got  a  sam- 
ple of  a  dress  worn  by  the  Queen,  fifteen  dollars  a  yard.  Phoenix 
park  is  seven  miles  round,  and  contains  1,760  acres. 

I  made  a  trip  to  Inch  to  inquire  about  the  relatives  of  our 
servants  at  home.  Their  mother  had  gone  to  America,  but  was 
directed  to  a  brother.  I  went  there.  Poor  man  !  he  denied  his 
name,  and  was  afraid  to  come  out,  fearing  no  doubt  some  proctor 
or  landlord's  agent  to  turn  him  out.  At  this  point  I  made 
known  my  purpose,  and  a  great  change  came  over  them.  As* 
many  as  seven  persons,  old  and  young,  came  out  of  the  cottage- 
door,  and  gathered  around  my  jaunting-car.  They  asked  many 
questions  about  the  girls,  and  said  all  here  were  well.  When  I 
rode  away,  the  blessings  of  the  whole  group  followed  me  in  most 
hearty  Irish.  The  country  around  Thurles,  Drum,  and  Inch,  is 
very  beautiful  and  the  roads  are  like  a  floor,  with  walls  or  hedges. 
Indeed  I  can  no  longer  say  Ireland  is  without  levels,  for  we 
were  in  a  stretch  of  flat  land  most  of  the  way  from  Dublin. 


354:  LETTERS    FROM    EUROPE. 

But  then  on  our  right  we  had  the  blue  ridge  of  Sliebh  Bloom, 
which  we  flanked,  and  took  its  south-west  on  our  right  in  going 
to  Limerick.  At  Thurles  we  got  out.  The  most  of  it  is  of 
white  rough-cast  stone  houses  thatched  ;  with  irregular  streets 
and  a  little  dirty  market-place,  where  a  score  of  women  have 
piles  of  excellent  potatoes  on  the  earth.  Beggars  and  tattered 
hordes  of  lazzaroni,  more  ragged  than  those  of  Drogheda,  roamed 
in  the  ways.  Thurles  is  a  very  churchly  little  town,  and  was 
once  a  great  one.  Three  castles  in  ruins,  a  monastery,  two  nun- 
neries, a  college,  an  English  church,  a  chapel,  barracks  for  the 
soldiery,  barracks  for  the  constabulary  police,  poorhouscs,  (here 
as  elsewhere  fine  edifices,  and  lately  containing  1,700  poor,) 
female  schools,  and  other  charities.  Here  the  great  Popish  Synod 
met  some  months  ago. 

I  inquired  at  Inch  for  L.'s  father,  and  saw  him.  He  bears  a 
good  character,  but  is  very  poor,  and  patched  to  a  mournful 
degree.  He  had  heard  nothing  from  L.  for  eighteen  months. 
The  poor  old  man  has  no  longer  any  work  at  the  college.  Great 
numbers  have  gone  to  America  from  Tipperary.  Twelve  cottages 
were  desolate  on  a  mile  of  road.  Only  one  tenant  is  left  on 
Mr.  Trant's  estate,  which  is  six  miles  long.  This  is  the  worst 
county  in  Ireland  for  shooting  landlords  and  proctors.  The  land 
is  good,  but  the  people  look  dogged  and  unhappy.  From  Thurles 
to  Limerick  we  had  broad  pastures  and  romantic  hills.  Take  it 
altogether,  Ireland  is  a  land  of  unsurpassed  charms  of  the  green, 
wild,  and  quiet  sort.  You  are  hardly  ever  out  of  sight  of  some 
ivy-crowned  ruin,  castle,  church,  or  abbey,  telling  of  the  power 
which  has  gone  by. 

Roman  Catholic  Ireland  is  depopulating  in  some  sense. 
Small  cottage-farms  are  disappearing,  large  estates  are  growing 
larger,  fewer  hands  are  required  for  pastures  and  sheepwalks  ; 
better  cultivation  will  make  this  beautiful,  this  enchanting  island, 
more  beautiful  and  enchanting ;  the  Celtic  race  will  be  increasing 
in  America  and  Australia,  and  the  over-stocked  priesthood  of 
Ireland  will  lose  its  slaves  and  its  supports.  Ulster  is  in  a 
different  case.  It  smiles  wTith  agricultural,  pastoral,  and  manu- 
facturing wealth,  and  has  spots  unsurpassed  on  earth. 

I  found  that  our  Minister,  Mr.  Abbott  Lawrence,  had  been  at 
Limerick  and  at  Gal  way,  and  was  down  the  river  with  Lord 
Monteagle  and  others.  As  to  Limerick — 50,000  population — • 
the  new  town  is  beautifully  built,  no  place  of  it  size  is  more 
showy.  The  people  in  the  good  streets  are  handsome  and  elegant ; 
but  the  masses  in  the  over-crowded  lanes  and  along  the  quays 
and  noble  bridges,  beat  all  I  ever  beheld  for  abandoned,  rowdy, 
jovial,  beggarly  appearance.     Such  rags,  such  stench,  such  impu- 


1851.  355 

denee,  such  almost  naked,  though  often  ruddy  and  handsome 
Irishism,  I  find  not  even  in  Ireland.  The  grand  old  cathedral  is 
begirt  with  offensive  smells  and  fearful  sights.  I  doubt  whether 
Venice  is  more  full  of  license  than  Limerick.  Here  popery 
revels.  The  new  part  of  Limerick  is  more  fair  and  regular 
than  Belfast,  with  streets  like  Chestnut  street  somewhat  vulgar- 
ized. But  who  can  describe  the  gangs  of  wretched,  wanton, 
roystering,  impudent  women  and  children,  half-naked,  tattered 
and  foul,  who  sit,  sprawl,  lie,  squat,  bluster  and  laugh  about  the 
cathedral,  the  bridges,  and  the  quays  ! 

The  mountains  on  our  left  after  quitting  Dublin,  were  no 
doubt  part  of  the  Wicklow  cluster.  Kildare  was  an  interesting 
point.  Its  ruined  abbey,  and  tower  130  feet  high,  are  grand  ob- 
jects. Portarlington  is  noted  as  the  place  of  Wellington's 
education.  A  French  colony  till  lately  had  French  preaching 
here.  There  are  many  boarding-schools,  and  we  saw  a  bevy  of 
fine  young  girls  going  to  the  capital.  All  the  country  scenes 
rich  ;  much  pasture,  heavy  hay,  some  oats,  occasional  bog  with 
piles  of  turf,  few  cottages,  few  labourers  in  the  fields,  and  these 
were  more  haggard  and  woe-begone  than  in  even  the  middle 
counties.  This  whole  vale  is  more  wooded  than  usual.  As  we 
entered  Tipperary  the  land  looked  flatter  and  more  neglected, 
but  with  more  numerous  broken-down  castles  and  some  good 
mountains  towards  the  south. 

Galway,  September  21,  1851. 
On  the  20th  I  left  Limerick  on  the  top  of  an  old-fashioned 
mail  coach,  of  which  there  are  more  remaining  in  Ireland  than 
in  England.  The  roads  were  fine,  and  perfectly  smooth  all  day. 
and  as  the  country  is  limestone,  and  rocky,  were  without  excep- 
tion lined  by  stone  walls  for  all  the  sixty-four  miles  (Irish)  to 
Gal  way.  Castles  and  abbeys  in  ruins  were  scarcely  ever  out  of 
sight.  The  country  grew  poorer  and  rockier  as  we  went  on,  and 
the  small  dust  of  the  limestone  roads  was  exactly  like  rye-flour. 
At  Clare,  a  small  wretched  town,  with  a  beautiful  site,  we  saw 
hundreds  of  young  women  and  girls  on  the  river  bank.  I  was  told 
their  mates  have  gone  to  America.  The  fields  look  stony  and 
poor,  and  the  whole  country  is  marked  up  by  the  ugly  stone 
dykes.  Moors  or  bogs  are  not  very  frequent.  The  roads  abound 
with  foot-people ;  they  are  squat,  flat-faced,  homely,  and  often 
brown.  At  Ennis  we  left  the  coach  for  a  jaunting-car.  Ennis 
is  the  chief  town  of  the  county  Clare.  It  is  made  up  chiefly  of 
one-story  hovels,  thatched.  It  was  market-day,  and  the  peasantry 
were  crowding  the  market-place.  This  day,  it  seemed  to  me, 
that  I  saw  more  asses  than  in  all  my  previous  life.     The  same 


356  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

poor,  barren,  stony,  white  land,  prevailed  all  the  way  to  Gort ; 
but  when  we  came  near  to  Gort,  we  arrived  at  the  demesne  of  the 
Viscount  Gort,  extending  some  miles.  We  drove  through  it. 
Though  he  is  poor,  the  castle  is  fine,  and  the  grounds  are  in  a 
fine  style  of  landscape-gardening,  with  parks,  deer,  avenues  of  ash 
and  beech,  dark  and  romantic ;  glimpses  over  the  lovely  lake 
Cootra  of  sloping  mountains,  and  exit  by  a  grand  carved  portal. 
A  little  beyond  we  got  out  to  see  a  great  natural  curiosity.  A 
river,  called  Blackwater,  runs  out  of  the  lake,  and  then  goes 
under  ground,  and  reappears  in  a  wonderful  manner  in  a  deep 
place  fifty  feet  down  like  a  goblet,  and  called  the  Punch  Bowl. 
We  are  now  in  the  county  Galway,  Province  of  Connaught.  It 
was  market-day  at  Gort  also,  and  from  the  inn  where  we  dined 
we  looked  out  on  the  broad  but  irregular  market-place.  Here 
we  were  among  the  aboriginal  Irish.  The  women  wear  a  dark 
blue  cloak  and  hood,  and  red  petticoat.  The  scene  was  novel 
and  lively.  Crowds  and  groups,  stalls,  booths,  and  tents.  One 
was  selling  kitchen  stuff  by  auction.  A  woman  had  four  hats  on 
a  board,  and  another  two.  One  had  dulse,  [an  edible  sea-weed.] 
There  were  carts  of  buttermilk  packed  in  straw  around  kegs. 
Stalls  of  shoes,  and  of  nails  in  little  parcels.  A  woman  brings 
a  hen  or  a  dozen  eggs  for  a  mile.  A  girl  had  a  donkey  to  sell, 
and  held  it  by  a  straw  rope.  Pigs,  washed  clean,  were  conducted 
by  the  same  sort  of  line.  Potatoes,  of  course,  abounded.  Hay 
in  bundles  ;  heather  brooms  ;  sacks  of  oatmeal.  Plenty  of  rags 
and  little  appearance  of  dress.  Red  coats  here  and  there  pre- 
dominating over  the  sport,  Connaught-men,  and  a  good  many 
in  the  constabulary  uniform. 

We  took  another  car,  and  posted  to  Galway.  The  same 
scene ;  walls,  ruined  cottages,  roads  full  of  women  in  hoods, 
and  groups  of  travellers  from  the  market.  Occasionally,  a 
"  plantation  "  announced  a  rich  estate.  Ruined  cottages,  with 
only  walls.  All  gone  to  America.  An  English  clergyman  tells 
me  he  counted  114  such  ruined  cabins  in  eight  miles  in  Mayo. 
Galway  and  Mayo  suffered  more  than  any  other  counties.  I 
passed  a  hut,  and  saw  the  woman  on  the  straw-bed,  her  only  seat. 
All  speak  Irish.  Two  poor  little  boys,  about  four  years  old, 
came  to  beg.  The  larger  one  said,  apologizing  for  the  silence 
of  the  other,  "  he  has  no  Inglis." 

Galway  is  the  fifth  city  of  Ireland,  and  has  about  20,000. 
It  has  some  fine  buildings.  The  Queen's  College  is  magnificent. 
There  are  also  the  two  court-houses,  the  Union  or  Poor-House, 
the  usual  barracks,  several  monasteries,  and  several  Catholic 
chapels.  But  whole  streets  are  of  one-story  hovels,  close  to- 
gether, dark  and  thatched.     The  noble  estuary  and  neighbouring 


1851.  357 

lake  give  dignity  to  a  place  which  is  far,  far  beyond  all  I  ever 
dreamed  of  for  squalor,  filth,  and  poverty. 

On  the  Sabbath  I  found  the  principal  street  crowded  with 
people  even  more  than  Princeton  in  an  old-time  Commencement. 
All  talking  Irish.  Not  one  well-dressed  person.  Even  the 
female  sex  shows  no  care  for  finery  or  cleanliness.  Dark  cloaks 
and  broad-ruffled  caps,  without  bonnets  or  shoes  or  stockings, 
and  with  red  petticoats.  Women  carrying  babies  in  their  cloaks 
behind  them.  It  is  difficult  to  get  through  the  throng  in  the 
mid-street.  Women  in  red  wrappings.  Lines  of  women  sitting 
on  the  ground.  Little  appearance  of  drink  or  gaiety.  No  good 
faces,  but  many  open,  funny  ones.  I  am  reminded  of  squaws. 
I  never  saw  such  rags,  holes,  fringes  of  tatters,  filth,  combless 
black  locks,  and  babies  half  exposed  and  shamefully  uncovered. 
I  saw  a  thousand  such.  These  are  Irish  of  the  Irish.  Men  in  knee- 
breeches.  Beggars  follow  you  for  a  furlong  full  of  wit,  comic 
entreaty,  and  prayers  for  your  welfare.  A  gentleman,  who  has 
been  at  Connemara,  says  their  car  was  surrounded  by  a  hundred 
at  once.  The  stench  of  the  ways  is  horrible.  Near  the  chapels 
the  crowds  are  indescribable.  The  English  church  was  a  Catho- 
lic one  till  the  time  of  Edward  VI.  It  is  of  fine  stone,  a  regular 
cross,  with  a  lady-chapel  added  to  the  west  side  of  the  south 
transept.  Since  the  twelfth  century  it  has  had  a  foundation  for 
a  warden  and  six  vicars,  who  still  reside.  The  service  was  going 
on,  and  I  heard  the  conclusion  of  an  evangelical  discourse  (to 
the  military)  from  Mr.  D'Arcy,  who  is  a  Galway  man.  He 
kindly  showed  me  over  the  house.  The  nave  is  walled  up,  and 
the  service  is  in  it  and  the  choir  and  south  transept.  Mr. 
D'Arcy  preached  again  (to  the  congregation  proper)  extempore, 
on  Rom.  v.  1,  a  right  Calvinistic  sermon  upon  justification  by 
faith  and  imputed  righteousness.  -I  never  heard  better  organ- 
playing.  It  was  almost  a  cathedral  service,  and  two  voices  in 
the  choir  were  transcendent.  I  had  not  gone  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  having  heard  that  it  was  Arian  ;  but  finding  I  had  been 
misinformed,  I  went  there  in  the  afternoon,  and  heard  a  young 
man  preach  to  twenty-five  hearers.  The  Protestants  are  increas- 
ing, and  are  about  one  in  twenty. 

Billingsgate  is  a  paradise  to  the  fish-market  of  Galway.  A 
chatter  rises  from  it  to  the  bridge  above,  which  is  unlike  all  I 
have  met  with.  Though  so  overcrowded  and  underclothed,  these 
Connaught  Irish  seem  peaceable.  During  the  famine  it  was 
indeed  otherwise.  As  I  looked  at  an  ass  with  panniers  of  bread, 
the  post-boy  said  "  a  year  or  two  ago  that  load  could  not  have 
gone  by  here  without  an  escort."  As  we  entered  the  walled 
hill-road,  which  leads  into  Galway,  we  met  cart  after  cart  for 


358  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

miles,  all  full,  having  more  women  than  men,  and  in  some  cases 
all  drunk.  We  met  gangs  of  the  same  sort  on  foot  in  the  road. 
The  post-boy  said  robberies  were  frequent  not  long  since  along 
here,  and  that  he  should  stop  in  Galway  all  night. 

An  optical  phenomenon  was  observed  by  Dr.  Maclean,  Mr. 
Mitchell,  and  me,  near  the  Queen's  College.  Persons  in  some 
numbers,  walking  on  a  quay,  or  river-promenade,  looked  so  much 
taller  through  a  scarcely  perceptible  mist,  that  Ave  all  agreed  the 
same  appearance  would,  in  ordinary  circumstances,  indicate  a 
stature  of  thirty  feet.     It  was  fearful. 

The  poor  people  are  all  emigrants  in  intention.  I  never 
talked  with  one  among  hundreds,  who  did  not  speak  of  America 
as  of  Paradise.  The  population  still  seems  to  an  American  eye 
immense.  The  priests  walk  among  them  like  a  superior  race, 
elegantly  dressed,  and  with  an  air  not  unlike  that  of  our  own 
clergy.  I  rejoice  to  add  there  is  a  work  of  God  going  on  among 
these  lowest  of  European  Papists.  Last  month  in  Connemara 
alone,  1,900  Papists  were  "  confirmed  "  under  church-missions. 
In  Mayo  there  is  persecution.  The  Rev.  Hamilton  Townsend 
was  thrice  shot  at  in  his  own  house.  After  all,  my  general  con- 
clusion is,  from  repeated  conversations  with  the  most  informed 
gentlemen,  that  a  better  day  is  coming.  The  very  famine  has 
tended  to  improve  agriculture ;  the  very  depopulation  also  has 
thrown  thousands  out  into  a  new  soil,  and  at  home  has  aggre- 
gated innumerable  ill-tilled  patches  barely  sustaining  life  into 
large  farms  or  sheep-walks  requiring  fewer  hands,  and  gradually 
filling  with  new  tenants.  But  this  involved  in  part  a  change  of 
race.  Nowhere  has  the  pure  Geltic  blood  been  energetic.  Un- 
like as  are  a  Highlander  and  a  Connaught  man,  they  are  as  to 
unthrift  and  idleness,  identical.  Large  numbers  of  English 
labourers  are  coming  into  Mayo.  In  the  east  of  Ireland  the 
mixture  of  Celtic  with  Anglo-Norman  blood  has  produced  the 
finest  physical  result  on  earth,  The  better  class  at  Dublin  and 
Limerick,  the  people  you  meet  in  carriages,  are  by  all  odds  the 
very  handsomest  people  I  ever  saw.  In  Galway  one  has  the 
population  of  a  city  with  the  squalor  and  brutality  of  a  hovel. 
I  dare  say  there  are  a  thousand  houses  in  the  town  without  a 
floor.  The  contrast  between  these  and  the  palaces  of  the  regi- 
ment, the  police,  and  the  priests,  tells  a  painful  tale.  I  dwell 
thus  on  Galway,  because  it  is  the  worst  place  I  have  been  in. 

Dublin,  September  23,  1851, 
Leaving  Galway,  we  came  directly  eastward  by  the  Midland 
Great   South-western   Railway,    127   miles   across    Ireland    to 
Dublin.     The  first  part  of  our  way  was  stony  like  the  road  from 


1851.  359 

Gort.  The  number  of  ruinous  cabins  was  great.  Castles  were 
numerous.  As  we  advanced  through  the  great  limestone  plain, 
the  country  constantly  improved  in  verdure,  houses,  and  crops. 
After  leaving  Cranmore  we  were  in  quite  a  plain.  We  were 
some  time  in  the  county  Roscommon,  formerly  the  most  turbu- 
lent in  Connaught.  Athlone  is  an  important  central  point,  but 
its  glories  are  in  ruins.  Great  fortifications,  and  signs  of  military 
force.  The  British  government  pursues  a  policy  like  that  of  the 
Romans,  laying  out  vast  sums  on  public  works,  which  will  last 
for  ages  ;  these  show  Ireland  to  be  a  conquered  province.  Now, 
on  leaving  the  Shannon  again,  we  came  into  gentle  wooded 
regions,  which,  nearer  to  Dublin,  became  perfectly  English,  with 
lodges  and  trimmed  trees,  and  neater  cottages.  Great  numbers 
of  emigrants  were  in  the  trains,  and  we  saw  bitter  partings 
outside.  The  people  look  far  better  in  Leinster.  But  every- 
where, those  who  have  the  least  pretension  to  gentle  blood  are 
the  best-looking  people  I  ever  saw.  A  Spanish  gentleman  in 
the  train  told  me  he  would  have  taken  me  for  a  Spaniard  ;  he 
and  I  looked  like  mulattoes  among  the  lily  and  rose  of  'Jerne. 
Mullingar  and  Maynooth  were  passed.  The  grounds  and  colleges 
of  Maynooth  are  stately,  with  an  old  castle  and  fine  trees.  Well- 
dressed,  important-looking  priests,  were  pacing,  with  the  never- 
absent  breviary,  on  the  green  banks  of  the  canal. 

All  over  the  island  Ulster  is  spoken  of  as  a  happy  model,  and 
even  in  the  mouths  of  the  priests  "  Ulster-tenure  "  is  a  common 
word  ;  it  amounts  almost  to  fee  simple. 

So  many  things  crowd  on  me,  that  I  am  utterly  unable  to 
say  what  I  wish  on  any  one.  As  to  the  government  policy — for 
some  years  I  am  fully  convinced  government  has  seriously  in- 
tended the  good  of  Ireland.  The  problem  has  been  almost 
insoluble.  It  was  perplexed  by  the  potato  rot,  fear,  dysentery, 
and  cholera.  If  Providence  had  not  opened  the  new  world,  the 
results  would  have  been  awfully  worse.  Mr.  D'Arcy  told  me, 
that  at  one  time  he  saw  130  putrefying  corpses  above  ground  in 
a  field  near  Gal  way.  The  power  of  the  government  has  been 
put  forth  to  an  extent  which  no  man  can  estimate  without  being 
here.  Let  me  hint  at  some  of  its  indications.  In  the  number- 
less towns  and  villages  through  which  we  passed,  the  majority 
of  houses  being  hog-pens,  and  the  people  like  beggars,  there 
were  always  three  or  four  noble  structures  of  the  finest  building 
stone  in  the  world.  You  need  not  ask  what  these  were.  The 
largest  is  the  Poor  House  ;  the  next  is  the  jail ;  the  third  is  the 
regimental  barracks  ;  the  fourth  is  the  guard-house  of  the  Con- 
stabulary, who  are  in  great  strength,  wear  uniform,  are  fine 
picked  men,  always  from  a  distance,  and  armed.     Here  we  see 


360  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

the  conquered  Province,  but  who  can  say  what  else  England 
could  have  done  %  Again,  government  has  lent  vast  sums  to  the 
railways  of  Ireland,  and  these  given  (not  to  flourishing  London- 
derry) but  to  Drogheda,  to  Enniskellen,  to  Cork,  to  Galway. 
They  are  fully  equal  to  the  best  English  roads.  The  station- 
houses,  as  a  whole,  are  superior  to  the  generality  in  England, 
being  such  as  will  abide  for  ages,  to  speak  for  England  as  the 
ruined  roads  and  aqueducts  do  for  Rome.  I  know  England  has 
sought  her  own  power  in  this,  but  she  has  no  less  served  the 
interests  of  Ireland  by  her  recent  policy.  Even  this  matter  of 
evictions  has  two  sides,  just  as  slavery  has  with  us.  The  Pres- 
byterians of  Ulster  are  perfectly  satisfied  with  government. 
Truth  is  no  doubt  hard  to  be  got  at  among  such  differences. 
That  the  tenant-tenure  and  the  absenteeism  have  wrought  iniqui- 
tously  and  murderously  no  sane  mind  ought  to  doubt.  Yet  on 
this  very  head  matters  tend  in  the  right  direction.  Under  the 
Encumbered  Estates  Act  (which  is  named  every  hour  in  Ireland) 
titles  can  be  made  good  to  purchasers.  The  beggared  nobles  of 
Ireland  are  selling  to  rich  merchants,  gentlemen,  &c.  In  the 
long  run  this  helps  the  populace,  notwithstanding  proximate 
evils.  Just  as  you  know  how  much  more  miserable  are  the 
slaves  of  a  poor  planter,  or  a  bankrupt.  Emigration  (blessed 
be  "God  !)  has  allowed  hundreds  of  thousands  to  go  to  a  country, 
where  they  may  be  happy.  The  priests  have  had  their  day. 
They  are  phrensied  just  now,  under  the  Ecclesiastical  Titles'  Bill, 
and  the  ultramontane  zeal  of  Dr.  Cullen.  But  my  belief  is  their 
time  is  short. 

Oxford,  September  27,  1851. 
Leaving  Liverpool  day  before  yesterday,  the  train  came  by 
the  beautiful  Trent  valley  again,  and  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  Lich- 
field Cathedral  and  Lord  Lichfield's  park.  The  first  few  stages  I 
was  alone  in  my  carriage.  From  Blatchley  to  Oxford  my  com- 
panion was  the  Hon.  ,  son  of  Lord  S.,  going  to  Eton.     He 

was  constantly  opening  his  hat-box,  which  contained  a  pair  of 
trousers,  and  his  carpet-bag,  which  was  swollen  so  as  to  be  tied 
with  twine.  He  was  very  offish  and  affected,  till  the  sky  was 
covered  by  a  rainbow  of  uncommon  beauty,  and  then  he  was  so 
carried  away,  and  so  lighted  up,  that  he  lost  all  sense  of  his  rank, 
and  submitted  to  be  taught  the  word  vibgyor?  My  gentleman 
had  risen  very  early  to  take  the  train,  and,  I  fear  me,  had  not 
washed  his  hands ;  and  his  beautiful  hair  streamed  in  the  wind 
like  elf-locks.     At  Oxford  he  furnished  himself  with  a  Benjamin's 

J  The  mnemonic  initials  for  the  primitive  colours. 


1851.  361 

portion  of  tarts  and  cakes,  which  he  attended  to  while  I  dined, 
keeping  his  hat  on;  (boys  here  all  wear  hats.) 

The  Oxfordshire  peasantry  talk  more  like  New  Englanders 
than  any  I  hear,  but  not  in  regard  to  their  Us.  My  guide 
might  pass  for  a  Massachusetts  man,  in  his  very  intonation, 
were  it  not  for  the  pains  he  takes  with  his  "  aches."  He  industri- 
ously says  "  hentrance,"  "  Hoxford,"  "  Hariel  College,"  "  hinner 
closhters."  I  employed  a  guide,  and  visited  the  exterior  and 
grounds  of  Christ  Church,  Magdalen,  University,  Balliol,  Merton, 
Exeter,  Queen's,  New,  Lincoln,  All  Souls,  Jesus  and  Pembroke 
Colleges,  and  Magdalen  Hall.  Happily  the  verdure  is  as  yet  un- 
touched. I  rejoice  in  these  genuine  old  English  streets  and  yellow 
house-fronts, gables,  square  casements,  oriels  and  projecting  stories. 
They  first  won  my  affection  at  Eton.  I  foresaw  that  Oxford 
would  take  all  the  colour  out  of  every  thing  else ;  because  I  knew 
there  was  nothing  like  it  on  earth.  I  should  like  to  be  here  again 
in  term-time,  yet  I  would  not  miss  the  solitude,  silence,  and  me- 
morial ghastliness  of  such  haunts  as  New  College  Garden,  Christ 
Church  Meadow,  Maudlin  Walk,  Quadrangle  of  Jesus  College, 
place  of  the  martyrs,  &c.  King's  at  Cambridge  greatly  surpasses 
any  one  thing  here  taken  singly,  and  Trinity  College,  Cambridge, 
is  fully  equal  to  any  one  structure  here ;  but  all  Oxford  is  im- 
mensely above  all  Cambridge.  Things  which  strike  me  : — Christ 
Church  Meadow,  walks,  and  trees.  The  avenue  is  nowhere  so 
perfect  as  that  of  Trin.  Coll.,  Cambridge,  but  is  vaster,  wilder, 
and  if  not  so  pensive,  more  captivating.  The  sunset  meanwhile 
was  American.  The  tower  of  Maudlin,  from  which  Dr.  Phil- 
lips's church  [Fifth  Avenue,  New  York]  is  derived,  as  the  Lenox 
Hall,  [Princeton  Seminary  Library,]  from  Magdalen  chapel. 
The  walks  of  Magdalen,  especially  Addison's  walk.  New 
College,  antique  and  massy  ;  its  gardens  and  trees  sa?is  pareil. 
Deer"  were  at  the  very  doors  in  Mag.  College  Park.  The  Bod- 
leian. The  Clarendon.  The  Theatre.  The  PtadclifTe  Library. 
"  Manners  makyth  Man,"  over  the  gate  of  New  College.  Jesus 
College,  only  for  Welshmen  ;  its  physiognomy  like  its  namesake 
at  Cambridge.  The  reading  of  my  childhood  was  strangely  and 
eagerly  about  the  Universities,  and  it  left  deeper  traces  than  I 
knew  of  before.  These  English  boys  have  some  peculiar  and 
winning  points.  Being  sent  so  early  from  home  they  gain  a 
certain  manliness.  They  abound  in  a  slang  idiom,  which  would 
be  almost  unintelligible  in  America. 

Liverpool,  September  30,  1851. 
From  Birmingham  to  Liverpool  is  five  hours.     There  was 
much   to   please,  in   the   winding  of  little  rivers,  the  verdant 
VOL.  II. — 16 


362  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE, 

pastures,  the  universal  hedges  and  planted  trees  trimmed  in  an  odd 
slender  way  ;  the  fine  cattle,  the  thatched  cottages,  with  roses  ; 
the  hayricks  as  trim  and  smooth  as  vases ;  the  rosy  children ; 
the  winding  country  roads  and  lanes  ;  the  peeping  spires,  and 
mighty  substructions,  viaducts,  and  tunnels  of  the  Great  North 
Western  Railway. 

On  the  Sabbath  I  proceeded  to  make  a  new  trial  to  hear 
Dr.  McNeile.  His  beautiful  new  church  is  in  the  country  sub- 
urbs, far  from  houses,  among  gardens  and  villas,  with  abundance 
of  well-kept  ground  about  it.  The  congregation  was  very  large, 
many  being  strangers,  whom  the  gowned  vergers  led  up.  The 
assembly  looked  plebeian,  but  devout.  The  organ  was  simply 
played  ;  no  interludes,  no  intoning,  no  musical  Kyrie  Eleison, 
only  the  Gloria  was  so  given.  The  people  all  bowed  at  the 
name,  but  McN.  not  perceptibly,  if  at  all.  The  hymns  were  of 
Bickersteth's  collection  ;  a  hymn  opened  the  service  and  all  the 
people  sang  loud  and  well.  Dr.  M.  read  the  lessons  well,  but 
rhetorically.  He  has  two  voices,  and  his  baritone  voice  is  incom- 
parably rich,  but  he  makes  too  much  of  it,  barely  shunning  the 
theatrical.  *  He  is  tall  and  thin  for  this  country,  florid,  with 
noble  aquiline  face,  and  hair  very  gray.  He  prayed  extempore, 
both  before  and  after  sermon.  He  preached  in  the  gown.  The 
text  was  Matt,  xi.  25,  26.  He  preached  without  manuscript, 
holding  a  small  Bible  in  his  hand  throughout.  His  oratoric  art 
was  seldom  apparent  in  preaching.  His  manner  is  the  elevated 
colloquial.  His  discourse  was  clearly  unstudied,  but  clearly  un- 
written. There  was  no  hesitation,  nor  any  infelicity  of  expression, 
while  he  went  often  to  the  very  edge  of  familiarity.  He  had  no 
occasion  for  the  pathetic,  but  was  awfully  solemn  in  places.  His 
plan  is  evidently  to  be  a  teacher.  He  opened  most  familiarly 
from  ver.  26,  u  Thou  hast  hid  these  things  : — what  things  ?"  His 
introduction  was  an  answer  to  that  from  a  perfectly  plain,  natural, 
simple,  concise,  but  elegant  exposition  of  ver.  16 — 24.  He  spent 
about  half  the  body  of  the  discourse  in  showing  that  some  things 
were  not  hid  from  "  the  wise  and  prudent."  He  exalted  the  man 
of  worldly  wisdom,  quoting  largely  from  Sir  John  Herschel,  and 
reading  from  two  bits  of  paper,  which  he  held  up  just  as  if  at  his 
fireside.  He  showed  how  much  the  great  philosopher  may  learn 
of  God.  Here  he  horrified  me  by  a  most  pernicious  doctrine, 
viz.,  that  God's  benevolence  cannot  be  inferred  from  creation  and 
providence.  I  could  scarcely  keep  quiet  in  my  pew.  He  was 
clear  and  able  on  the  incapacity  of  a  carnal  mind  to  see  the 
spiritual  objects.  I  have  seldom  heard  this  great  but  ticklish 
point  more  cleverly  touched.  Illustrations  from  the  senses. 
Inter  alia-  "  It  is  a  peculiarity  of  spiritual  light  that  it  carries 


1851.  363 

its  own  evidence  with  it.  At  this  instant  you  perceive  in  this 
house  a  great  variety  of  colours.  (At  the  moment  the  sun  was 
breaking  in  very  radiant,  and  even  shining  on  half  his  face.) 
You  need  no  proof  that  the  objects  have  these  hues.  You  pos- 
sess the  senses  for  it.  The  light  that  appeals  to  these  senses  is 
self-revealing.  Now  suppose  a  blind  man  among  you  should  say, 
1  there  are  no  such  colours — there  is  no  such  beauty — the  per- 
ceptions of  these  people  are  delusive  and  their  admiration  is 
enthusiastic  folly  ' — would  this  disturb  your  persuasions  ?  Not 
for  an  instant.  But  many  of  you  lack  another  sense.  You  see 
no  excellence  in  the  Gospel ;  you  discredit  the  witness  of  those 
who  do.  Why  are  some  born  with  four  senses  instead  of 
five  1  born  blind  1  (then  with  scarcely  audible  tones  and  a  man- 
ner of  unparalleled  abasement)  '  even  so  Father,  for  so  it  seemed 
good  in  thy  sight!'  And  why  are  some  born  again  with  six 
senses  instead  of  five  1  new  born  %  (then  with  the  same  pause 
and  eloquent  subduing  of  tone,)  '  Even  so  Father,  &c.'  "  This 
was  his  transition  to  the  second  part,  which  was  to  refer  all  to 
Divine  sovereignty.  He  was  thorough-paced  in  his  Calvinism, 
and  ended  most  abruptly  with  one  of  the  very  boldest  demands 
on  every  hearer  to  bow  and  become  a  babe  and  believe  it. 

I  regard  McNeile  as  a  prince  among  extempore  preachers. 
He  escapes  several  evils  to  which  such  are  very  prone.  He  is 
very  dense  ;  he  says  what  he  means,  and  goes  on  ;  yet  he  lodges 
his  meaning  completely,  by  a  happy  choice  of  words  and  by 
avoiding  poetic  terms,  technical  phraseology,  and  language  un- 
usual among  common  people.  Though  singularly  happy  in 
illustration,  he  is  very  sparing  with  it.  The  staple  of  his 
discourse  was  exegesis,  and  argument  on  the  exegesis.  I  have 
said  his  voice  is  perfect.  He  never  employs  effort,  or  breaks 
into  spouting  tones.  When  most  effective,  he  is  most  colloquial 
and  least  loud.  At  the  warmer  and  more  rapid  places  his 
native  Irish  broke  forth  most  distinctly,  never  in  pronunciation, 
which  is  classically  English,  but  in  the  accent  and  cadences. 
As  compared  with  Dr.  Cook  I  note  as  follows :  Cook  is  past  his 
prime,  being  perhaps  65 — 68.  Cook  has  a  trifle  of  conventional 
pulpit  tone,  and  becomes  a  declaimer,  so  far  as  management  of 
voice  goes.  Cook's  sermon  [p.  158]  was  much  more  articulate, 
and  built  up  Presbyterian-wise.  Cook  plays  the  orator  more, 
and  soars  into  imaginative  pictures  and  showers  of  similitude. 
I  apprehend  nine  out  of  ten  would  give  the  palm  to  Cook.  I 
am  not  sure  but  that  I  also  should  do  so,  when  I  get  over  the 
immediate  impression  of  McNeile,  as  the  last  heard.  Cook 
preached  69  minutes ;  McN.  50.  They  are  by  a  long  way  the 
most  eloquent  men  I  have  heard  in  these  climates.     Up  to  a 


364  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

certain  point  I  thought  Dr.  King  such.  He  is  indeed  a  great 
preacher.  But  he  has  one  set  of  faults  inseparable  from  a 
Scotchman,  and  another  set  inseparable  from  a  memoriter 
preacher.  He  cantillates,  and  more  and  more  as  he  gets  on ; 
never  uttering  one  sentence  as  he  would  at  his  table.  He  writhes, 
and  brings  his  right  arm  around,  as  if  he  were  reaping.  He 
makes  you  sympathize  with  his  pulpit  sweats.  Then  his  whole 
sermon,  though  learned,  ingenious,  and  richly  original,  smells  of 
the  lamp.  There  is  an  artful  reserve  of  pungency  for  the  last 
part  of  the  sentence,  which  is  often  antithetical.  This  surprises 
and  gratifies,  but  it  hinders  the  great  effect,  and  is  a  mannerism. 
Few  can  attain  it,  but  those  who  do  fall  below  the  highest  style. 
Dr.  King  abounds,  even  in  prayers,  in  a  cunning  citation  of 
texts  so  apt  and  so  curiously  tesselated,  that  it  has  almost  the 
effect  of  wit ;  it  is  an  outgrowth  of  Seceder  textual  preaching, 
as  cultivated  in  a  soil  of  elegant  literature.  Yet  it  sins  against 
nature,  and  so  against  eloquence. 

The  best  siieakers  I  have  heard,  are  Coquerel  and  Adolphe 
Monod.  In  no  single  word,  gesture,  or  tone,  do  they  ever 
transcend  nature.  I  think  McNeile  sometimes  does  in  regard 
to  that  deep  organ-note  which  he  cannot  help  using  out  of  place. 
If  I  could  hear  Monod  in  a  regular  sermon,  I  should,  perhaps, 
regard  him  as  the  nearest  pulpit  perfection.  At  present  it  lies 
between  Cook  and  McNeile ;  and  as  to  matter,  the  praise  is 
greatly  on  the  side  of  Cook. 

I  would  not  think  of  naming  Dr.  IT.  among  "  the  first  three," 
yet  he  is  a  great  man  in  his  way.  In  spite  of  his  pronunciation 
and  tone,  he  is  an  eloquent  preacher.  His  flowers  deceive  and 
betray  him,  but  he  has  more  than  flowers ;  he  has  argument, 
original  thoughts,  and  a  pathos  which  redeems  his  metaphors  and 
apologues.  A  few  years  hence  he  will  probably  be  a  far  greater 
preacher  than  he  now  is. 

Next  to  all  these  above  named  I  place  Mr.  Scholefield  of 
Cambridge ;  but  he  is  as  simple  as  a  child,  and  as  plain  as  a 
farmer,  and  not  an  orator  at  all. 

Steamship  "Atlantic,"  October  1 — 15,  1851. 
October  3. — We  loosed  from  moorings  at  1  15,  P.  M.,  on 
Wednesday  the  1st  inst.  At  eleven  on  Thursday  night  the 
piston  rod  broke,  and  after  stopping  an  hour  we  got  under  way 
with  one  engine.  The  repairs  will  require  immense  labour,  and 
many  of  the  passengers  wished  to  return  to  Liverpool,  or  put 
into  Cork.  It  is  a  mercy  that  the  wind  is  not  as  high  as  it  was, 
though  the  sea  runs  fearfully  high.  I  occasionally  hear  a  sea 
shipped  over  my  head,  running  off  the  fore-deck  like  a  river. 


1851.  365 

October  7. — For  several  days  and  nights  it  has  been  impos- 
sible to  write.  Indeed  the  place  where  I  now  sit  has  been  filled 
with  water  during  part  of  the  time.  We  have  now  been  six 
days  going  in  the  teeth  of  a  gale,  which,  during  many  hours  of 
Thursday,  and  especially  that  night,  was  a  dreadful  storm.  It 
is  a  mercy  to  be  remembered  that  our  piston  was  repaired  before 
the  worst  came  ;  for  with  one  engine  we  could  not  have  kept  our 
head  to  the  wind,  and  so  should  have  gone  into  the  trough  of 
the  sea  and  been  submerged.  As  it  was,  the  irruption  of  waters 
was  fearful.  The  seas  which  followed  us  were  as  high  as  the 
pipes.  The  forepart  plunged  into  mountains  of  water,  which 
swept  the  decks,  floating  the  water-casks  and  making  it  deep 
enough  to  swim.  It  broke  through  four  bulwarks  or  break- 
waters, one  of  which  was  four  inches  thick.  The  sound  of  the 
labouring,  creaking,  smashing  seams  was  like  going  to  pieces 
every  moment.  The  seas  shipped  forward  came  down  the  hatch- 
way, breaking  the  thick  glass,  and  making  it  knee-deep  in  some 
state-rooms  in  an  instant.  Our  own  was  floating.  High  as  is 
the  stern  of  the  "  Atlantic,"  the  sea  broke  over  the  hurricane 
deck,  and  came  through  the  dining  saloon,  and  into  the  main 
saloon  below.  The  thumps  upon  our  counter  were  like  tons  of 
metal  falling  from  a  height.  This  lasted  for  part  of  a  day  and 
night,  and  even  when  it  remitted  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  we 
were  still  in  a  terrible  gale.  Anxiety  was  increased  by  a  man's 
falling  from  the  mast.  We  made  only  four  or  five  miles  an 
hour  most  of  the  time.  During  these  awful  hours  every  eye 
was  turned  towards  Capt.  West.  His  tall,  noble  form  appeared 
everywhere,  but  for  whole  nights  he  was  drenched.  In  the  terror 
of  that  memorable  night  I  believe  many  of  us  thought  we  should 
never  get  to  land.  It  was  too  violent  and  noisy  for  prayer  in 
common.  Bishop  Otey1  and  I  prayed  in  his  state-room,  together 
with  my  room-mate,  (Capt.  Cullum,)  who  was  wrecked  in  the 
Atlantic,  when  Dr.  Armstrong  was  drowned,  [page  59.]  We 
talked  the  matter  over  during  the  height  of  our  tempest.  Per- 
haps those  suffered  least  who  were  deadly  sick,  as  scores  were. 

On  the  5th,  the  Lord's  Day,  it  was  so  far  abated  that  I  read 
the  107th  Psalm,  and  prayed  in  the  dining  saloon.  Soon  after- 
ward it  abated  further,  and  we  had  quite  a  passable  night. 
Yesterday  it  was  very  rough  again,  but  not  so  horrible.  About 
midnight  the  wind  and  sea  were  comparatively  quiet.  "  O  that 
men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  and  for  his  wonder 
ful  works  to  the  children  of  men  !  " 

October  8. — At  noon  we  had  an  observation,  and  found  by 

1  Of  the  Episcopal  Church,  Tennessee. 


366  LETTERS   FROM   EUPwOPE. 

dead  reckoning,  that  we  were  1,212  miles  from  Liverpool. 
Yesterday,  during  a  blow  a  white  bird  alighted  on  our  vessel, 
and  was  caught  by  the  cabin-boy.  It  must  have  been  driven  out 
six  hundred  miles  from  the  Summer  Isles. 

SONNET, 

WRITTEN   OX   THE   STEAMER  ATLANTIC, 
October  4,  1851. 
Tossed  like  an  egg-shell  on  the  heaving  main, 
Our  ship,  that  looked  a  giant  at  the  quay, 
Shivers  and  groans  a  frighted  babe  on  sea, 
As  the  wind  roughens  all  the  watery  plain  ; 
Till  oak  and  iron  own  the  wrenching  strain. 
So  weak  is  man's  work  in  the  mighty  hand 
Of  him  who  gives  the  howling  surge  command, 
To  lift  the  wrestling  waves  that  foam  with  pain. 
But  yet  the  force  which  drives  the  wreck  to  land, 
Or  whelms  whole  squadrons  near  some  treach'rous  strand, 
Or  forks  the  lightning  in  the  helmsman's  face, 
Or  shoots  the  waterspout  in  column  grand, 
When  gulfs,  lay  bare  the  deep  uncovered  sand, 
Is  power  all  wedded  to  triumphal  grace. 

October  10. — We  approached  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
but  the  wind  is  stiff  ahead,  and  it  rains  almost  all  day.  Great 
gloom  prevails  in  the  company.  Some  are  not  yet  come  forth 
of  their  chambers.  Some  are  lying  about  in  the  cabins,  both 
day  and  night,  wretched  with  a  sickness  which  has  no  parallel. 
In  the  upper  dining-cabin,  on  the  quarter-deck,  much  of  the  day 
is  occupied  with  meals  ;  breakfast  from  8  to  1 1  ;  luncheon  at 
noon  ;  dinner  at  4  ;  tea  at  8,  and  supper  at  10.  Towards  even- 
ing the  rain  abates,  and  at  9  the  full  moon  shines  beautiful  over 
the  whitening  sea.  For  the  first  time,  in  this  gloomy  voyage, 
the  young  folks  gather  in  the  dining-saloon  for  games  and  merri- 
ment. Every  morning  Bishop  Otey  and  I  have  prayers  in  his 
state-room. 

October  11. — We  are  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland.  We 
had  tremendous  heavings,  and  one  sudden  pitch,  which  many 
thought  greater  than  any  during  the  gale.  It  threw  down  a 
sailor  into  the  forecastle  companion,  and  greatly  injured  him. 
Towards  night  a  dead  whale  hove  in  sight,  escorted  by  porpoises 
and  birds.  Grampuses  are  seen  to  spout,  and  sea-birds  become 
numerous. 

October  12. — Lord's  day.  Divine  service  in  dining  saloon  at 
10£.  Bishop  Otey  preached.  The  attendance  was  very  good. 
After  tea  I  preached  in  the  same  room  on  the  prayer  of  the 
publican.  The  saloon  was  entirely  filled,  and  the  company  was 
attentive. 


1857.  367 

October  13. — Fog.  We  blow  the  steam-whistles  now  and 
then,  to  give  warning  to  poor  fishing-vessels,  which  might  be 
overthrown  by  onr  tremendous  weight  of  2,900  tons  going  fifteen 
miles  an  hour.  We  passed  not  a  great  way  from  Halifax.  The 
bad  weather,  by  preventing  ventilation,  has  made  many  of  the 
state-rooms  quite  offensive,  so  that  when  you  pass  by  the  doors 
you  sniff  a  variety  of  odours,  like  the  wards  of  a  lazaretto.  These, 
ships  are  spoiled  by  the  addition  of  new  berths  filling  up  what 
used  to  be  the  fine  open  space  of  the  forward  cabin.  Not  only 
are  these  state-rooms  all  along  the  sides  of  the  vessel,  but  a 
compact  village  of  rooms  fills  the  interior,  leaving  only  some 
insignificant  areas,  where  the  stairs  and  skylights  are,  and  some 
narrow  entries.  These  rooms  are  close  and  dark,  and  here  the 
rush  of  waters  was  greatest  during  the  gale.  The  gay  fellows 
have  names  for  several  parts,  such  as  Cavendish  Square,  Pall 
Mall,  and  Rotten  Row. 

October  14. — Shortly  after  breakfast  it  became  evident  that 
there  was  some  cause  of  alarm.  Presently  we  began  to  perceive 
breakers  on  our  starboard  bow.  How  beautiful  are  these  deadly 
enemies  !  It  becomes  apparent  that  we  have  missed  our  reckon- 
ing, and  have  run  too  near  Nantucket  shoals.  The  engine  stops, 
and  steam  is  let  off.  It  is  hard  to  think  of  peril  under  this  clear 
sun  and  amidst  this  beautiful  blue  sea,  and  from  those  snowy 
surges  that  dash  up  and  twinkle  in  the  sun.  We  heave  the 
lead  twice,  and  find  about  24  fathoms. 

October  15. — The  wooded,  flat  shores  of  Long  Island  are  in 
view.  We  soon  pass  the  Narrows.  It  is  an  incomparable  morn- 
ing, making  one  think  meanly  of  European  skies.  Sun  and 
moon  are  both  visible.  The  grand  bay  with  islands  and  shipping 
is  in  sight.  We  come  to  at  the  foot  of  Canal  street,  about  6  30 
A.  M. 


IsTo.  3. 

SUPPLEMENT  TO  THE  EUROPEAN  LETTERS  OF  1857.1 

Liverpool,  October  9,  1857. 
You  will  have  learned  from  other  sources,  that  the  7th  of 
October  was  observed  throughout  the  British  Isles  as  a  day  of 
Humiliation  and  Prayer,  in  regard  to  the  present  Indian  calami- 
ties. There  is  good  cause  to  think  that  it  has  been  a  day  of 
spiritual  good  to  many  thousands.  The  daily  newspapers  of 
yesterday  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other,  are  filled  with 

1  This  is  taken  from  Dr.  Alexander's  correspondence  with  "  The  Pres- 
byterian." 


368  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

reports  of  the  sermons  preached ;  and  from  these,  it  is  plain 
that  the  talents  and  piety  of  the  best  men  were  employed  in  this 
work.  In  Glasgow,  where  I  was  at  the  time,  the  shops  were 
closed,  and  there  was  no  appearance  of  business  in  any  one  of 
the  numerous  streets  through  which  I  walked  or  drove.  In  some 
churches,  the  services  were  of  a  freer  character,  familiar  to  us  in 
America,  and  prayers  were  offered  alternately  with  addresses. 
This  is  true  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  in  Wellington 
Street,  of  which  the  excellent  Dr.  Eobinson  is  the  pastor.  He 
was  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Archer  of  London,  and  from  both 
we  heard  faithful  and  memorable  exhortations,  addressed  to  a 
very  large  assembly  of  solemn  and  sometimes  deeply  affected 
worshippers.  I  accepted  it  as  a  token  of  confidence  in  American 
sympathy  and  Christian  love,  that  these  good  men  and  esteemed 
brethren  forced  me  into  the  service,  which  as  a  foreigner  I 
scarcely  knew  how  to  undertake,  especially  after  twenty  weeks 
of  silence,  but  which  they  were  pleased  to  recognize  as  a  tribute 
of  unfeigned  regard  for  the  testimony  which  we  uphold  in  com- 
mon. On  that,  as  on  other  occasions,  my  soul  was  melted  within 
me  at  the  thought  of  these  beloved  missionaries  of  our  own  and 
the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church,  who,  I  fear,  have  fallen  asleep 
amidst  the  assaults  of  the  murderous  Sepoys.  After  the  service 
of  two  hours,  I  saw  the  adjacent  lecture-room,  where  the  late 
venerable  Dr.  Mitchell,  pastor  of  this  church,  for  more  than  half 
a  century,  used  to  instruct  the  theological  students  of  the  Seces- 
sion Church.  His  portrait  and  those  of  two  ruling  elders  adorn 
the  walls.  According  to  my  best  recollection  the  communion 
numbers  about  thirteen  hundred. 

Not  to  confine  myself  to  a  particular  body,  I  went  in  the 
afternoon  to  the  Barony  Church,  belonging  to  the  Establish- 
ment, in  order  to  hear  the  Rev.  Norman  McLeod,  who  is  at 
this  time  second  to  no  preacher  in  Scotland,  for  what  may  be 
called  a  catholic  popularity.  Accustomed  as  we  are  in  America 
to  consider  the  Establishment  and  Moderatism  to  be  much  the 
same,  we  ought  to  rejoice  and  be  thankful  for  the  tidings  that 
there  are  not  a  few  ministers  in  that  body  who  preach  Christ, 
with  a  fulness,  fervour,  and  spiritual  unction,  which  no  denomi- 
nation can  surpass,  and  which  would  have  been  stigmatized  a 
century  ago  as  ranting  Methodism.  On  this  occasion  I  heard 
only  the  second  of  two  discourses,  which  was  on  Lam.  v.  16, 
"  The  crown  is  fallen  from  our  head  ;  woe  unto  us,  that  we  have 
sinned."  Other  topics  had  occupied  the  forenoon  ;  he  was  now 
upon  the  sins  to  be  bewailed,  and  the  hopes  to  be  cherished. 
Mr.  McLeod  has  every  advantage  of  external  gifts,  in  stature, 
face,  carriage,  and  gesture  ;  and  in  regard  to  voice,  I  have  never 


1857.  369 

heard  any  more  flexible,  rich,  and  controlling  ;  I  cannot  suppose 
that  in  popular  address  our  Dr.  Mason  was  either  more  strong 
or  more  pathetic  than  Norman  McLeod.  I  had  not  heard  him 
utter  two  sentences  of  devotion,  before  I  ceased  to  wonder  why- 
crowds  attend  upon  his  ministry,  while  I  less  than  ever  was 
tempted  to  crave  any  liturgical  crutches  in  the  way  of  printed 
prayer.  Let  men  pray  thus,  and  we  shall  hear  of  no  deviation 
from  the  way  of  our  fathers  ;  and  with  a  rubrical  imposition  of 
forms  men  cannot  thus  pray.  I  have  no  quarrel  with  "  our 
excellent  liturgy ; "  I  have  gratefully  joined  in  its  best  parts 
almost  every  Sabbath  for  months ;  I  believe  it  to  be  the  best 
compilation  from  the  Latin  offices  that  has  ever  been  made, 
nevertheless  I  hold  on  in  our  primitive  and  more  excellent  way, 
and  should  be  pleased  to  read  an  answer  to  famous  John  Owen's 
tractate  on  Free  Prayer.  Apropos  of  this  matter,  I  have  heard 
one  of  the  most  celebrated  ministers  in  Scotland,  eminent  alike 
for  the  gift  and  the  grace  of  praying,  interlard  his  devotions  with 
passages  from  the  prayer-book.  I  cannot  but  make  reclamation 
against  this,  on  grounds  of  unity  and  sacred  composition.  Those 
collects,  which  I  had  often  joined  in  with  reverential  admiration, 
seemed  out  of  tune  amidst  the  inspired  breathings  of  David  and 
Jeremiah,  which  were  legitimately  and  beautifully  introduced  at 
the  same  time.  I  could  not  help  wondering  at  the  gifted  utter- 
ances of  the  very  minister  to  whom  I  here  allude,  and  who  is 
known  in  more  lands  than  one. 

But  to  return,  Mr.  McLeod's  sermon  was  a  noble  piece  of 
free  argumentation  and  passionate  eloquence.  He  spoke  like  a 
senator  on  this  occasion,  and  you  may  judge  in  how  untram- 
melled a  manner,  when  I  add  that  he  read  from  several  volumes, 
and  even  from  Tuesday's  Times.  The  secret  of  the  effects  pro- 
duced by  this  preaching  is,  that  his  heart  is  bursting  with  the 
very  emotion  which  he  seeks  to  cause.  I  need  scarcely  add 
that  he  used  no  manuscript ;  sometimes  he  does  so ;  but  this 
was  one  of  the  discourses  which  cannot  be  written.  There  were 
several  generous  allusions  to  our  own  country  in  this  delightful 
sermon,  which  gratified  me  all  the  more  as  contrasted  with  the 
crude,  ignorant,  and  fiery  attacks  of  many,  on  what  they  think 
American  toleration  of  sin.  Mr.  McLeod's  vindication  of  Mis- 
sions, his  plea  for  national  mercy,  and  his  retorts  upon  the  infidel 
party,  were  triumphant.  But  most  of  the  time  I  was  too  near 
breaking  out  into  tears  to  sit  as  a  critic.  When,  on  another 
occasion,  I  heard  Mr.  McLeod  preach  on  a  Sabbath  afternoon, 
I  was  really  lifted  up  to  consider  that  God  had  still  a  testimony, 
in  a  large  school  of  the  younger  churchmen,  for  the  most  evan- 
gelical doctrines  and  experience.     This,  however,  need  not  be  said 


370  LETTERS   FROM   EUROPE. 

to  any  one  who  has  read  the  "  Earnest  Student,"  which  is  his 
work,  or  the  "  Footsteps  of  St.  Paul,"  by  another  minister  of 
the  Kirk,  in  Glasgow. 

It  would  be  very  presumptuous  in  a  passing  stranger  to  pro- 
nounce upon  the  ministry  of  a  great  people,  or  to  characterize 
their  pulpit.  He  can  at  best  hear  only  a  few,  and  these  may 
not  be  the  representative  minds  ;  I  shall,  therefore,  indulge  in  no 
sweeping  remarks,  but  content  myself  with  saying,  that  so  far  as 
I  can  learn,  there  is  no  country  on  the  globe,  which  is  better 
furnished,  in  its  rank  and  file,  with  a  thoroughly  orthodox  and 
earnestly  evangelical  ministry  than  Scotland.  How  entirely  ex- 
ceptional all  but  the  Presbyterian  element  is,  may  be  gathered  from 
the  fact,  that  in  Glasgow  alone  there  are  more  than  a  hundred 
Presbyterian  ministers.  I  am  not  very  far  astray,  when  I  say 
that  of  these  the  Established  Church  has  thirty-four,  the  Free 
Church  thirty-three,  and  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  thirty- 
one.  On  the  National  Fast,  it  is  to  be  supposed,  all  these,  and 
many  others,  were  engaged  in  leading  the  minds  of  their  hearers 
to  penitent  reflections  suited  to  the  present  crisis.  In  a  word, 
the  national  mind  has  been  thoroughly  waked  up  to  the  religious 
aspects  of  this  portentous  theme.  One  mighty  dictator  of  British 
opinion,  the  Times,  though  sometimes  admitting  letter-writers 
who  take  the  other  side,  nobly  vindicates  Christianity  and 
Missions  from  the  charge  of  having  provoked  these  hostilities. 
It  is  honourable  to  the  British  people,  that  everywhere  the  most 
candid  confession  of  national  sin  is  fairly  uttered.  The  opium 
business  has  especially  come  in  for  its  share.  I  acknowledge  that 
our  British  brethren,  who  often  say  hard  things  of  our  govern- 
ment, are  just  as  ready  to  say  hard  things  of  their  own.  This 
is  a  land  where  free  speeeh  and  a  free  press  are  high  in  influence ; 
nowhere  more  so.  I  felt  the  fellowship  of  the  old  Presbyterian 
temper,  when  I  heard  a  pastor  from  his  pulpit  protest  against 
the  terms  in  which  the  Queen  commanded  the  Fast  to  be  ob- 
served ;  a  protestation  which  the  venerable  Dr.  John  Brown 
also  made  very  prominent  in  his  discourse  in  Edinburgh. 

As  I  sat  in  the  gallery  last  Sabbath,  when  Mr.  McLeod  re- 
ferred to  a  passage  by  chapter  and  verse,  a  thousand  pocket 
Bibles  instantly  turned  up  the  place ;  it  is  so  everywhere  in 
Scotland.  The  practice  of  using  a  reverent  posture  in  prayer 
is  universal  here ;  and  I  have  never  found  myself  the  only 
person,  besides  the  minister,  who  was  standing,  as  has  often 
happened  to  me  among  the  indolent  worshippers  of  England  and 
America,  The  Presbyterians  of  this  country,  that  is  to  say,  the 
great  body  of  the  population,  love  the  house  of  God,  and  are 
attached  to  their  own  particular  forms.     Churches  are  built  for 


1857.  371 

use,  and  in  most  cases  are  very,  closely  seated,  so  as  to  be  full 
even  to  packing.  I  was  delighted  to  observe  that  on  an  evening 
when  I  heard  a  Glasgow  clergyman  preach,  the  house,  which  had 
aisles  and  even  pulpit-stairs  crowded,  was  occupied  largely  by 
those  classes  of  hearers  who  in  some  of  our  cities  have  so  much 
left  us  for  other  denominations,  or  for  none  at  all. 

If  my  experience  is  worth  any  thing,  there  is  not  a  more 
hospitable  land  than  this ;  people  talk  of  Highland  welcomes, 
but  you  are  met  thus  to  Gretna  and  the  very  Tweed.  A  minister 
in  Rosshire,  whom  I  never  saw,  gave  me  a  warm  and  cordial 
invitation  to  tabernacle  with  his  family  all  summer,  beside  his 
lochs ;  and  no  doubt  would  have  given  us  Gaelic  treats  of  salmon 
and  grouse.  What  Emerson  says,  concerning  England,  of  "  full 
dress  and  dinner  at  six,"  as  a  national  influence,  is  just  as  true 
of  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow  ;  and  I  question  whether  what  Mrs. 
Hannah  More  said  was  already  going  out  in  London,  to  wit,  con- 
versation, is  anywhere  more  nobly  upheld  than  in  the  better 
circles  of  the  cities.  Some  of  the  most  instructive  and  enter- 
taining— let  me  even  add,  edifying  lessons  I  ever  received,  have 
been  in  such  circles,  as  well  six  years  ago  as  now. 

While  so  many  of  our  young  men  go  annually  to  Germany, 
year  after  year,  bringing  home  no  practical  good  that  I  can  com- 
prehend, it  is  sincerely  to  be  wished  that  some  of  them  might  go 
to  Scotland,  to  see  the  Presbyterian  machine  really  worked,  by 
congregations  having  from  twenty  to  thirty  ruling  elders  each, 
and  as  many  deacons,  and  to  limber  their  academic  sermonizing 
by  a  hearing  of  several  commanding  preachers,  who  unite  athletic 
bodies  with  well-furnished,  determined,  and  fervent  minds.  Some 
things  I  honestly  believe  they  might  learn  of  us,  but  in  the 
faculty  of  carrying  gospel  truth  with  interest  to  promiscuous 
assemblies  and  the  common  people,  they  excel  us.  With  hardly 
any  exception,  all  the  preachers  of  Scotland,  who  are  much  fol- 
lowed by  the  multitude,  are  as  remarkable  for  purely  evan- 
gelical preaching,  as  for  intellectual  power  and  impressive 
elocution.  Few  of  them  are  what  we  should  denominate  good 
speakers. 

With  thanksgiving  to  the  God  of  our  life,  who  has  preserved 
me  and  mine  through  many  changes,  I  record  my  desire  to  return 
to  the  land  which  I  admire  and  love  the  more  by  reason  of  all 
contrasts  and  comparisons,  and  to  the  labours  for  which  I  trust 
I  am  in  some  slight  measure  better  prepared  in  body,  though  not 
yet  wholly  relieved. 


INDEX  TO  VOL.  II. 


Abeel,  28,  40,  46,  49. 

Achilli,  134. 

Acs,  172. 

Acts,  209. 

Adams,  212. 

Advent  Second,  54. 

Advertisements,  48. 

Affliction,  109.    (See  Cotidolence.) 

Agassiz,  115,  117. 

Agriculture.  262,  322,  338. 

Albany,  198. 

Alexander,  A., 28,  32, 35. 38, 44, 46, 49,  53,  67, 
104,  111,  114,  123,  124,  128,  131,  157,  162, 
165,  173,  175,  179,  ISO,  184,  186,  191,  193, 
209,  222,  230,  236,  253. 

Alexander,  J.  A.,  9,  30,  49,  50,  55,  56,  59,  72, 
74,  75,  77,  79,  85,  94,  95,  100,  102,  112,  123, 
126,  145,  146,  188,  190,  193,  194,  222,  227, 
234,  235,  245,  260,  279,  280,  283,  297. 

Alexander,  H.  C,  190,  226. 
"        S.  D.,  129. 
"        Stephen,  126. 

Alliance,  Evangelical,  6S,  69,  154,  155,  339. 

Alps,  148,  252. 

America,  (Central,)  220. 

"        (South,)  204,  220,  230,  232,  233. 
"        United  States,  321. 

Amsterdam,  332. 

Amusements,  109. 

Anniversaries,  29,  31,  69,  96,  115. 

Anti-Christ,  34,  114. 

Antwerp,  262. 

Archer,  368. 

Architecture,  139, 155,  262,  265,  266,  318. 

Arctic,  134,  203. 

Area,  18. 

Argyle,  349. 

Armstrong,  J.  F.,  87. 
"        W.  J.  59. 

Arnold,  20,  24,  25,  239. 

Arnott,  33. 

Art,  Christian,  319. 
"  Treasures,  238. 

Arthur,  Prince,  245. 

Assembly,  General,  32,  70,  S3.  120,  129,  225, 
280,  2S8. 

Assemblv,  (Scotch,)  39. 
"       "National,  143,  416. 

Astor  Library,  36,  195. 

Astoria,  83,  85. 

Astor  Place  riot,  96. 

Atkinson,  94. 

Auchincloss,  5,  8,  110,  226. 

Augsburg  Confession,  83. 

Augustine,  234. 

Backhouse,  205. 
Baden  Baden,  255. 


Baird,  340. 

Baptism,  24,  25,  34,  72,  108,  273. 

Baptists,  200. 

Beach  street,  95. 

Beers,  8,  9, 129. 

Begg,  49. 

Belfast,  158,  351. 

Belgium,  261. 

"        King  of,  255. 
Bell,  180. 
Bells,  6. 
Bellows,  167. 
Bengel,  130,  203. 
Berne,  254,  328. 
Berrian,  16,  209. 
Berwick,  342. 
Bethune,  131, 
Bible,  12, 13,  14,  34,  41,  90, 125,  253. 

"        Class,  221. 

"        House,  203. 
Bickersteth,  40,  184,  198,  204,  339. 
Bigler,  12,  22. 
Bilderdijk,  335. 
Billingsgate,  337. 
Biography,  130, 131. 
Biot,  147. 

Bishop,  (Mrs.,)  17. 
Bishops,  246,  314. 
Blacks,  18,  52,  54,  114, 131,  208,  222.    (Sea 

Slavery.) 
Blanc,  Mont,  149,  252,  323,  324. 
Bluecoat  boys,  153,  265. 
Boardman,  66,  178. 
Boerhaave,  333. 
Bonaparte,  99. 
Books,  41. 
Bookshops,  23. 
Bossuet,  209,  275. 
Boulevards,  317. 
Boyd,  59. 
Bridel,  83,  85. 
Bridgeport,  225,  226. 
Brighton,  247. 
Bristol,  177,  227. 
Britain,  (little,)  153. 
Broaddus,  207. 
Brougham,  119,  245. 
Brown's  Catechism,  25. 
Bruce,  267. 
Bruges,  263, 
Brussels,  263. 
Bulwer,  129, 133. 
Bunsen,  78,  140,  1S5. 
Burns,  (Dr.,)  68. 
Burt,  131. 

Bush,  9,  18,  26,  38,  40,  194,  230. 
Business  Men,  17. 
Byers,  187. 


374 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    II. 


Byron,  256,  260,  342. 

Cabell,  71,  208,  211,  212,  213,  288,  291. 

Cable,  265,  2S1,  283. 

California,  92,  116,  119,  172. 

Calvin,  148,  184,  253. 

Cambridge,  155, 160,  342. 

Campanalogians,  6. 

Campbell,  244,  245,  246. 

Candlish,  199. 

Candor,  108. 

Canova,  238. 

Capadose,  154. 

Cape  Cod,  190. 

Capitals,  72. 

Carlyle,  9,  47,  171,  265,  283. 

Carnahan,  285. 

Castleman,  211. 

Catechism,  25,  27,  50,  87,  131. 

Catechumen,  170. 

Cathedrals,  157,  263,  266,  327,  329,  330,  331. 

Chalmers,  12,  15,  184,  198. 

Chambers  street,  67. 

Chamonix,  149. 

Charming,  94. 

"  Charge"  Presbyterial,  303. 

Charity,  165,  166. 

"  Charity  and  the  Clergy,"  205. 

Charleston,  173,  175. 

Charter  Oak,  229. 

Cheever,  26,  28,  50,  227. 

Cherokees,  118, 

Children,  80,  215. 

China,  195,  198,  284. 

Christ,  (life  of,)  193, 197,  203. 

"      as  Lord,  221. 
Christ  Church  Hospital,  153. 
Cholera,  100,  101,  199. 
Church,  (American,)  102,  105. 
"        (English,)192,  255,  262. 
"       (Scotch,)  157,  185,  368. 
"       (Brick,)  186. 
"       (Duane  st.,)  5,  99,  103,   106,  110, 

113,  116,  119,  126. 
Church,  (Fifth  av.,)  163,  176,178,180, 181, 

182,  198, 214. 
Clay,  Cassius,  45. 

"    Henry,  167. 
"  Clerks  Cheered  and  Counselled,"  231. 
Cleeves,  327. 
Clirehugh,  35. 
Close,  3l9,  320. 
Coblenz,  259. 
Cock-lane,  242. 
Coleridge,  335. 
Collections,   16,  49,  59,  64,  66,  92,  169,  180, 

183, 185, 193, 196,  233. 
Collects,  16,  369. 
Colleges,  105,  117. 

"        Amherst,  180. 

"        Christ  Church,  160,  161. 

"        France,  147. 

"        New  Jersey,  72,  100,  113, 123, 206, 

279. 
"        Williams,  131. 
Collins,  212. 

Cologne,  150, 181,  261,  331, 335. 
Colwell,  166,  275. 
Comfort  (Rev.  Mr.,)  194. 
Commons,  House  of,  139,  244. 
Communions,  16,  23,  45,  51,   97,  113, 115, 

1S5,  194,  205,  215,  218,  224,  279. 
Concordance.  23. 


,  Condolence,  36,  48,  58, 189,  229. 
Conference,  (Seminary,)  104. 
Congress,  217. 
Connecticut,  118,  227. 
Connitt,  227. 

"  Consolation,"  180,  197, 199. 
Cook,  158,  363. 
Conscience,  Hendrik,  263. 
Cooley,  45. 
Cooper,  182. 
Coquerel,  95,  364. 
Corderoy,  69. 
Correspondence,  69. 
Covent  Garden  market,  310,  311,  313. 
Cowper,  54,  239. 
Cox,  11,  51,  67. 
Cranworth,  245. 
Crimea,  202,  206. 
Cromwell,  47. 

Crystal-Palace,  132,  138, 187, 192,  244,  283. 
Cuba,  203. 
Culbertson  124,  195. 
Cumming,  222. 
Cunningham,  89. 
Cuyler,  123. 

Dabney,  279. 

Dacosta,  154,  203,  335. 

"  Dairyman's  daughter,"  250. 

Dallas,  244. 

D'Arcy,357. 

Davenport,  272. 

Davies,  133. 

Daw,  235. 

D.  D.,  118. 

Deaconesses,  102,  103. 

Death  of  children,  67. 

Delaroche,  87. 

Delual,  146,  168. 

Demission,  76. 

Demme,  113. 

De  Witt,  57,  187. 

Dickens,  91,  102,  109,  138. 

Dickson,  156,  268,  343. 

Dictionaries,  108. 

Dijon,  321. 

Dill,  89,  91. 

"  Discourses,"  182. 

Doane,  92. 

Dod,  42,  43. 

Doddridge,  102. 

"Doomed  Man,"  185. 

Douglass,  69. 

Duane  6treet  church,     (See  Church.) 

Dublin,  159,  353,  358. 

Duff,  118, 196,  197,  215,  267. 

Duncan,  94. 

Durbin,  68. 

Dusseldorf,  95, 151. 

Dwight,  215. 

Eardley,  339. 

Edinburgh,  156,  266,  343. 

Edwards,  115. 

Elders,  17,  26,  186,  272,  273. 

Electrical  experiment,  187. 

Ellenborough,  246. 

Emerson,  170. 

Emigrants,  83,  92, 113, 141, 173,  176. 18&,  22CL 

354,  356,  358,  360. 
Emmons,  85. 
Employers,  196. 
j  England,  135,  195. 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    II. 


375 


English,  154,  264. 

"       Theology,  118. 
Episcopalians.  59,  74,  111. 
Epochs,  (church,)  41. 
Erasmus,  182. 
Eton,  139. 
Etymology,  43. 

Europe,  letters  from,  134,  238,  307. 
Eutaxia,  209,  267. 
Everett,  285. 

Evidences  of  Christianity,  66. 
Ewing,  Dr.,  218,  274. 
"  Examiner,"  49. 
Extension  table,  76. 

"  Family  Worship, '  C7,  87. 

Farraday,  45. 

Fenelon,  209. 

Ferguson,  234. 

Fete  Dieu,  142,  145,  181. 

Fiction,  53. 

Fifth  Avenue  Church.     (Sec  Church.) 

Fillmore,  230. 

Finley,  115. 

"      W.  P.,  173, 175. 
Finney,  118, 124,  278. 
Fire,  106. 
Fitzwilliam,  245. 
Fliedener,  96,  102.. 
Fog,  265. 
Foreman,  118. 
Foster,  56,  95. 

France,  81,  83,  145,  180,  314. 
Frankfort,  257. 
"  Frank  Harper,"  63. 
Free-churches,  183,  187, 194,  205,  208,  223, 

284. 
Free-love,  169. 
Freiburg,  330. 
French,  133,  172. 
"  Friends'  Meeting,"  180. 
Froude,  26. 
Fry,  73,  79,  201. 
Fugitive  slaves,  197. 
Funerals,  171,242. 
Furs,  220. 
Future  state,  215,  216,  218. 

Gainsborough,  238. 

Gallatin,  75,  84,  91,  94,  97,  98, 102. 

Galway,  355. 

Gambling,  256,  259. 

Garden  of  Plants,  319. 

Gavazzi,  187,  188,  194. 

Geneva,  148,  252,  323. 

George's  (St.)  Chapel,  139,  309. 

Germany,  319. 

Germans,  173,  176, 177,  187, 196,  227,  258. 

German  hymns,  101,  117,  269,  296. 

"      theory  of  church, 104. 

"      preaching,  65. 
Ghent,  264. 
Giantess,  258. 
Giant's  causeway,  352. 
Gilliss,  220. 
Gladstone,  280. 
Glasgow,  157,  347. 
Glossary,  218. 
Goethe,  257. 
Gort,  35o. 
Gothic,  155,  265. 
Gougb,  65,  88,130. 
Graham,  191. 


Greeley,  164. 

Greenwich  fair,  307. 

Greenwood,  123. 

Grenada.  215. 

Grote,  172. 

Gurley,  81. 

Gurney,  201,  205. 

Guthrie,  174,  219,  267,  268,  270. 

Guyon,  208. 

Guyot,  107. 

Gymnastics,  275. 

Hague,  335. 

Haines,  76. 

Hall,  95. 

Hallock,  236. 

Halsted,  186,  289. 

Hamilton,  41,  136,  140,  155,  239,  240,  241, 

339,  341. 
Hampton  Court,  310. 
Hare,  Robert,  216. 

"    Rev.  O.,  108. 

"    Julius,  79. 
Harrison,  113. 
Hawthorne,  177. 
Hay,  115. 
Hazards,  226. 
Hazlitt,  34. 
Head,  235,  259. 
Heath,  241. 
Heather,  346. 
Health,  26,  173,  176,  185,  201,  213,  235,  272, 

276,  286,  290. 
"  Hearts  and  Hands,"  282. 
"  Hebrews,"  12,  22,  24,  41,  43,  60 
Heidelberg,  257,  329. 
Helensburgh,  158,  348. 
Henry,  45, 107. 
Herodotus,  86. 
Herschell,  33. 
Hippolytus,  185. 
Hodge  C,  146,  225,  298,  299. 

"      C.  W.,  118. 

"      A.  A.,  130. 
Hoearth,  238. 
Holland,  151,  332. 
Homoeopathy,  17,  76,  205. 
Hopkins,  131. 
Hosier-lane,  242. 
Housman,  49. 
Howe,  216. 
Hue,  209. 
Hume,  124. 
Huidekoper,  218. 
Humphrey,  225. 
Hungarians,  172. 
Hyde-Park,  312. 
Hymn-book,  40,  172,  238. 
Hymnology,  117, 124, 141. 

Inauguration,  103,  109,  110. 

Inch, 354. 

India,  111,  257,  270,  367. 

Indians,  51,  178,  189. 

"  Infants'  library,"  20. 

Inman,  45. 

Inns  of  Court,  240,  241,  245. 

Inquiry  meetings,  224. 

Inspiration,  126. 

Installation,  5,  88,  305. 

Interlaken,  254. 

Ireland,  158,  351. 

Irving,  (Washington,)  104, 125,  220. 


376 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    II. 


Irvingites,  169,  171,  194,  196,  206,  241. 
Italians,  115. 

James,  (Apostle,)  132. 

Janeway,  41. 

Japan,  333. 

Jay,  204. 

Jefferson,  115,  220. 

Jenks,  68. 

Jersey  City  Church,  88. 

"  Jerusalem,  mother  dear,"  103,  105 

Jeter,  207. 

Jews,  8,  40,  49,  213,  257,  258. 

Johns,  101,  287. 

Johnston,  22,  59,  88,  125. 

Jones,  43. 

"  Journal  of  Commerce,"  180,  285 

Judson.  201. 

Juvenal,  91. 

Kalley,  14. 

Kansas,  225,  234. 

Kennedy,  113. 

Kent,  68,  77. 

Khur,  74. 

Kidder,  10,  28,  33,  46,  48. 

King,  111,  348,  364. 

Kinney,  110. 

Kirk,  212- 

K  irk  wood,  126. 

Kitto,  73. 

Knox,  119,  121. 

Kossuth,  164,  166, 167,  172. 

Lalor,  24. 

Lamb,  44,  153,  154. 

Lanneau,  116. 

Lark,  239,  248. 

Lawrence,  184,  313,  351. 

Lawrenceville,  273. 

Leamington,  239. 

Leckie,^. 

Leeser,  7,  17. 

Le  Grand,  19,  21,  208. 

Letter,  ironical,  174. 
"      Last,  290,  303. 

Letters,  123. 

"  Letters  to  Young  Minister,"  96. 

Lewis,  37. 

Leyden,  334. 

Liberia,  132,  284. 

Lichtenstein,  69. 

Lime  street,  341. 

Limerick,  354. 

Lincoln's  Inn,  241. 

Lind,  124, 126, 130. 

Lindsay,  32. 

Lindsly,  130. 

Linen  Hall,  351. 

Lisco,  124. 

Liturgy,  119, 195,  209,  262,  264,  267,  369 

Liverpool,  135,  238,  361,  367. 

Livingston,  41,  249,  250,  272. 

Lochs,  345,  346,  347,  348. 

London,  135, 144, 152,  240,  264,  307,315,  336 

Long  Branch,  72.  ' 

Lonsdale,  239. 

Lord,  88,  131,  204. 

Lord's  Supper,  169,  185. 

Lords,  House  of,  141,  244,  313. 

Loughridge,  64. 

Louis  Napoleon,  142,  16S,  181, 234.  250,  315 

Louis  Philippe,  81,  125. 


Lowrie,  79, 172. 

Lucerne,  328. 

Luther,  112,  117,  125,  258,  26L 

Lutherans,  120. 

Lyndhurst,  246. 

Macaulay,  218,  219,  235,  261. 
Maclean,  132,  133. 
Macnaughten,  10, 11. 
Macon,  251. 
Mac  Tavish,  55. 
Madeira,  14. 
Madeleine,  145. 
Madison,  91. 
Magdalen,  88,  103. 
Magnetism,  18. 
Maidenhead,  273. 
Maine  Law,  170,  177. 
Malan,  148,  252. 
"  Man  of  Business,"  231. 
''Man  of  Sin,"  114,  143,  144. 
Marriage  Laws,  98,  123. 
Marriott,  255. 
Marsh,  75. 
Martineau,  171. 
Masters,  8,  9. 
Mason,  E.,  94,  125. 

"       L,  72,  191,  197,  262. 
Mauch  Chunk,  230. 
Maurice,  199. 
Maxwell,  245. 
Mayer,  222. 
Mayhew,  131,  152. 
Maynooth,  359. 
Mazarin  Bible,  77. 
McCheyne,  11,  26. 
McCormick,  289. 
McEwen,  348. 
McFarland,  225. 
McGregor,  282. 
McIIenry,  286. 
McKemie  Church,  53. 
Mc  Lean,  14. 
McLeod,  368. 
McNeile,  162,  362. 
Medals,  97. 
Melrose,  266. 

"  Memoir  of  A.  Alexander."  895. 
Mercersberg,  120. 
Merle,  (d'Aubigne,)  7,  8,  10,  33. 
Methodists,  10,  12,  41. 
Mexico,  51,  53,  59,  66,  70,  73,  74,  76,  80, 175. 
Microscopes,  122  ! 

Milburn,  217. 

Millennium,  118,  192,  198,  199 
Miller,  Hugh,  235,  350. 
"      John,  104. 

"      Samuel,  85,  97,  104,  108,  110,  116, 
146,  165. 
Millerite,  7. 
Milman,  105,  136. 
Milner,  234. 
Milnor,  11,  28. 
Milton,  265. 

Missions,  A.  B.  C  F„  115. 
Missions,  American,  51,  53,  89,  91  111  204 
Mission  Chapel,  217,  219,  277,  283,  285' 
Missions,  City,  42,43,167,  186,  188,  191,195. 

i32,O1480,mreigU,  41'  U'  64'  7°'  81'  119' 
Mitchell,  158,  347. 
Moderatism,  12,  74,  77. 
Moligny,  146. 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    II. 


377 


Monod,  114,  143,  146,  315,  317,  364. 

Monsaltvage,  230. 

Moravian,  20,  61. 

Morel],  125. 

Muhlenberg,  167, 188,  205,  217. 

Mulattoes,  212. 

Muncaster,  264. 

Murray,  68. 

Museum,  British,  154,  341. 

Music,  87,  132,  136, 143,  241,  263,  318,  338. 

Mutter,  134, 135. 

Napoleon.    See  Louis. 

Neander,  82. 

Nebraska,  197. 

Nevin,  82,  87. 

Newark  Advertiser,  66. 

New  England,  179,  200,  226,  227,  228. 

Newport,  177,  199,  226. 

New  School,  8,  10,  17,  81. 

Newton,  (N.  J.,)  201. 

"        J.  W.,  324. 
New  Tear's,  15,  232.    See  Year-texts. 
New  York,  5,  128,  164,  271. 
Niagara,  55. 
Nicholas,  207. 
Noah,  (M.  M.,)  8. 
Noel,  91,  100,  155,  246,  263,  264,  340. 
Nott,  221. 

Oberland,  253. 

O'Connell,  73. 

Old  age,  228. 

Old  hundred,  92. 

Olney,  240. 

Olyphant,  180. 

Omnibuses,  309. 

Onderdonk,  16. 

Opera  House  service,  283,  286. 

Oratorio,  143. 

Ordination,  Law  of,  120,  122. 

"  of  Dr.  A.,  221. 

Organs,  197,  206,  208. 
Origen,  25. 

Orthography,  41,  43,  90,  94,  218. 
Ostend,  203. 
Otey,  365,  366. 
Otterson,  210. 
Owen,  233,  262,  369. 
Oxford,  160,  360. 

Paintings  and  Sculpture,  155,  237,    238, 

257,  258,  261,  263,  310,  331,  341,  342. 
Palace,  311. 
Paralysis,  20. 
Paris,  142,  251,  314. 
Parker,  191. 
Parochial  schools,  52. 
Pascal,  23. 
Pastor,  63,  231. 
Pastoral  Theology,  179. 
Paterson,  114. 
Paul's,  St.,  136, 138. 
Pays,  Latin,  144,  316. 
Payson,  44. 
Peace,  59. 
Peat,  346. 
Pelham,  250. 
Pennington  Church,  78. 
Penny  Magazine,  311,  315. 
Periwigs,  35. 
Perrin,  105. 
Pews,  39, 194. 


Philadelphia,  37,  89,  151, 195,  231,  332,  336, 

355. 
"  Plain  Words  to  Communicants,"  203. 
Plumer,  182. 
Plutarch,  20,  86. 
Plymouth  brethren,  281,  2S3. 
Pocahontas,  88. 
Police,  308. 
Politics,  7,  9, 12. 
Pollock,  82. 
Poor,  38, 165,  275. 
Popery,  77,  144,  159, 166, 168,  186,  209,  262, 

318,  331. 
Portrait,  138. 
Post  Office,  20,  310. 
Posture,  222. 

Potts,  George,  8,  33, 39,  42,  50, 125,  133, 182 
"      8.  G.  212. 
"     W.  S.,  172. 
Powers,  75. 
Pratt,  220. 

Prayer,  30,  169,  204,  234,  263,  273. 
Prayer  Meetings,  17,  170, 198,  277,  278,  279. 
"  Preacher  and  King,"  185. 
Preachers,  12,  13,  22.    See  Sermons  and 

Preaching. 
Preaching,  24,  29,  30,  64,  68,  95,  117, 125, 

130,  137,  170,  171,  174,  176,  179,  192,  200, 

204  223 
Presbyterians,  89,  157, 176,  370. 
Prescott,  286. 
Preston,  272,  313,  343. 
Prevost,  199. 
Primer,  45. 
Princeton,  99, 163,  281. 

"         Magazine,  112, 114. 
Pronunciation,  39,  52,  63,  91,  137, 152, 172, 

174,  175,  213,  247,  339,  340,  343,  361. 
Protracted  meetings,  47. 
Proudfit,  131, 197. 
Psalmody.    See  Singing. 
Pulpit,  263. 
"  Punch,"  14,  29, 175. 
Puritanism,  35. 
Pusey,  160,  161,  234. 
Puseyism,  318. 

Quakers,  25,  44,  55,  57, 119, 131,  200. 
Queen  of  England,  156,  281,  312,  344. 
Quotation,  46. 

Rafaelle,  320. 

Railway  accident,  101. 

Randolph,  243. 

Raphael,  110. 

Read,  255. 

Reading,  46, 124. 

Red  Bank,  281. 

Red  Sweet  Springs,  209,  210,  260,  293. 

Religion,  State  of,  8,  9. 

Renwick,  7. 

Repertory,  20,  31,  33,  38,  49,  56,  87, 107,  116, 

118,  121,  125,  218,  300. 
Review,  British    and  Foreign  Evangeli- 
cal,  203. 

"        Eclectic,  113. 

"        Evangelical,  203. 

"        Mercersburg,  87. 

"        North  British,  12,  125, 133. 
"  Revival  and  Lessons,"  276. 
Revivals,  21,  22,  50,  112,  113,  114,  172,  196 
223,  237,  276. 


378 


INDEX   TO   VOL.    II. 


Reynolds,  238.  263. 

Rhine,  151,  260. 

Rice,  (B.  II.,)  54, 180,  221. 

"    (J.  H.,)267. 

"    (N..)73. 
Richmond,  (Va.,)  70. 

Legh,  248,  249,  250,  251. 
Ripley,  131. 
Ritchie,  145. 
Rives,  143,  316. 

Robinson,  68,  151, 155,  157,  232. 
Rock  Alum  Springs,  210. 
Romer,  257. 
Roseneath,  349. 
Routh,  161. 
Rowell,  283. 
Ruffin,  212. 
Rugby,  160,  240. 
Runciman,  349. 
Rush,  119. 
Ruskin,  132. 
Russia,  202,  207. 

Sabbath,  183,  253,  268. 

<:  Sailors'  and  Soldiers'  Manual,"  67. 

Salary,  193,  204. 

Sand  berg,  140. 

Sandran,  101. 

Saratoga,  84,  281,  298. 

Savings  Bank,  96. 

Sawyer,  284. 

Schaff,  54,  111,  132, 168, 197. 

Schenck,  112,  113. 

Scherer,  114, 126. 

Schiedam,  252." 

Schiller,  328. 

Scholefield,  156,  364. 

Schools,  35,  205. 

"        Industrial,  217. 

"        Sunday,  (and  Journal,)  21,  50,  86, 
123,  231,  240,  268. 

"        "  American  and  adjuncts,"  231. 
Scotland,  91,  156,  266,  343. 

"         Church,  118, 119,  350. 

"         Preachers,  49,  51,  55,  62,  68,  86. 

"         Publication  Scheme,  11. 

"         Rhetoric,  23. 
Scott,  Walter,  156,  343. 
Sghts  194 
Seminary',  (Princeton,)  97,  98,  99, 116, 164, 

175,  179 
Sermons,  106,  125,  129,  132,  219. 

"         Bowen,  239. 

"         Bruce,  267. 

"         Clevee,  327. 

"         Cook,  158,  363. 

"         D'Arcy,  357. 

"         De  Witt,  187. 

"         Finney,  278. 

"         Guthrie,  267. 

"         Hamilton,  241,  341. 

"         King,  348,  364. 

"         Malan,  253. 

"         McLeod,  368. 

"         McNeile,  162,  362. 

"         Muncaster,  264. 

"         Noel.  246,  264. 

"         Ritchie,  145. 

"         Scholefield,  156,  364. 

«         South,  283. 

"         Spurgeon,  241. 

"         Trench,  241. 

"         Wells,  241. 


Session,  61. 
Sexton,  6,  206. 
Shaftesbury,  246. 
Shakespeare,  23. 
Sharon  Springs,  188, 190. 
Shaw,  115. 
Shippen,  115. 
Silius  Italicus,  57. 
Sigourney,  27. 
Simeon,  75,  155. 

Singing,  22,  27,  49,  62,  72,  92, 169,  177,  191, 
200,  204,  216,  219,  241,  242,  262,  263,  267, 
279,  329. 
Sisters  of  Charity,  276. 
Slavery,  18,  33,  52,  65,  68,  111,  122, 127,  133, 

154,  197,  212,  217,  218,  225,  233,  269,  339. 
Sleighing,  46. 
Smith,  Albert,  146,  248. 

"      John  B.,  21. 

"      S.  S.,  21. 

«      T.  U.,  186,  208,  214. 

"      of  Jordanhill,  349. 
Smithfield,  242. 
Smyth,  8,  24,  45, 173. 
Sonnet,  365. 
Sorbonne,  320. 
South,  43,  283. 
South  ey,  34. 
South  Hampton,  107. 
Spa,  261. 
Spain,  224. 
Spencer,  125. 
Spiers'  Dictionary,  108. 
Spiritual  rapping,  171. 
Sprague,  124,  172,  198,  232 
Spring,  78,  96,  168,  170. 
Spurgeon,  242,  279. 
Stage-coach  stanzas,  260. 
Stanmer,  248. 
Staplers,  245. 
Staten  Island,  36. 
Steamers,  36 
Steel,  182,  193. 
Sterling,  171. 
Stoves,  334. 

Switzerland,  148,  251, 323. 
Stewart,  C.  S.,248,  249,  251,  264. 

"      jr.,  60. 
Stewart's  store,  57. 
Stockton, 106. 
Story,  171,  242. 
Stoves,  105. 
Stowe,  199. 
Struthers,  272. 
St.  Sulpice,  146. 
Sweet  Springs,  211. 
Swedenborgians,  9, 18, 84. 
Synod,  47,  179. 
Systems,  26. 

Tablet,  299. 
Tarlsen,  6/206. 
Taylor,  (Dr.,)  73. 
"      Jane,  66. 
Telegraph,  38. 

Temperance,  63,  150,  152,  166,  170. 
Temple,  140,  242. 
Texas,  18,  62. 
Texts,  Isaiah  53  -.3, 109. 
Ezekiel  53  :  10,  95. 

«        36,  37,  243. 
Matt.  xi.  29,  57. 
"      18  :  18, 197. 


INDEX   TO    VOL.    II. 


379 


Texts,  Luke  20  :  SO,  215. 
John  17  :  12, 132. 
Acts  15  : 1-35,  231. 

"  19:3,193. 
Rom.  7  : 7-25,  68. 

"    16:25,52. 

1  Cor.  13  :  12,  34. 

"    15:7,132. 

2  Cor.  1 :  17-19,  93. 
"      3  : 5-6,  106. 

"  3:6,  182. 
11  4:8,106. 
,e       11 :  28,  182. 

Gal.  1 :  19,  132. 

Eph.  4  :  16,  93. 

Phil.  2  :  3,  47. 
"    3  :  18,  19,  255. 

1  Thess.  2  :  7,  76. 

1  Tim.  3  :  11,  103. 

Heb.  5  :  11-15,  31. 
"     13  :  16,  81. 

James  1  :  9,  208. 

Rev.  22:3,24. 

And  see  Year-texts. 
Thanksgiving,  180,  232. 
Thayer,  178,  227. 
Thiers,  280.  319. 
Tholuck,  135. 
Thompson,  212. 
Thomson,  230. 
Thorburn,  126. 
Thornwell,  70,  225. 
Thurles,  354. 
Tir  Federal,  148,  324. 
Torrey,  117,  122. 
Tract  Society,  7,  8,  10,  17,  32,  67,  90,  188, 

193,  236,  270. 
Tracts,  255,  267. 
Transcendentalism,  222. 
Trench,  204,  232,  242,  282. 
Trinity  church,  132. 
Trumbull,  111. 
Truro,  137,  310. 
Trustee  of  College,  279. 
Tuileries,  142. 
Tupper,  134,  135,  312. 
Turks,  195,  202. 
Turrettini,  253. 
Tyng,  85,  125,  252,  253. 

Ulster,  359. 

"  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  175. 

Underworld,  218. 

Unitarians,  167,  194. 

United  Presbyterians,  269,  345,  350. 

Unity,  46. 

University  Chapel,  164. 

"         of  Virginia,   71,  126,   127,  208, 

Upha'm,  209. 
Utrecht,  151,  332. 

Valentines,  48,  169. 

Van  Rensselaer,  16,  53. 

Venable,  124. 

Ventnor,  249. 

Versailles,  320. 

Vevay,  327. 

Victoria,  156,  281,  312,  344. 


Virginia,  70, 126, 197,  207,  210,  288. 

Visiting,  50. 

Voice,  222. 

Voltaire,  148,  236. 

Voyage,  129,  130,  134,  236,  364. 

Vulgate,  23. 

Waddel,  57,  89. 

"Wainwright,  8,  12. 

"Waldegrave,  245. 

Wales,  233. 

Walker,  117. 

Walloons,  263. 

Walpole,  235. 

Walsh,  49,  87,  112,  130,  145,  146,  180,  285, 

286. 
"  Wandering  Jew,"  17. 
AVar,  51,  53,  74,  202,  217.     See  Mexico. 
"Warder,"  34,49. 
Warm  Springs,  210,  211,  290. 
Waterbury,  54,  91,  197. 
Watson's  "  Annals,"  89. 
Waugh,  179. 
Wayland,  115. 
"  Wayside  Books,"  237. 
Webster,  D.,  170,  179. 

"        Dictionary,  108. 
Welsh,  225. 

Wellington,  140,  313,  355. 
Wells,  241. 
Wesley,  222. 

Wesleyan  Chapel,  145,  146,  319. 
"Westminster,  137,  310,  313. 

"  Abbey,  141,  342. 

West  Point,  116. 
Wetmore,  43,  56. 
Whately,  217. 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  210. 
Wiesbaden,  258. 
Wieht,  249. 
Wilkinson,  155. 
Willerup,  125. 
Williams,  210,  216,  219,  294. 
Willis,  11. 
Wilson,  J.  L.,  81,  207. 

"       J.  P.,  29,  265. 

"       Thomas,  47. 
Windsor  Castle,  138,  309. 
Wines,  150,  151. 
Winthrop,  204. 
Withersnoon,  88,  348. 
Words,  83,  104,  108,  110,  175,  188,  192,  235. 
Worship,  171. 

Yale,  44. 

Year  texts,  63,  78,   91,  110,   181,   184,  194, 

233,  275,  284. 
Yellow  fever,  228. 
Yeoman  s,  67. 
Yodling,  254,  327. 
Yoke,  57. 
York,  266. 
Yorkville,  88. 
Young  men,  64. 

Zinzendorf,  61. 
Zuinsrle,  150,  329. 
Zurich,  328. 


THE    END. 


/ 


